SHIPS “DROP” A DAY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 6 January 1936, Page 7

SHIPS “DROP” A DAY

PORT HUON’S PASSAGE (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. Although this is a leap year of 3GO days, travellers by at least three ships arriving at Wellington yesterday and to-day have already lost the extra day. The vessels concerned are the Commonwealth and Dominion motor-liner Port Huon-from London, and the Norwegian motor-tanker Thorhikl, which arrived at Wellington yesterday, and the Union liner Makura, which is due early this morning from San Francisco, laliiti and Rarotonga. The three ships mentioned crossed the 180th meridian during last week, and consequently dropped a day from their calendars in order to bring their time into conformity with New land time. In all probability, too, the three ships were among the last in the world “to see the old year out and the New Year in.” That interesting event was certainly celebrated on board the Port Huon nearly 24 hours later than in New Zealand, whose “time” is 12 hours in advance of Greenwich mean time. The Port Huon, which arrived yesterday morning from London, via Curacao and the Panama Canal, had a pleasant passage,, marked by fine weather nearly all the way. The ship brought 11 passengers and lias general cargo to discharge at Wellington and Lyttelton. The Port Huon was not quite halfway across the Pacific Ocean from Balboa to Wellington on Christmas Day, which was festively celebrated by the various sections of the ship’s company. Turkey and the roast beef of old England and many delicacies were provided for the Christmas dinner. The passengers had a thoroughly enjoyable clay and were presented with souvenir menu cards carrying photographs of the ship and printed and decorated on board. Tlie passing of the old year and the advent of 1930 was also celebrated fittingly; but the ship’s company were “robbed” of a day in the new year by the dropping of Saturday from tlie calendar. Thus the ship passed from Friday, 3rd January, to arrive at Wellington yesterday morning (Sunday).