TRADE WITH EAST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23113, 11 August 1938, Page 16

TRADE WITH EAST

DUTCH LINEIt'S VISIT TASMAN ARRIVING TO-DAY EXPANSION OF SERVICES CALL AT NORFOLK ISLAND Marking a new development in the service of the Royal Packet Navigation Company's South Pacific Line, the arrival at Auckland this afternoon of the passenger steamer Tasman oil her first visit to the Dominion is an important event in communication between the East and New Zealand. The Tasman, commanded by Captain C. A. M. 1. Kramers, will, with the motorship Maetsuyckcr, maintain a monthly direct service to the Netherlands Indies, British Malaya and Saigon, in French Indo-China. She will berth at Queen's Wharf. The South Pacific Line's trade was inaugurated less than 18 months ago, but development of freight and i passenger service has resulted in an unusual expansion of facilities. The first two ships were the Maetsuyckcr, a new motorship, and the steamer Van Rees. The Van Rees was replaced in January by the larger vessel Swartenhondt, but to give increased cargo and passenger accommodation the Swartenhondt lifts been withdrawn for the Tasman. In the past the Maetsuyckcr has been the only ship with refrigerated cargo space and the Tasman will now cope with increased exports of produce, having six refrigerated chambers. More Passenger Accommodation The Tasman was built at Hull in 1921 for the Royal Packet Navigation Company and, before being transferred to the Xcw Zealand trade, slie was for some years in the service between the Orient, Java and South Africa. The construction of three 15,000-ton motorliners, the Boissevan, Ruys and Tegelberg, for this service enabled the existing ships to be transferred to other trades, and the Tasman spent some time at Batavia receiving complete refit and reconditioning for her new career. Of 5000 tons gross, the Tasman has accommodation for 81 passengers, or 31 more than the Maetsuyckcr or Swartenhondt. She has an average speed of 1.'3 knots and her voyage from Saigon, which she cleared on July 15, has been made a da\\ ahead of schedule. Oranges and Grapefruit In a special cablegram to the Hkrat.tj, received yesterday, the Administrator of Norfolk Island, Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal, advised that the Tasman sailed from Norfolk Island on Tuesday afternoon - with 21 passengers and more than 700 cases of fruit for Auckland, the shipment including GOO cases of oranges and grapefruit consigned to the Internal Marketing Department. This will bo the third shipment of oranges to be made to Auckland since ly:J5.