SHORTAGE OF BERTHS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18577, 8 December 1923, Page 12

SHORTAGE OF BERTHS.

AUCKLAND'S BUSY PORT.

LARGE STEAMERS ARRIVING.

ONE A DAY THIS MONTH.

The Port of Auckland is very busy at present with shipping, and nearly all the berths at the wharves are occupied. Other vessels are due by Monday, and as the Harbour Board will find it difficult to place them ton arrival, it is possible some may have to remain in the stream until berths are available. The vessels in port this morning are the Arawa, Middlesex, Port Victor, and Awahou, at the Queen's Wharf; the Quebec City, Tofua, and Kurow, at the Central Wh&rf; the Waihora, Canadian Spinner, Pakeha, and Karori, at the King's Wharf. The Wingatui is duo to-day, and the Arahura to-morrow. The former will go to the Central Wharf, but the berth for the Arahura has not been announced. The West Nilus, from San Francisco, and the Trevithic, from Texas, are due at any time. The West Nilus will berth at the Western Wharf, but the Trevithic's berth has not been fixed. On Monday the .Royal Mail steamer Makura is due from Sydney, the Kaikoura from New York, the Ngakuta from Greymouth. The Marama is due from Sydney on Tuesday, the Port Denison from the South, and the Kauri from Newcastle. The only departures of note are the Karori and Waihora to-day. The congestion is due largely to some of the vessels in port having been delayed here longer than was expected. The Port Victor was to have sailed to-daj, but she will not leave before Tuesday morning. The Middlesex and the Arawa should have got away to-morrow morning, but the Middlesex is now to sail on Tuesday and the Arawa on Wednesday A.i further delays may take place berths for vessels due cannot be allotted until their arrival in port. Shipping firms, merchants, and steve dores are looking forward to the com pletion of the Prince's Wharf, as th« berths there would be very acceptable at present. There will be more or less congestion of shipping at Auckland all this month, which will be an exceptional busy one. According to the latest advices the arrivals of large overseas steamers other than Southern coasters, intercolonial steamers, and Island vessels, will average about one a day during December.