SHIPPING.

Evening Star, Issue 16823, 27 August 1918, Page 1

SHIPPING.

HIGH WATER. TO-MORROW. Taiaroa Head i 7.30 a.m., 8.2 pan. Port Chalmers i 8.10 a.m., 8.42 p.m. Dunedin : 8.40 a.m., 9.12 p.ra. THE SUN. Sots to-day, 5.26 p.m.; rises to-morrow, 6.51 a.m. PHASES OF THE MOON. Last quarter August 29 6.57 a.m. New moon Sept. 5 10.14 p.m. First quarter Sept. 14 2.32 a.m. Full moon Sept. 21 0.31 a-m. Rets to-day, 8.54 a.m.; rises to-morrow, 0.12 a.m. WEATHER REPORTS. Tli© Government Meteorologist (Rev. D. C. Bates) supplied the following weather reports at 9 a.m. to-day :

Roxburgh—-Calm ... Port Chalmers —Calm 00.04 4D P» 0 Wind.—L. light; br, breeze; fb, fresh breeze; mg, moderate gale; g, whole or heavy galo t w, gale of exceptional severity. Weather.—B. blue sky, bo the atmosoherp clear or heavy; C, clouds, passing clouds; I), drizzling rain; F, foggy 0, gloomy, dark weather; H, hail; L, lightning ;' M. misty: O, overcast, tho whole sky covered with thick clouds; P, passing showers; Q. squally 5 R. rain, continued rsin ; R, snow: T. thunder; U, ugly, threatening appearance; Z, hazy. WEATHER FORECAST. T’ro Government Meteorologist (Rev. D. 0. Bates) supplied the following a 4 noon to-d-iv ■ -Moderate northerly winds ; clomp- r,ud mi set tied weather: glass unsteady : tides jrood : sea moderate swell. FAlLED.—August 26. Calm, s.s, (11.15 p.m.), 890 tone, Radford, for Wanganui via ports. EXPECTED ARRIVALS. John, from Wanganui, August 28. iVfav Howard, from Lyttelton, Aug. 50. Media, from Wellington September 1. Koiai-e, from Invercargill, September 1. Putiki, from Wellington, September 2. Rosamond, from V, ellingUm. Ropt. 3.^ Monowai. from Auckland, September 3. Breeze, from Wanganui, September 3. Calm, from Wanganui, September 4. Slorm. from LvrieU-on, S'cpteiiTver 6, Corimuv, from Wellington, September 8. Wes trail a, from Melbourne, Sept. 17. V RO.I ECTED DEEAUT UR ES. Kotor©. for Invercargill, to day. Stella, for Wellington, August 28. Westralia, for Melbourne August 28. Corimia, lor New Plymouth, August 28. John, for Wellington, August 29. Gisborne, for Invercargill, August, bi. Putiki, for Wellington, September 2. Breeze, for Wanganui, September 3. Calm, for Wanganui, September 4. Rosamond, lor Gisborne., September 4. Monowai, for Auckland, September 6. Storm, for Wanganui, September 6. The auxiliary sohoonor Alay Howard is expected to leave Lyttelton on r l hursday for Dunedin. Her future movements have not yet been fixed. The Kota,re was delayed at Dunedin yesterday owing to rain. She is expected to sail to-night tor Bluff and Invercargill. The vessel will a liar wards go to Stewart Island to load timber for Invercargill. The Kota re is exported to toturu to Dunedin about the end of the week.

The Stella was delayed in discharging operations yesterday, owing to rain. As tile vessel will load a. full general cargo here, she will nut. get away until tomorrow for Wellington. The Putiki is due at Dunedin on Monday next from Wellington and Lyttelton. She has been fixed to load here for Lyttelton and, Wellington. Tho John was expected to leave Wellington late last night for Dunedin direct. She should arrive hero 10-morrow night, and will load on Thursday for Oamaru and Wanganui. The Monowai arrived at Auckland at 4.50 p.m. yesterday from Dunedin and East Coast ports. Bhe is fixed to sail to-morrow afternoon for Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. The vessel is due back her© on Tuesday, September 5. The Poherna is expected to leave Lyttelton to-day for Greymouth, where she will load coal for Napier. The Kokiri is due at Wellington to-day from Auckland. After discharging her general -cargo, she will go to Westport to load coal for Auckland.

The Gorkina will probably not leave Dunedin until to-morrow morning for Oamaru, Timarm, Nelson, and New Plymouth. The Kini arrived at Westport _at 10 last night from Lyttelton. Bho is now loading a cargo of coal for New Plymouth and Onehunga. The To Anan left Bluff at 11 la at night with a full cargo of produce for Napier and Auckland. The vessel's movements from the latter port have- JX)t been doflnately fixed. The Kamona left. Wellington at 10.50 last night for Groymouth. She will load at the West Coast port for Lyttelton. Tlio Komata arrived at Picton _at 1 a.m. to-day from Wellington. Bbo is expected to sail to-morrow with a cargo of produce for Onehunga. The Kowhal will be despatched from Groymouth late to-night with a- cargo of coal and timber for \Vellington. The weather was fine at. Greymouth and Westport to-day, with light easterly winds. The sea was smooth, on tho bars at both porta. Tho Calm, which sailed late last night with a largo shipment of general cargo for Timn-ru, Lyttelton, Wellington, find Wanganui, is duo back bore about September 4.

The auxiliary schooner Huia arrived at Melbourne on August 13 from Auckland with a cargo of timber and hides. Tho auxiliary schooner Gisborne will probably be despatched from Dunedin about the end of this week for Invercargill. The Thrasher, a barquentin© which recently arrived at New Plymouth with benzine and lumber from the United States, is loading a full cargo of hemp and polio at that port. In the past tho American sailers which have come to New Plymouth have usually loft in ballast. It is'(says the ‘Herald’) interesting to note that all of the 700 tons of hemp and pelts is coming from Wellington and Wanganui for shipment. Westhavon, a small port 10 miles south of Farewell Spit, is to have another timber wharf built there by tho Westhavcn Timber Company. Mr A. Walker (Lloyd’s Surveyor), who has been visiting Westhaven, states that it is an ideal tidal harbor, which can be worked by vessels drawing lift at high water neaps. Tt. is understood (says the Wanganui ‘ Chronicle ’) that instructions have been issued prohibiting oversea vessels from visiting the Wanganui roadstead, the Tcawn alleged being that some enemy mines may possibly have drifted in that direction." This is'obviously a matter of grave, concern to the local freezing works, especially In view of tho serious shortage of insulated, trucks. The American four-masted schooner Golden Rhone, from Port Blakerly, with 700.009 ft of lumber consigned to Messrs Bosonfeld and Go., arrived at Bydncv on August 10. The trip occupied 78 days, and the schooner experienced heavy weather after leaving, followed by strong westerly, south-westerly, and southerly galea and high seas when approaching tho Australian coast.

It is reported that a Swedish shipping company has combined with several Norwegian and American companies to form a new shipping line, with beadquarters at Seattle (U.S.A.). to bo called: the American Liberty Steamship Line. _ A number of the vc-cels will trade to China, the East Indies, Australia, and the Philippines. Four wooden ships are already competed for the new line. Seamen employed on vessels owned or controlled by the Commonwealth Government are to bo paid a war riel; bonus while tho vessels arc in danger zones. A special allowance will bo provided in the event of a vessel being lost through enemy action ouisido tho recognised danger zones. The necessary regulations wars now in course of preparation. It is not often that a vessel puts out from port without the ship's papers, but this accident befell the fen'v steamer Maori on Saturday evening. iho vessel left the Lyttelton wharf at about 8 p.m., and to the surprise of evei-yone about the waterfront, returned: about an hour later, having got some distance outride the Heads before the emission was discovered. The Maori’s second stay at the wharf was brief, 10 minutes sufficing to secure tho missing papers, the ship finally departing for 'Wellington at 9.10 p.m. SCHOONER BERTIE MINOR. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the American schooner Bertie Minor arrived at tile northern jwrt at 2 p.m. yesterday from Ban Francisco- The vessel’s rudder carried away on July 25 during heavy weather, and she completed the voyage with a buy rudder. WRKA-TA XG AR 0 A C 0 LLISIO N. The Magisterial inquiry into the recent collision b'tweui the .steamers Wcka and Tanzania in the Napier Inner Harbor was concluded at Napier yesterday. The following is tho finding of tin' Court -The statement of l taptnin 0. Ormcs, of the Wcka, about the hag- jamming tho steering chains has not been establifted to the satisfaction of the com t. The master of the Weka committed an error or judgment in coming into the Iron Pot with a strong flood tide bv the direct ineth-d, and also by keening too close to the eastern side whilst so doing. No action shall he token in connection with Captain Orrnes’s certificate, but ho shall pay half the costs of the inquiry. THE WRECK OF THE JOHN MURRAY. At the last meeting of the Victorian Marine Board an official report describing tho wreck of tho barque John Murray, which wept ashore on Malden Island <>n May 22, was submitted by Canfain G. E. Vaughan, the master of tho vf-sr-f'l. The report stated t hat all Die ship’s papers had been lost. As tho vessel was submerged, it was impossible to salve anv of her cargo, but 20 tons of rases of benzine and motor parts which were wasted ashore were recovered. Tho secretary of the board said that a steamer with the crow of the John Murray on board was expected to arrive at Melbourne shortly, and when she reacted port it would be necessary for tho board to net promptly. Perhaps a special meeting would be called to deal with the matt e r. The inspector of shipping was instructed to hold a proliminnrv inquiry into the case, and bis report will be considered by the board before any further action is taken. NEW SUGAR-CARRYING STEAMER. There has just been completed in England to the order of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company a 7.000-ton steamer, the Rona. The company intend to employ the, Rona in conjunction with the Fiona in the sugar and molasses trade between Sydney. Fiji, and Auckland. 'Whan the Queensland season is in full swing the new steamer will also assist chartered vessels on that run. At present the Rona is under the orders of tho controller of shipping. London. A feature of the vessel is ine installation of cantilever framed topside, tanks for tho carriage of molasses. SALVING THE DEFENDER, Further progress was made in ■connection with the, salving of the machinery of the sunken steamer Defender off Leper Island, adjoining Somes Island, by Captain Frank Jellev his assistants last Friday (reports the Wellington ‘ Times ’). Mr W. H. G. M’Lennan, the diver, went down at 11 a.m. to complete the djsoon-

nectinjr of the engines from the Defenders hull. At 2,30 p.m. an attempt was made to lift the main engine, but the steel and 2in wire slings carried away. Another endeavor was made to hoist up the engine, but the slings were unable to stand the strain. The engine, which weighs about eight tons, was lifted so that the bed plate was clear of the hull. It was decided to abandon the lifting of tho engine until Saturday, when chain slings would be utilised instead of wire ones. During Friday a few copper tubes and parts, one duplicate pump, a small anchor, and a few chains were salved. Work ceased at 4.30 p.m., and the pontoon was left riding at anchor for the night, well out from the island. MEN AFLOAT AND ASHORE. Mr J. E. Walker, second officer of tho Corinna, will join the barquentine lima as chief officer. Mr W. Paul, lata chief officer of a Union Company’s steamer, will take command of the lima at Napier, in place of Captain G. B. Corley, who will come as! lore for instructions. Mr W. Shakespeare, late cadet on tho Aparima, will join the Manuka as fourth officer. Mr G. M. Smart, chief officer of the Kokiri, has had to oomo ashore owing to an accident. Mr J. Panninter, second officer, will act aa chief officer of the Kokiri in tho meantime. Mr It. Berryman, late third officer of the Tarawera, has joined the Kokiri as second officer. Mr E, S. Hood, purser of tho Arahura, has teen passed by the Medical Board as fit for active service, and will proceed to camp with the September draft. Mr G. E. Forrest, purser of tho Mar ponrika, has transferred to the Arahura in the same capacity. Mr W. Jacquiexy, purser of the Pateena, has joined the Maponrika in a similar capacity. Mr D. M. Mitchell, second engineer on tho Putiki, has been relieved by Mr Wilson. THE SHIPPING POSITION. In a leading article the London ‘ Times ’ of August 1 says :—“ Despite the Government’s complacency, the British shipping position is gnm and threatening. Tho American yawls are doing far tetter than ours, which are still being beaten in the submarine contest. The figures of the destruction end, the now construction for the first sis months of 1918 show that the net British loss was nearly 650,(XX) tons. This, following tho 1917 deficit of nearly 3, 000.0 CX tons, exclusive of ships crippled or laid up for repairs, shows that the system of construction needs an overhaul.” On August 8 a correspondent of the * Times ’ says:—Only a deficiency of skilled _ labor prevents a far more rapid construction of British shipping, for which adequate materials are now available. The output must be improved. Our capacity to build cheap and sound ships means economic strength upon which our ability to maintain our sea-power depends. SHIPBUILDING IN AUSTRALIA, PROGRESS OF OPERATIONS.

The progress made in shipbuilding _in Australia is considered by the Acting Minister for the Australian Navy {Mr Fowntou) to be satisfactory. Mr Foyntou has prepared a full report on the portion for the Federal Cabinet, and too Minister expects that tiro construction of vessels will bo considerably accelerated, in the neat- future under more favorable conditions. Mr Foynton stated on August 8 that ox the shipments of plates that hod arrived from the United Mates 490 tons had been delivered to Walsh Island, 558 tons to Wiliiamstown, and 158 tons to Cockatoo Island. The Broken Hill Proprietary Company had delivered 63 tons of plates to Walsh Island and 42 tons to Williamstown. About 2,058 tons of other material, such as angles and. bars, had also been distributed to the various yaixls. Good progress was being made with the first vessel now on the stocks at Williams town, and a large quantity of muter! ;d was being prepared for a second vessel, which wi.niid bo begun as soon as possible. The. construction wa« proceeding with the first- vessel at Walsh Island, and sauslado tv ncadvray had been made wil-Ii tlie construction of the propelling machinery. tome delav was taking place over file 'construction ox a steel vessel at Cockatoo Island owing to the slow rate at winch plates were arriving from America. '1 h- delivery ol steel plates from the Tinted Mates was still uusatisfactory, but a 1 y.a- .-vpcctod to arrive at the end • o Tint month, and otnei vessels would lea ve A i..■ "■■: a rev. aids too end of this month, ihe United States Steel Corporation wars prepared to deliver 3,033 tons of plates to a certain port_ if the Government could arrange for ships to cany them. The manager of the Commonwealth Shipping Ui ue (Mr B. A. Kva) wa? endeavoring t-o arrange for space. Various firms in Sydney were making satisfactory progress m preJim inary work for the building of wooden ships. S H IPP fNG TELEGRAMS. AUCKLAND. AuemN 26.-6.45 a.m., Rnkauoa, from Newcastle. —4.35 p.ni., .Monowai, from Dum-iiii via ports. LYTTELTON, August 27.—7.10 a.m., .Maori, from Wellington (connected with express). (For continuation see Late Shipping.)

Auckland—S.W., I ... Bar. Then 29.81 53 Weath. B0 Napier—iS., 1 29,78 52 OP Wellington —9., f fa Westport—S. Ii, 1 ... fJ-Toy mouth—E., 1 29,87 49 0 29.93 46 B 29.92 41 B Brainy—Calm ... 29.93 42 0 Cfarist'clmrch —S.W., 1 29.93 48 O Tima.ni —N., 1 30.08 44 B0 Oam am—Cnlm 29,98 45 o n Dunedin —N., 1 30.08 45 DC Queenstown—N.W1 30. C4 40 0 Nuggets—N., 1 30.01 43 0 Bluff—Van, 1 30.02 45 0 Clyde—Calm — so BO Bcticlutha—Calm — 40 0 IiiTiii’eargill —Calm ... 30.10 45 0 Na-seby—Calm — 39 M Pembroke —Calm — 44 B 0