FIFTY YEAES AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 128, 1 June 1935, Page 26

FIFTY YEAES AGO

THE UNION COMPANY FLEET

It was reported ,in ''The Post" of May 29, 1885, that the Union Company had a steamer building in Messrs. Denny's Dumbarton. yards which was to be the "crack boat.of their splendid fleet." The Mararoa (for such was to be her name) was to be .'32oft long by 42ft beam, with a depth,of hold of 26ft. In comparison, the, .Wairarapa was cited as being 285ft long by 36ft wide and 24ft deep. The new ship was to have a gross tonnage of 3000 and a carrying capacity of 1560 tons. She was to be fitted with a refrigerating chamber,' arid was to have the-latest electric lighting system, an amidships saloon, hydraulic cargo-handling gear, and triple-expansion engines of 3000 indicated horse-power. It was expected that she would do 16 knots without strain. She was to be handed over to the company in September, 1885, arid was due in the colony to take up the intercolonial passenger running about the end of the year. ■

The fleet of the Union Steam Ship Company, according to an article in the Melbourne "Daily Telegraph," consisted fifty years ago of 26 steamers, having a total gross measurement of 27,495 tons, a carrying capacity of close to 45,000 tons, and a united horsepower of 26,500'. -In addition, there were a'large number of steam tenders, ■hulks.and lighters.- In-1884, 853,218 sea miles were traversed with a consumption of 94,574 tons of coal. The article commended the' company's policy of replacing old and inefficient vessels by new ships, arid -placed -the organisation amongst the highest operating in the Southern Hemisphere.

i Although the mail steamer Tongariro iarrived at Port Chalmers, ■ the English mails were' distributed in Auckland on May 26, 1885, 45 days' froni the departure of the shfp from England. The Tongariro made the trip out in 42 days, and the mails were relayed up the coast-by. ti-ain ■to Lyttelton, by ■ the Rotprua to Wellington, and by the Hawea to Mariukau. .

Anxiety was felt for the safety of the barque Lochnagar, which left Gisoorne 142 days before for, London with a cargo of wool, stated-a report from Gisborne 'published'in "The Post" of May 29,'1885. The Macgregor was successfully floated ' off • the rocks at Kawau and beached for repairs at Bon Accord; Harbour.

• A'collision-occurred in. Sydney Harbour between the steamer Australian, outward bound,.and the Port Jackson on May 19, 1885. The Australian had to be beached.- On,the same evening, two vessels collided in. Newcastle Harbour.,' The./Orient Steam Navigation Company's Austral arrived- at Adelaide oh May .24, 1885, from Erigland,. having made the fastest run' on record. .',''■

. The uniforms for Harbour Board officials Were to be.coat, vest, and trousers of indigo blue; with peaked cap: The coat and vest were tp have brass buttons,- and the cap a distinctive badge or number,, according to rank.