SHIPPING.

Evening Star, Issue 16676, 7 March 1918, Page 1

SHIPPING.

HIGH WATER. TO-JIORROW. Taiaroa Head : 10.42 a.m., 11.12 p.m. Port Chalmers : 11.22 a.m., 11.52 p.m. Dunedin : 11.62 a.m., p.m. THE SUN. Sots to-day, 6.43 p.m.; rises to-morrow, 5.57 a.m. PHASES OF THE MOON. New moon March 13 7.22 a.m. First quarter March 20 1.0 a.m. Full moon March 28 3.3 a.m. Last quarter April 5 1.5 a.m. Sets to-day, 2.51 p.m.; rises to-morrow, p.m. WEATHER REPORTS. The Government Meteorologist (Rev. I) C. Bates) supplied the following weather reports at 9 a.m. to-day : Bar. T-her. Weath. Aurkland—S.W., 1 ... 29.67 69 OD Napier—S.K, 1 29.83 68 OP Wellington—S.S.E.. 1 2.Q.83 64 O Westport—E.. 1 ... 29.87 65 "B Greymoutli—E., 1 *. 29.87 63 B ' Bealey—N.E., 1 ... 29.87 53 B Chri.stchurch—N.E., 1 29.33 65 C Tima.ru—N.E., f ... 29.75 60 BC Oamaru—N.E., f ... 29.87 62 0 Dunedin—N.E.. f ... 29.72 64 BC Queenstown—Calm ... 29.76 63 BC Nuggets—N., 1 29.79 62 Z Bluff—Calm 29.65 60 CFM Balelutha-— Cairn ... Clyde—Calm Invereargiil—Calm ... 29.75 55 Z Naseby—Calm 27.85 64 B Pembroke—Calm ... 28.75 -66 BC Pt. Chalmers—N.E., f 29.77 65 BC Roxburgh—N.W., 1 ... 29.35 67 BC Wind.—L, light; br. breeze; fb, fresh breeze; mg, moderate gale: g, whole or heavy gale; w, gale of exceptional severity. Weather.— B, blue sky, be the atmosphere dear or heavy: C, clouds, passing clouds: D, drizzling rain; F, foggy; G, gloomy, dark weather; H, hail; liing: M, misty; O, overcast, the whole sky covered with thick clouds; P. passing showers; Q, squally; R, rain, continued rain; S, snow: T. thunder; U, ugly, threatening appearance; Z, hazy. Forecast. _ Tiie Government Meteorologist (Rev. D. C. Bates) supplied the following at noon to-day : Strong N.W. winds: glass rise after 24 hours ; tides good ; sea 'moderate swell. EXPECTED ARRIVALS. Storm, from Wangauurvia ports, Mar. 8. Rotate, from Lyttelton. March 8. Jluia, from Wellington. March 8. May Howard, from Auckland, March 9. John, from Wellington via ports. Mar. 9. Monowai, from Auckland, March 11. Kakapo, from Westport, March 11. Kini, from Grevmonth. March 11. Putiki, from Wellington, March 11 Breeze, from Wanganui. March 12. Rosamond, from Wellington, March. 14. Calm, from Wanganui via ports, Mar. 15. Hmutangi. from Wellington. March 15. Corinna, from Wellington, March 17. Houto, soli., from Ouehunga. March 20. Hinemoa. from Wellington, March 24. PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Kaitanga.ta, for Bluff, Oamaru, this dav. Storm, for Wanganui via ports. Mar. 8. Rot are, for Bluff, Inveroargill, Mar. 8. John, for Wanganui via ports, March 9. Putiki, for Wanganui via ports, Mar. 11. Breeze, for Wanganui via ports. Mar. 12. May Howard, for Invereargiil, Mar. 12. Monowai, for Auckland, March 12. Rosamond, for Bluff, March 15. Calm, for Wanganui via ports. Mar. 15. Himitangi. for Campbell Islands, Mar. 16. Corinna, for New Plymouth, March 19. Hmemoa, for southern lights. March 24. The Corinna left Dunedin to-day for Oama.ru, Timaru, Lvttelton. Wellington, Nelson, and New Plymouth. After discharge at the latter port she will return to Wellington. The Kotare left Lvttelton at 8 last night for Dunedin. She is due here tomorrow morning, and is now fixed to sail to-morrow night for Invereargiil.-. The Storm has been delayed by bad weather on the trip from Wanganui to Lyttelton. _ She is now expected to arrive at Dunedin to-morrow morning, and is fixed to sail to-morrow night for way ports and Wanganui. The Kini left Lyttelton at 9 last night for Grevmonth, where she will load a cargo of coal for Dunedin. _ The Monowai left Auckland last evening for Gisborne, Napier, and Wellington. The vessel is due at the latter port on Friday, and should leave there the same_ day for Lyttelton and Dunedin. She is due here about Monday next: The Kaitangata is fixed to leave Dunedin to-day for Bluff to discharge the balance of her general cargo from Auckland. The Kakapo cleared Westport at 5 a,m. to-day -with a full cargo of coal for discharge at Oamaru and Dunedin. She is expected to arrive here about Mondav next. The Kamona arrived at Westport at 6 a.m. to-day from Lyttelton. She will afterwards go to Grevmonth to load coal .for New P&rtoniiu

The Kamo left Wellington at 5 p.m. yesterday for Greymouth, where she will load another cargo of coai for Wellington. The Poherua arrived at Westport at 7 p.m. yesterday from Wellington. Slio ia now loading a cargo of coal for Wellington, and after disohaxge there, will return to Westport to load for Onehunga and Kaipara. Owing to -the heavv sea running at Napier yesterday the Navua was unable to berth at the breakwater. She is expected to berth to-day, when she will load sheep for Lytteiton. The Kowhai left Greymouth at 3 a.m. to-day with a cargo of coal for discharge at WellingtonReports received from Greymouth state that the weather is fine there to-day, with light easterly winds. A smooth sea is running on the bar. Westport-reports fine weather and a smooth sea on the bar. Shipping was busy at Tokomam Bay last week. The second shipment of live stock (3,500 sheep) to Lytteiton was completed last Friday morning by the Te An-a-u. The Kittawa left Westport at 2 p.m. yesterday with a cargo of coal for Timaru and Oamaru. From the latter port, she will go to Timaru and Lytteiton to load produce for New Plymouth. The vessel will subsequently return to the West Coast. The steamer Putiki was expected to leave Wellington yesterday for Lvttelton and Dunedin. She is due here about Sunday, and is fixed to sail on Monday with general cargo for Timaru, Lytteiton, and Nelson.

The Himitangd loft Wellington on Tuesday for Waitangi and Pitt Island (Chathams) to load sheep for Lyttelton. She will afterwards return to Wellington. The Union Company's steamer Mapourika is at present undergoing the finishing stages of her overhaul at the Wellington patent slip. The vessel will probably leave Wellington to-morrow on her first trip in the trade between that port and Auckland. The Maipourika will not carry passengers. The New Zealand Refrigerating Company's steamer Mana is at present engaged in lightering at Wanganui. The heavy easterly swell at present running up Lyttelton Harbor has mado itself felt in the inner harbor, especially at the low breastwork of No. 8 wharf, where the hulk Lilla, which is being constructed Into a steamer, is moored, to epecial piles which were recently set in concrete by the Harbor Board. The swell caused the vessel to sway with such force that the piles were shifted out of position. THE EAST COAST WRECKAGE. _A Press Association'telegram from Napier states that an oil case picked up on the Kaiti (Gisborne) Beach and branded " C " bears the brand of a consignment of oil from San Francisco for Messrs_Cranby p 'J[d Co. The wreckage coming ashore n't Gisborne may be from an oil vessel now overdue. PASSENGERS FOR AUSTRALIA. The following passengers have left Dunedin for an Australian port :—Mesdames Abbot, Blakely, Scott and child, Rush. Misses Quinn, Malcolm, Johnson, Scott, M'Arthur, Mr West; and five in the steerage. FREIGHTS FROM THE EAST. Rates of freight between Japan and Australia, like those from other oversea ports, are still on the up grade, and nn announcement was made in Sydney lastweek that as high as 150s -per ton was now being quoted by cargo steamers from the East to the Commonwealth. The pre-war rates were 50s per ton. The cause of the rise is stated to be due to the fact that the Japanese Government have commandeered a considerable amount of tonnage. The new rates apply to cargo steamers only, and it is mentioned. that freights by the regular mail boats will remain unchang?d under the terms of the mail contract. Rates of freight between Japan and Europe have also been increased to between £2O and £3O per ton, and to America, the latest quotations are given at from £lO to £ls per ton. FAST TRANSATLANTIC LINERS. Transatlantic liners and other passenger ships built in the slnigcde for commercial supremacy of the seas after the war will bo larger and faster than any before because of the great improvement in marine machinery and naval construction made by necessities of the war. according to the prediction of a British naval expert writing for the London 'Time?.' Re says he would not be surprised to see the speed of liners increased to 40 or 45 knots an hour, or evemunore, by the use of oil fuel, wale-tube boilers such ,ns are now used in the latest types of destroyers, and double-reduction geared turbine engines that the expert says are sure to be built for merchant ship's after the war. This expert, says there is practically no limit to the speed ships may attain 'with new improvements an I by sacrificing space in hulls. " 31 THE LOST STEAMER MATUNCA. When the full story of the lost steamers of the Pacific comes to be written some romance will be eon'red round a bottle nicked up on the high seas (says Melbourne ' Aru-ns.' in referring to the'vessels sunk by the Gorman raider Wolf). Just when relations and friends of those on the Mntnnge, bad reconciled themselves to the belief that there could lie no hope and even the naval authorities took the gloomiest vi(MV. a mysterious messa-e cam" from the deep. At first it was regarded a<= a hoax, but when dates and names to he examined by experts it was realised that most important information had been vn.raculmislv nvide availrhK Tu the bottle, it is understood, was hr-'eflv set out the story that the Matunga's comnany had been made prisoners of war. and'that survivors from other destroyed steamers were with them. Revond the'most mocre facts, all was mystery. It puzzled navigators that the bottle sboidd have been found so far from the nrobable scene of anv raider's nctivitin s . b„ t . the sea h-s strange ways, and even the doubters enme to believe in the end that there was still ■hope for passengers and crew. What additional information the Admiralty possessed will probably be disclosed' later hut about a month ago the Australian Aavy Department informed those concerned that news which was considered reliable suggested that the Matunga- had been captured, and that there was no reason to suppose the deaths of a-n.d crew. - '" HUIA LEAVES WELLINGTON. The coastal steamer Huia. which, H is stated, is under engagement to take up the temporary running between Dunedin and Invereargiil. .left' Wellington at 7 .~0 last night for Dunedin direct." The vessel should arrive here to-morrow afternoon. She is bringing a full shipment of general cargo for discharge. Inquiries made by f ' star ' reporter elicited the statement that up to the present no definite arrangements have been made in regard to the Huia's future movements. MEN AFLOAT AND ASHORE. Mr F. Dow, of the Otago Harbor Board's staff, has resumed duty after being on holiday leave. Mr D. M. Mitchell has joined the Putiki as third engineer, in place of Mr P M'Nicol. Mr S. Sherwin has simied tw &hj& Huia's _acfciclea as engineer.

EXPORT DUTY ON BUNKER COAL. The New South Wales Government are ■investigating a scheme for raising more revenue by imposing a royalty on export duty on all bunker coal taken from their shores by overseas steamers. It is claimed (says tli© Sydney ' Shipping List') that the imposition of a royalty on all bunker coal taken away by overseas ships would produce a large amount of revenue, and the purchasers of the coal would still be getting the fuel cheaper than they are able to do at any other port in the world. The proposal is to impose a royalty of anything from 10a to 15s a ton on the coal, and in support of the scheme it is pointed out that at the present time 12s to 15s per ton is being charged for coal at Newcastle, while South Coast coal, delivered in Sydney, is 20s a ton. Against these rates the prices charged in other parti? of the world range from £3 a ton in New Zealand up to £7 per ton at Aden. Even in England the price is 38s a ton. COMMONWEALTH SHIPS. The Commonwealth Government aro about to enter upon the construction of half a dozen ships. The building of others- is to follow later. The position in a nutshell is as follows : New South Wales.—Three ships to be built by the Commonwealth at Walsh Island, subject to the -satisfactory settlement of conditions, expected last week. Cockatoo Dock is being used for the purpose of building warships. In Sydney no suitable slips are available at present." Victoria.—Two ships to be built by the Commonwealth at Williamstown. Tasmania,—One ship to be built by private enterprise at Dovonport. Queensland. —Arrangements with a private firm proceeding. South Australia,—The .State Government have definitely decided to undertake the necessary preliminary work. In addition, 14 vessels are under order from America, The Prime Minister of Australia announced on February 26 that the first ship ordered, in America by the Commonwealth Government had been successfully launched on February 23. "I understand," he added, "that two more will be launched next month, and thence two or three each following month. The cargo for the ship just launched is being allotted, and will include some plates for the Government's shipbuilding scheme." SINKING OF THE HIDALGO. _ The Merchant Service Guild have published, with the consent of the -Admiralty, the following details of the sinking of the Ellerman liner Hidalgo, as reported by Captain F. R. Patten, of the steamer : —On August 28, at 6.45 a.m., the ship was torpedoed without warning, and at once took a, list to port. The port cutter was blown .to pieces, the wireless was rendered useless, and the port lifeboat and starboard cutter were swnrnnrd. leaving one boat for all hands. Thirty-five out of 37 officers and men found places in the lifeboat, two of their number having been drowned when the starboard cutter was swamped. The submarine then commenced to shell the ship, which sank stem first. Having seen the ship sink, the shipwrecked, men set sail, making a southerly course for land in a strong norlh to north-east wind. On August 29 the wind inclined to a moderate" gale, with a heavy confused sea. Similar weather conditions prevailed on the following dav. the men suffering greatly from cvprsuTe. The second cook was buried nt 3 r.Vork in the morning. The donkeyman died in the afternoon, and the firemen were bv that time in a dying condition. On August 31 the death roll was heavier. The conk, second steward, two able seamen, and a fire-nan comprised the list, thenbodies being kept in the boat. Five days after the sinking of the ship the boat was visited bv a doctor, the men were transferred to patrol vessels, nnd subsequently 20 of them were sent to hospital ashore, the captain end second officer being placed under the care of the Consul. The Merchant .Service Guild further state that several members 0 f the crew who survived had fingers and toes amputated owing to frostbifn. while all wore in a bad way. The chief officer Mr G. A. Hannah, has had three fingers on the right hand removed. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. WELLTNGTON,~March 6.-7.20 p.m., Huia, for Dunedin. J.YTTK.T.TON. March 6.-9.50 p.m., Kotare, for Dunedin.— March 7 : 655 a.m., Maori, from Wellington (connected with express).—lo.so a.m.. Storm, for Dunedin.

(For continuation see Late Shipping.)