COAL FOR AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18494, 3 September 1923, Page 8

COAL FOR AUCKLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN SUPPLIES. ; NEWCASTLE AND WEST '• COAST.'' MANY EXTBA; SHIPS ENGAGED. There is a considerable improvement in the coal supplies at Auckland' from Newcastle . and West Coast ports, but the stocks are still very low, and it will {be a long time before they are normal. At the beginning of August there was ail 'acute shortage owing to the minora;'l strike at Newcastle, which had lasted ' four months, .and the position was accentuated by the " : prevalence of ' influenza and, la*er, by a strike at Millerton lessening the Coal shipments from , Wesliport arid . Greyrnouth. :' With the resumption- of work at New* castle and West Coast •: conditions . ; becoming normal, a heavy demand for colliers has set in, with the re." It that a number of steamers have been diverted from the coastal trade to.;. load - at coal ports. :.'■;'■:'" -■; '. • -.- The firs't steamer to load a "cargo of coal at Newcastle for Auckland after the strike was the Kauri, which arrived here on August 13. She was followed by the Iturow, now discharging at the Western Wharf. The Rakanoa is due here from Newcastle to-morrow. The Kuirow is expected to sail for Newcastle to-mor-row and load again for this port, and the Kawatere, now .in the South, has been fixed to load at Newcastle about September' 15 for Auckland. The Kaitoke, which arrived at Auckland- on Friday night from ' Newcastle, via Sydney and Fiji, has about 2500 tons of coal to discharge here, but 1000 tons of sugar from Fiji will be landed before the coal is unloaded. " The Katoa, due at Auckland this morning, from Southern ports, ."•■to proceed to Newcastle . to load for a port -not announced. • .'.'•..•'■.'... ■". ! Two cargoes of coal will reach Auckland from West Coast, ports this waek. I The Kaimanawa, after being delayed at Westport by the Millerton strike, sailed on Saturday for Auckland. The Karon loaded at Greyrnouth, but was delayed by a rough sea on the bar. It was expected that she would also be dispatched for Auckland on Saturday. The Waipori is also due early from .Westport. ..She « bringing only a part cargo of coal, We remainder having been -at Napier. and Gisborne. - Following the three - steamers mentioned, the Canoipus will be the next steamer from the West Coast. She is expected to leave Westport 'for Auckland ; .about Wednesday..; Tho shortage of steam coal tin -Mew Zealand is geuaral, consequentlycolliers are being dispatched from Newcastle for various ports as fast as possible. _At least nine steamers arrived at various New Zealand ports last week with Newcastle coal. On Monday the Wairaarino armed at Port Chalmers, and the Kaikprai, at. Bluff. On Tuesday the Korormko arrived at New Plymouth, and the Waiotapu « at Wellington. On Thursday the, Otarama arrived at Lvttelton, and th* Kurow at Auckland/ 'On Friday the ,{ awatere axrived at Lvttelton, tha. Kokin at Wel--1 neton and the Kauri at Port Chalmers. U The Waimarinn and the Waiotapu are trans-Pacific steamers, and.have been put on the coal trade to contend with the rash of orders. The Qtarama is one of the Now Zealand Shipping Company's : fleet, 5 is under charter to tfxe.Wn Company while carrying ooal. , , ...