A SHIPPING PURCHASE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16168, 19 February 1913, Page 10

A SHIPPING PURCHASE.

THE RECENT ADDITION TO THE RED FUNNEL FLEET. UNION COMPANV'S ACTION NOT UNEXPECTED. COMMENT IN AUCKLAND. [From Our Correspondent.] AUCKLAND. February 18. Apart from the important interests involved, the purchase by the Union Steam Ship Company of the four steamers Tyronne (6664 tons), Westmeath (8096 tons), Roscommon (7368 tons) and the Limerick (6827 tons), is one of the most interesting moves that has been made in the shipping jugglo for some time (says tho " Auckland Star"). It was not altogether unexpected, in fact it has beeu something of an open secret in London for somo time that the four Grange steamers had changed hands again, and that they were to join the Red Funnel fleet. When the Westmeath and Tyrone were at Auckland a few days ago it was learnt that though the steamers were still on the register as the property of the New Zealand Shipping Company there was a belief abroad that the Union Steam Ship Company were soon to take the vessels over. Curiously enough, a number of people who knew nothing of the proposed change asked if the Tyrone was a Union Steam Ship Company's ship, because her funnol had been painted the familiar red and black. This change was made, however, when the New Zealand Shipping Company took the vessels over,> and before the Union Steamship Company had made a move. When the steamers were owned by Messrs Houlder Brothers, and were a part of the well-known Federal-Houl-der-Shire Line, the funnels were red and black with a white maltese cross.

The flutter in the New Zealand Shipping Company's and Union Steam Ship Company's snares has been watched during the last few weeks with' more than usual interest, and tho fact that tho latter firm's shares has been decidedly on the upward grade during the last few days indicates that a few more people were in the " know' about the purchase. Quite a lot of prominence has been given recently to the possibilities of England's East and West Coast trade, and so it will not be surprising if the Union Steam Ship Company decide to keep their steamers in that trade, but it is difficult to understand why the New Zealand Shipping Company hare disposed of the four Grange steamers so soon after the purchase. When interviewed in Auckland upon the announcement from London that tho New Zealand Shipping Company wore to take over the Houlder steamers, Mr Issac Gibbs, general manager for that company, said that tho great advantage that would accrue from the purchase was the increased power of outward loading. It was well known that it was difficult for the New Zealand companies to get on to tho London berths, and the purchase of the Houlder Line would give the ISew Zealand Shipping Company that advantage. Now this advantage has been sold to tho Union Steam Ship Company, so that the problem is just how far 'the interests of the two lines are one.

VESSELS TAKEN OVER. TO REMAIN IN DIRECT HOME TRADE. [From Our Correspondent.] DUNEDIN, February 18. The four steamers that Sir James Mills recently arranged to purchase from Messrs Houlder Brothers and Company were formerly known under more familiar names. The Limerick carried the name of the Rippingham Grange, the Westmeath was the Everton Grange, the Tyrone's bow and stern used to be painted Drayton Grange, and tho Roscommon was sailing as the Oswestry Grange, when Mr Seddon died on her during the voyage from Sydney. The Tyrono is on the New Zealand const at tho presenttime. The four vessels are to remain in the direct trade between England and Australasia, and they are to still carry the flag of tho Federal Shire Line.