CARGOES FROM GERM ANY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15728, 1 October 1914, Page 9

CARGOES FROM GERM ANY

NEW ZEALAND SHIPMENTS.

POSITION OF CONSIGNEES. []JT TELEGKAPU—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT] Wellington*, Wednesday. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has received advice that the North German Lloyd Sydney agent lias intimated that the steamers Pfutz, Hessen, Griefs- ' wald, Thuringen, and Lothringcn, which j liavo been detained in Melbourne, are ! being sent on to Sydney with prize crews, and that the cost of running the 'steamers under prize crews and all expenses in connection therewith, including the freight from Sydney to port of destination in New Zealand will have to be borne by the consignees. It is stated further tii.it unless the consignees undertake to pay all such charges it is likely that the goods will be stored in Sydney at consignees' risk and expense. It is thought, however, that it is by no means certain that the expense of ! working the vessels with the prize crews I will have to bo borne by consignees. I Apparently the prize crews are being nut | on board by the prize court, and whether | that court will insist on all consignees ' bearing tho expenses lias yet to be shown. Tho estimated cost of sending these \essels from Melbourne to Sydney and Brisbane is as follows —Lothringcn, £-185; Hessen, £552; Pfalz, £642; •Scliarzfels, in Adelaide, £891; Griefswald, in Fremantlo, £1191— exclusive of pilot, and port charges and discharging cargo. If the cargo is transhipped into inter-colonial steamers on the coast of Australia, _ the charges would be much heavier than if tho cargo were carried from port to port in itho original German bottom with a prize I crew on hoard. Tho freights on cargo in j Gorman ships intended for New Zealand 1 was inclusive of transhipping charges in ! Australia before tho war; now such cargo j lias to bo carried at the expense of the I consignee* from the port of the ship's detention. That is to say. the consignees !in New Zealand aro now liable for the I cost of tho carriage of the cargo, which in normal times would have been transhipped from Australia at the German ships' ' expenseIn view r/f the cabled report.* that, the Germans have elsewhere confiscated British steamers detained under similar circumstances, tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce holds that it does not seem impossible nor unfair that similar measures will bo taken in Australia. If this is so the cost of running the ships under prize crows, and tho further expenses incurred by forwarding cargo to its destination in New Zealand might in fairness "become a charge upon the ships. The matter of New Zealand consignees being represented at the prize courts at Melbourne, Sydney, Capetown, and elsewhere is to bo considered at the council meeting of the Wellington Chamber on Monday. Tho chamber is endeavouring to learn the views of consignees who aro interested, and whether they are prepared to bear a-proportion of the expenses.

NEWS FROM PACIFIC.

GERMANS ACTIVE

SEVERAL STEAMERS SEIZED.

Tho steamer Moresby, which arrived at Sydney from the Gilbert and Marshall planus last week, brought news of the capture by Germans of several steamers, incluu«ng 'the island steamer Induna, at Jaluit, in the Marshall Islands. On inquiry being made at the offices of Messrs. Burns, Philp. and Co., Ltd-, ft was learned that, as far as tho company knew, it was not correct that the Induna bad oeen sunk. From information received by the Moresby the Germans have beer? particularly active in the Pacific since the outbreak of war. The high-power wireless station at Nauru owned by the Germans, and which lias since been reported to have been captured by tho British, has enabled the Germans to take precautionary measures in these islands long before the British there knew of the true position. As soon as the first news of war was received by wireless at Nauru the German authorities immediately took steps to warn German traders at outlying islands. Small German steamere wero at once despatched from Nauru and these took the news of war to the Germans in the Marshall Islands and the outlying Caroline Islands. News also drifted through to Ocean Island, where tho British Government Resident for the Gilbert and F.llico Groups is located. The Germans, however," appear to have received the news first 'at the various groups, and the Moresby, while on her tour of the groups, receivco news that the Germans- had captured the Induna, one of Messrs. hums, Philp, and Co.'s island steamers, as well as a Japanese steamer. Altogether four or five steamers were located"at Jaluit. These consisted of the Induna, a Japanese steamer, a Gorman warship, and a couple of small vessels. These boats were ali anchored at Jaluit as recently as September 3. So far as her owners are aware, the Induna was going her usual round in the Marshall Islands, and the captain and crew evidently did not know that war had been declared. Slip apparently went into Jaluit, arid, according to the information received, she was anchored there with other vessels on September 3, and had been anchored there for three weeks prior to that date. Her white crew was still on board, but her natives crew bad been sent back to their homes in the various islands in the Marshall Group. It therefore appears that the Induna had been seized at Jaluit by the German warship, and, together with the other vessels mentioned, is being detained there.

GLAD TO SEE AUSTRALIA.

EXCITING TIME. ON STEAMER

DUTCH FLEET SIGHTED,

Passengers by the Singapore liner Paroo, , which arrived at romantic a few days > ago, had a most exciting timo during the , voyage south, and it was a relief to all on board when they sighted Australian shores. When the Paroo left Premantlc on the outward voyage war had only just been declared, and, as the enemy's warships ' were reported to bo in the track of Singai pore-bound steamers, the anxiety of the ' captain and his officers can readily bo ! imagined. On her northward trip the ' Paroo had to make Ihly Straits, a narrow ' passage at the eastern end of Java. As j she was passing through the Straits a ' steamer's smoke was made cut on lie hori- ! zoo in the direction of Madiera Island. A • little later three cruisers and live torpedoboats were seen to be making full steam ' towards the Paroo. As they came closer j it was seen that they were Dutch warI chips, but, as it was not known on the J Paroo as to what attitude Holland had | adopted towards England, those on board | were particularly anxious, the more so i when it was noticed that tho warships j -were nil cleared for action. "1 thought it was to be the last of the old Parno," remarked one of the officers; I " but what was our relief when suddenly j the warships veered round and made off | again towards their anchorage near | Madiera Island. They had approached I close enough to read tie name on mil) [ bow.i. and when they left 'is unmolested I wo knew that Holland had decided to reI main neutral." '! On the return trip the Paroo had every- ; thing in readings to take her departure ! when the authorities ordered her to re- ■ main at Singapore anchorage until further ; orders. After a wait of seven days, Capj tain Richardson received word that the I course was clear. Just about that time German cruisers had been reported in the ' vicinity, and the Saturday prior to tho Paroo's departure a- German cruiser, sup- , posed f.o be tho Seliarnhorst, had sunk the British steamer City of Lincoln. , Every preparation was taken on the trip | south to avoid the risk of capture. 1