MARITIME MATTERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5134, 28 November 1903, Page 16

MARITIME MATTERS.

(By “.Mainsail.”) Tho shipping conference, convened by tho Masters and Engineers’ Association, and at which representatives of the harbour and Now South ./ales coastal shipping companies were present, was eo:iclu;l»( at Sydney recently. It was -decided that the minimum wages for masters and engineers be i’J a week for (JP hours for lug boat,-! on barboins and rivets and vithiu a radius of ID miles outside harbours. The chairman said that men engaged on tug baits bad tc-ld him “it was a luxury ioi Ilnur, to get heme to kiss the who and kids cnee a for! night.” A motion that the hours of work oa seagoing tugboats be 00 weekly was negatived. Propositions that all vessels Lo surveyed and inspected every 12 months, and that holders of masters and engineers’ certificates should not act in a dual capacity wero carried.

A now steamship company has been formed to trade between Alclhouvuo, Apollo Lay and Lome, and Melbourne, Westcnipoi-t, and Anderson's Inlet. The company has purchased (ho .steamer Alauawati; for the Apollo Lay trade, and tho steamer Ellen for the M es-torn-port. Tho ALanawatu has already entered ou her naming to Apollo Lay, and tho Ellon will enter tho Waste import trade on January 1. What is described as the largest fivemasted schooner in tho world has been successfully launched at Lath, in tho State of Alai.no, and christened the Elizabeth Palmer. Her dimensions are given as 300 ft by 48ft by 28ft, .arid her gross measurement is 3055 tons. She will spread 0000 yards of canvas, and bo fitted with all the latest improvements in sail hoisting machinery.

A tarbino steamer is to bo built by Alessrs Workman, Clark, and Co., of Belfast, for tho Atlantic trade of the Allen Lino Company; Her main dimensions will bo:—Length over all, 500 ft, gross tonnage about I2.UUU, liorae-po wer 10,000 indicated, ami speed 17 knots, and this speed, if maintained, will it is estimated, shorten tho passage to Canada by about a full day of 2-1 hours.

Everyone who has travelled across tho Pacific (says a Sydney exchange) knows Captain Carey, tho venerable commander of tho Canadian Royal Mail steamer Moana. Ho holds pride of place as being the most popular captain on tho Pacific, and has a unique record. Ho has crossed tho Pacific Ocean no fewer than 108 times, and is the oldest captain on tho American trade. Ho made 43 return voyages to ’Frisco in tho Moncwa'i in 13 years, and sailed on his 12th voyage to Canada in the ■ Moana recently. Captain Carey has a fast ship under him, and his many courtesies to his passengers have contributed to the Moana’s success in the Canadian mail lino, and she has boon aptly termed “Tho Favourite Ship of tho Pacific.” Tho Bureau of Navigation at Washington, United States, reports that during August 106 vessels, 2ti,U34 tons, were ' built in tho United States and officially registered. Tho bulk of the tonnage was contributed by Atlantia and Grand Lakes ports, tho former launching 63 vessels, of 10,526 tons, and tho latter 12 vessels of 11,545 tons register. Only 10 of those vessels were of stool construction —a sailing ship, of 3246 tons, and nine steamers, of 13 037 tons —and four of these, produced by Lake yards, accounted for no leas than. 11,303 tons. One of tho steamers was of nearly 5000 tons, and another approached 4000 tons. The tLoadon Salvage Association's massage from Lloyd’s surveyors at Sydney says, that tho repairs to tho ship Earl of Dunmoro, which was recently destroyed by fire in Sydney Harbour, will bo costly. It seems , that 18 hull, four stringer, and throo collision bulkhead plates, nine main, and four ’tween dock beams were buckiea. Tho foremast. was also buckled, and 4500 running feet cf her dock was burnt. Tho lowest tender for her repairs was £4070. Additional sales will cost £7OO, deck stores £4OO, provisions £350 and contingencies £SOO. Total, £6029. ' “Lloyd’s Shipping Gazette” has the following;—“Tho Continental steamship lines in tho North Atlantic Conferenco recently gave a fortnight’s notice to tho British Conference lines, terminating tho agreement which has existed between them for two years pash With regard to first and second dlasa Atlantic passenger _ rates. The Continental companies which non' withdraw aro tho North-German Lloyd, the Hamburg-Amorican, Red Star, and tho French Transatkinitique, leaving tho companies of tho Morgan Combine alono in tha conference — viz., tho White Star, Dominion' and Leyland lines, as tho Ounard line withdrew some tim'a ago.” Included in notices cf shipping sales by this raafl aro tho stod steamer Maesilia, 5011 to-na gross, 2745 tons not, built and engined by. Caird and Co., Greenock, in 1384, arid owned by the P. and 0., London, to Mr Pitaluga, Genoa, for about £9100; tho steamer Parrama,ta, 4886 tons gross. 2854 tons not, also built and engined for the P. and O. Co. by Caird and Co., in 1882, at Bombay; purchaser not disclosed. Launceston papers refer to the accident to th'o Union steamer Wakatipu on bar last passage from Sydney to Launceston as a sensational affair! “All wont well,” says ono account, “until nearing Deal Island, when tho Wakatipu crashed into some object that made her shiver from stem to stern, and threw all on hoard into a stato of wild excitement. At the time the Wakatipu was travelling at full speed, taking heir usual course. ' The accident happened about 4 o’clock on Saturday morning, and all the passengers were below. Tho vessel was about 8 miles off tho nearest land. The weather was fine, but misty, and good progress being ' made. All at once, and without tho slightest warning, tho steamer struck something with tremendous force. Within, a miriute almost the whole of tho passengers and orew wore on dock, thinking naturally that tho vessel had struck a rook, and preparations Were made for an emergency. The vessel, however, did not alter her icoureo, ancll from observations made thero mas nothing to indicate what had actually caused the compact. Soundings were at onco taken, and showed that there was a good 30 fathoms of water. A hurried examination was made of tho rosso!, but tbo extent of tho damage caused could not ho ascertained. She was making a little water, however, and Captain Livingstone ordered all steam to ho put on, and mado the quickest possible run to Tamar Heads, whore she arrived on Saturday at midday, reaching Launceston about 3 p.m. Quo of tho passengers, in speaking of the occurrence, stated that tho force with which tho Wakatipu struck the obstacle made it appear os if she was going to pieces. The shock was so sharp and sudden that it must liavo Been some solid substance. It was not tho sort of shock ono would expect from striking a whale.”