COMMONWEALTH SHIPS.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 3778, 2 May 1919, Page 1

COMMONWEALTH SHIPS.

WHAT THEY ARE DOING

In addition to the "Austral" Uet of originally 15 serviceable carg steamers purchased in Great Britaii by the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr Hughes), the Commonwealth ha under its direct control 19 ex-enem; steamers, the future disposition o which will probably be decided at Ihi Peace Conference. These, togethe with four motor vessels, and tw< wooden vessels —motor ships an< [.steamers —at present under construe tion in America, will make up tin Commonwealth merchant fleet. The Australbusli and the Austral date, two of the 15 vessels whicl formed the nucleus of Australia'i large commercial fleet, have beei lost by enemy action. The remaining 13 are actively engaged in the over seas trade —some carrying cargoes ,o1 wool from Australia to Great Britair and others bringing case oil froir America. All are returning profits WOODEN VESSELS. At present the Commonwealth possesses six power-impelled wooden vessels. Four of them are motor ships, and two are steamers. They were built recently in America, antt by actual test thave proved satisfactory. Their names are of aboriginal origin., and have been taken from towns in all of the Australian States. Each vessel is registered at the capital city of the State in which is situated tho town whose name it bears . The vesare each of about 3000 tons deadweight cargo-carrying capacity. Included in the fleet aro two sailing vessels without auxiliary power. The Shandon, which was recently converted at Williamstown from a harbour 'hulk to a sea-going barque of 2134 tons, has completed a return voyage from San Francisco, and loft on March 1 to load nitrates at a South American port for Melbourne Tho other vessel, schooner Speedway, laden with a general cargo, is now due at Melbourne from Panama. The Federal Government will probably, in tho near future, oxtend their shipbuilding programmo by constructing at Walsh Island three additional cargo vessels of 10,000 tons each. Theso vessels will bo larger than any yet built in the Commonwealth, and will contain refrigerating space. There are eight wooden vessels in process of construction in America under orders from tho Commonwealth Government. All were originally intended to bo wooden steamers, but only three will bo delivered as such. Tho other five will bo converted into motor ships, fitted with Diesel engines. Widespread industrial trouble m America has seriously interfered with the completion of the vessels, and so ifrogularlv can labour bo obtained that it is a matter for conjecture whon any will he finished. One of tho steamers nearing completion is the Bothanga, building at Seattle. The others are, in tho order of tlicir expected completion, the Benowa, Bahinda, Balcatta, Boohvalla, and Boorika. As each is finished it will be despatched to San Francisco to load oil for Australia.