THE KOROWAI

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1938, Page 5

THE KOROWAI

E/ISHING AT KAIKOURA LIKELY. (Per Press Association— Copyright). ' WESTPORT, September 20. The arrival at Westport to-day from Sydney of the trawler Korowai, of the Red Funnel Company’s’ fleet, in charge of Captain W. Double, recalled the sensational arrest of another Australian trawler, Alfie Cam, and Captain Double, three and a half years ago, and the resultant trial" when the captain was acquitted on a charge of violating the Fisheries Act by trawling inside the threp-hjji Jo^imijtgon the New Zealand coast " - ,fc «v ■

The Korowai is a trim vessel 126 feet long, fitted with all the latest trawling devices. The vessel was originally built for the North Sea fishing grounds, and on the Tasman voyage thoroughly proved her seaworthiness. Leaving Sydney on Wednesday, September 14, she encountered heavy seas midway across, but .these did not. retard her very much, and the Korowai arrived off Westport early this morning. : -t-

After bunkering at Westport the Korowai wilT probably trawl at Kaikoura, leaving for Sydney when a "sufficient supply of fish is accumulated.' A member of the crew said that only the rich oould buy fish at" Sydney at present, an 80-pound box of flatfish bringing the wholesale price of 665. Included in the six ships berthed at Westport to-day were two making their first call to New Zealand, the Sydney trawler Korowai (4885, * tons) and the French collier Notou, which arrived this morning from New Caledonia. . ■ , ,

. The Notou, which will load . a full cargo of coal, probably 3000 tons, for Noumea, has previously traded between Noumea and New Caledonia and Australian ports. The officers are Frenchmen and the crew Kanakas and Chinese. .•

When questioned on the significance of the more or . lees sudden call at, Westport for coal, with the Australian miners’ strike, officers of the Nobou were very reticent.