Southampton’s Port For Dominion Produce

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 189, 12 August 1936, Page 12

Southampton’s Port For Dominion Produce

SIR MICHAEL MYRES’ VISIT

Facilities for handling Now Zealand’s produce at Southampton were seen recently by members of the New Zealand group of the Overseas League, several of whom were the guests of the Southern Railway. They watched the Shaw, Savill vessel Wairangi being unloaded and saw its cargo of Canterbury lamb placed into cold storage. They also saw the liner Queen Alary, at present.in dock for overhaul, and the King George graving dock, which provides adequate accommodatiou for the largest vessels afloat. During the past ten years Southampton has enlarged its port especially to cater for overseas trade. It anticipates handling increase quantities of New Zealand produce. Part of tho work has included the reclamation of 407 acres of land, and where there was once water there now stands a 700 ft. long quay offering berthing acconlmodation for eight of the world's largest liners. A sum of £10,000,000 has been spent on these new extensions, and 131 acres of the reclaimed land have been set aside for the establishment of factories and depots. The New Zealand part}’, which included Sir Alichael Alyers, the Chief Justice of New Zealand, and Dr. L. J. Comrie, of tho Nautical Almanac Office at Greenwich, were driven along the new quay to tho empty graving dock, which is capable of taking a vessel up to 100,000 tons. They were also taken through, the pumping station, which, controls four pumps capable of emptying the dock of 58,000,000 gallons of water in four hours; and they inspected new sheds on the quay side. Later the party was taken to see the four-funnelled Afundle Castle, inloading thousands of crates Of South African fruit. They watched Canterbury lamb swung otit from the holds of the NVairangi, aud slid down chutes into the cold storage rooms—a transaction requiring only five minutes to perforin for each slingful of carcases. Particular interest was taken in a cold store in which were stacked vast quantities of New Zealand Stunner apples. These will not be placed on the market until the autumn. Tho party watched a train being loaded with New Zealand lamb for the Smithfield market, and opportunity was taken to visit the wharves where the Queen Alary and the Berengaria, giant liners, w6ro tied up side by side. During luncheon the Southern Railway was thanked for its hospitality by Sir Alichael Alyres.