THE COASTAL TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15652, 4 July 1914, Page 4

THE COASTAL TRADE.

NORTHERN COMPANY'S PLANS, I ; SECURING NEW . VESSELS. § It has been practically decided by the directors of the Northern Steamship Company to purchase another steamer for the ../V'i coastal services, Mr. C. Ranson, general .; manager for the company, returned from Wellington on Thursday morning! after ''! a business visit to the Southern city in' connection with the purchase of a suitable steamer. Mr. Hanson announced vesterday that -while in Wellington he injected the coastal steamer Arapr.wa, with a view to his company purchasing her. The inspection of the Arapawa appears to havo been satisfactory, and should the vessel pass tho customary examination, sho will be acquired by the company. It is inteuded to employ the steamer on the west coast. Should tho Arapawa bo purchased she will be placed in the trade between Wanganui, Opunake, and Waitara, in place of the Rimu. The Rimu will then make regular trips from Onckunga to Raglan, Kawhia, and Hokianga each week. Nothing has as yet been decided upon in regard to the Claymore, which is at present employed in the west coast trade, but in all probability thus vessel will be withdrawn and diverted to ono of the services on the east coast, Tho Arapawa i s a handy little steelbuilt vessel of 291 gross and 128 net tons. Sho was constructed in 1908 at Paisley by Messrs. J. Eullcrton and Company, for the Coastal Steamship Company, Ltd' Sho is of the (vt-li-deck type, and has accommodation for six passengers. The vessel is a cargo-carrier. She i £ . now owned by the South Taranaki Shipping Company, and trades regularly" between " Wellington and Wanganui. Her length is 120 ft sin, breadth 22ft lin, and depth oft oin. r The Northern Company is also having a new steamer built at Dunodin for the Auckland-Wa:pu passenger and cargo cer- ' vice. _ She will be about the size of the Hauiti, and is to be ready to take up her running in nine months' time, _ Two auxiliary scows are at present being constructed at Auckland for the company. When completed they will be placed in the trade"between Auckland and Oh wa. Whakatane, and Opotiki. The veaeeh aw being built for tho purpose of faci!iL:.t,:.ng the working of the coastal steamerii at shallow-bar ports. The scows are expected to be ready for launching early m November. °