CHINESE LINER ARRIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18389, 3 May 1923, Page 8

CHINESE LINER ARRIVES.

HONGKONG TO S. AMERICA. WELLINGTON PORT OF CALL. [by TEIEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The first vessel of the new Chinese line from' China to South America via Australia and New Zealand, has reached Wellington, with a small cargo for discharge. The Ling Nam (formerly a German steamer captured .by the British Navy) is owned "by the Chungwha Navigation Company, whose head office is at Lima, Peru.-. ■.. .".',-■■ - . :' ; :V.' ' * Being. the first Chinese passenger steamer to. visit -Wellington, her call here has caused a great deal of interest in both Oriental and European circles. . She has a Chinese' crew of about 150, but is mainly, officered and engineered by. Britishers. Captain W. Knagg, R.N.R., is 'in command. On her present trip the Lin Nam sailed from Hongkong on March 22. She, first called at Dutch North Borneo, where the vessel bunkered. She then proceeded to Thursday Island, Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne. It is the intention of the Chungwha Company to maintain a steamship ' service between China and South America, and the ; Ling Nam is the first of several steamers which are to be engaged. From Wellington the steamers will proceed to Tahiti, Balboa, Callao (Peru), Rica, and Iquicfuo (Chile). The vessels will return to China by the same route, and the Ling Nam is expected back at Wellington about the middle of July., v The Ling Nam's cargo for Peru included valuable shipments of silk, tea, arid a large amount of grain, the latter being loaded at Adelaide. The vessel has been refitted by the present owners On a luxurious scale. It has 135 Chinese passengers to disembark at ports of call, including the next Chinese Consul for Panama.