SHIPPING SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, 27 April 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

Tins summary represents shipping events for the period commencing April 9 to April 26, both dates inclusive. STATISTICAL, FOBEIGX, ETC. Since April 9 last shipping matters liave been fairly brisk. The total number of vessels arrived inwards during the period specified was 30, representing a tonnage of 43.912 tons register, and tho departures for the same period numbered 32, with a total of 37.276 tons register. Last summary gave 29 arrival?, aggregating 75,622 tons register, and 33 departures, with a total of 80,583 tons. The oversea trade has been represented by four vessels inwards, totalling 23,743 tons resistor, and three vessels outwards, totalling 8539 tons register. In last summary tho oversea arrivals wore eight vessels, representing 26.006 tons resistor, and five departures, representing 33,382 ions reeister. Tho first oversea arrival in the present period was the s.s. Star of New Zealand, 4741 tons (Captain Beck), from New York, with a general cargo of American merchandise, followed a week later by the s.s. Maori, 5317 tons (Captain Nicole), from London, with wveral passengers and

general cargo. -The New Zealand Shipping Company's fine steamer Rimutaka, 7765 tons (Captain Cameron), camo also to this port to discharge a large quantity of cargo, and H.M.S.. Encounter arrived at Port Chalmers from Paterson's Inlet.

The first of the Homeward-bound vessels to leave this pOM during the period under review was the fine cargo steamer Essex, 7010 tons (Captain Youno), which left for London, via the Bluff and northern ]x>rts. on ;April 11. Her cargo from this port was as follows:—For "London—ls6 packages cordage. For Barry—B9o frozen lambs. For Liverpool—29l"frozen lambs."lß4 bales flax. 8 casks tallow. For Glasgow—lso2 boxes boned beef.. For Bristol—7so sacks oats. For Manchester—loo cases preserved meats. The next ■ vessel was the barque Pharos, 1227 tous (Captain Tonkin), which left, on April 20 for Vancouver in ballast, followed a. few'davs later bv the s.s. Star of New Zealand. 2852 tons (Captain Beck), suiting for Wellington:' ISTKBCOLOXUI AND COASTAL The trade between tho port of Otago and those of tho Australian colonies has fully maintained its usual average. The arrivals during the present period-have been nine vessels, aggregating . 18.313 tons register, and the departures eight vessels, representing 18,785 tons. The arrivals during last period were eight vessels, representing 31,146 tons, and the departures nine vessels, representing 30.235 tons. Our coastal trade has lieon represented by the arrival of 16 vessels, aggregating 7425 tons, and the departures numbered 19 vessels, representing 9719 tons. In last, return we registered 16 arrivals;, representing 18.470 tons, and. 19 departures, representing 16,969 tons. GKXERAT,. The principal topic of interest in local shipping .circles during the past few weeks has been the announcement, of reduced passenger fares to London on the Federal-Houlder-S'niro line of direct learners, and a preliminary announcement that reduced freight rates would also be shortly inaugurated. The reports which were circulated caused considerable interest to be taken in the matter by Hie various shipping companies likely to be affected by a cutting of freight rates, and tho advent of a freight war was eagerly awaited by shippers of fiwen mutton and farm products generallv. and much speculation was indulged in as to what the eventual outcome would amount 10, but up to tiie present nothing definite lias transpired. Vessels loading at coastal porta are* filling up with cargo at the old rates, and as long as eargo is offering freely, as at present, it is considered very unlikely that there will l;c anv reduction of rates worth mentioning. The Federal steamer's Dorset and Fissox and the Rimutaka (now on the coast) will deport, with large cargoes at full rates, and the Mamari is reported to have taken away one of tho largest frozen meat, cargoes that has yet left tho colony. THE FIRF, ON THE MIMIRO. WELLINGTON. April 25. At the inquiry held into the fire on iho steamer Mimiro on April 10 tho evidence showed that there was no sign of spontaneous combustion, and Iho jury returned a verdict, that the fire was caused by outward application, but there " was nothing to show by whom or how it was applied.