MARIPOSA DELAYED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 10

MARIPOSA DELAYED

DISCHARGING A CARGO

(By Telegraph—Press, Association.) AUCKLAND, September 3.

To save a valuable cargo of Californian grapes from deterioration and to prevent possible heavy loss to Auckland merchants, the sailing from Auckland to Sydney tonight of, the Matson liner Mariposa was postponed until three o'clock tomorrow" afternoon.

The Mariposa arrived from San Francisco this morning, and rain seriously interrupted cargo working. When the Auckland agents realised that the scheduled sailing ol the liner at 10 o'clock tonight would mean that a large proportion of 5968 chests of Californian grapes, valued at £10,000, would be carried on, a cablegram for permission to delay the Mariposa was dispatched to San Francisco. Because of mail contracts, the agents are normally obliged to dispatch American liners by midnight at the latest. Con sent was given speedily by cablegram from San Francisco, and, given average weather, the agents are confident that all cargo work will be finished by sailing time tomorrow. Similar difficulties have occurred with Matson ships three times in the past year,' and cargoes have been carried on to subsequent por.ts for reshipping. The Mariposa's consignment of grapes, however,, is the first large shipment of the season, and such a procedure would have resulted in severe financial loss. The fruit is packed in insulated ice chambers calculated to land it in Auckland in good condition.