SHIPPING SUMMARY,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14103, 6 January 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

SHIPPING SUMMARY,

Tho following summary represents dipping events at this port during the period Decomber 9 to January 3, both dates inclusive:— STATISTICAL, FOREIGN", KTO. . The predictions in our last shipping summary ro anticipated activity in oversea freights. consequent upon the wool sales failed to materialise, for reasons already familiar to all shipping people. The sudden drop in wool values acted like a blight oil shippers of that commodity, consequently the old year closed in comparative dulne*s so far as deep sea vessels were concerned. Practically all the wool available fell to the Whakatane. The Delphic, which armed a day later,' struck a' cold market, and as there was no cargo offering she was put on the lay-up berth at Port Chalmers, where showill remain for a couple of weeks. With this exception, shipping matters generally aro in a healthy state particularly so in regard to passenger vessels. In other respects tliere is nothing of special note to chronicle. Since the closing date of'last summary there have been.s2 arrivals, totalling 79,011 torn, andl 44 departures, of 71)166 : tons. JL)uring tho previous period there wero 46 arrivals, of 63.991 tons, and' 47 departures, ,of 71,426 tons. Oversea, vessels accounted for soven 'arrivals totalling 28,988 tons,i and there were - six departures, of 16,371 tons. The steamer Cornwall, from West of England ports, arrived at Dunedin on December 12 from Lyttelton and northern INew Zealand porta, bringing about 600 tons of general cargo for this port, where she completed her discharge. The Shaw-Savill liner Waiwera returned to Port l Chalmers from Napier on December 14 in continuation of her Homeward loading. •

The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Whakatane arrived at Port Chalmers from Wellington on December 22, in continuation of her Homeward loading. ' 1

The Shaw-Savill liner Delphic, from Liverpool, via Australian and northern ports, arrived at Dunedin on December 22 for, the purpose of completing the discharge of her Home cargo at this port. The Shaw-Savill liner Kumara, from London direct, arrived off .the Heads on December 23, but owing to a denso fog she was unable to make port until, Christmas Eve, and berthed the next day., Fino weather., generally marked the passage throughout, the trip being devoid of incident. . 7

The steamer Elvaston arrived at Dunedin on December 25 from New.. York' direct. She left the latter port on October 23 and called at St. Vinccnt replenish her bunkers. With tbe exception of some heavy baii squalls when off the L.euwin, the voyage was chiefly fine, and no incident occurred to mark the trip. The Kaikoura completed her discharge at Port Chalmres on December 11 and sailed on that date for • Tiirfaru, • in continuation of ■ the discharge of hex Homo cargo. The Waiwera completed her Homeward loading at Port Chalmers on December'l6 and sailed for Picton in continuation of her Homeward loading. _ The Cornwall sailed on December 17 for Lyttelton and northern ports for Homeward loading. Sho took the following cargo from Port Chalmers:—loso bales tow, 1180 orates rabbits, 1015 cases cheose, 160 boxes butter, 516 boxes boned beef, 250 saoks grass seed. ' The Waiwera, which left on Dccembor 16 to continue her loading at Pictori and Wellington, took the following cargo from- hero this voyage:-1960 crates rabbits, 673 bales hemp, 578 do wool, 179 do tow, 79 ,do sheepskins, 84 do 2'abbitskins, sdo clippings, 500 saoks grass seed, 378 packages cordage; 59 sacks hides, 145 bags 6cheelite, 45 casks tallow, 18 packages of sundries. The barqus Formosa was towed to ■ sea on December 21, and sailed in ballast for Adelaide, where she will load a cargo of wheat for a Home port. The Whakatane completed hov Homey/ard loading at Port Chalmers on December 24, and sailed for Lyttelton', whencc she. proceeded to Wellington, her final port of departure.

The steamer Lord VStanley completed her discharge at Dunedin on December 28, and sailed the following morning for Newcastle, whenoe she will probably proceed to Sydney to load for Vancouver under the auspices of the Weir line. INTERCOLONIAL AND COASTAL. This branch of our shipping still continues in a state of exuberant health, both as regards freight and passengers/' Notwithstanding recent noteworthy.'additions, to tho Union Steam Ship Company's fleet, now , vessels are still building for it in the United' Kingdom, and on top of that it is reported that tho company has just completed the purchase 'of another cargo stoamer for-the coastal trade; and in every respect the shipping trade under this heading inspires unqualified optimism, 'at; the present' time. : ' • ' An item of soecial interest in- shipping circles was the despatch of the Union. Company's oartfo steamer Koonya on December 30, when she proceeded to Lyttelton to tow tho Antarctio exploring steamer Ni'mrod down to the Antarctic pack ice. On eVory hand there were evidences of .thorough- stability and that careful attention to 'the smallest detail which has so long characterised the vessels comprising the Red Funnel fleet. New running gear everywhere testified to" the 'rigger's care aloft, whilst the critical inspection to which tho whole of the machinery was subjected showed that nothing had been left to chance in that direction. Naturally, the means adopted fpr the long tow attracted special attention. A massive chain cable had been seoured around the after,, hatch' combing 6, passing./thence round mooring bollards through hawse pipes on each side of the stern, the ends -being joined to a strong shacklo which will be attached to the towing line—a 4£in steel wire hawser, 120 fathoms in length. Special attention had been paid to the creature comforts below, big stoves having been installed both in the seamen's and firemen's quarters; .and extra supplies of bedding, rugs, and .blankets were put on board to maie . the watch, below as comfortable as possible. Each member of tho crew was also supplied with special woollen underclothing, mitts, mwfflers, and oilskma,' thj provisioning'' being on an equally liberal 6cale, calculated to serve the ship's company five months if necessary. In' adHition to a .large, supply of fresh meat, tho Koonya took away 30 live sheep as an additional stand-by. The officers and crew signed, on at Port Chalmers, the ordinary crew being increased by three able-bodied seamen, all of whom" will be paid at the rate of £10 per month ; trimmers will receive £11 per month, and firemen £12. The coal supply exceeds 750 tons, and as the Koonya's consumption of fuel is about 15 tons per day, it is dear that no difficulty will be encountered in regard to the vessel's steaming power in tho event of unforeseen delay being experienced. The duration of the outwhrd and return voyages is anticipated to extend, at the outside, to about 22 days. Captain Evans is in command, and tho following officers accompany . the vessel:—Chief officer, Mr A. E. Kane; soeond, Mr Robertson; third, Mr G. M'Leod. Whatever the ultimate result- of the expedition mav/be as a whole, wo may rest assured that her partnership with the Koonya for the next two or three weeks will not prove the least interesting part of it, which, it is to be hoped, Will'prove thoroughly successful froio. every point of view.'

During the period under review there were 13 intercolonial arrivals, aggregating 28,981 tons,' and 13 departures, of '30,192 tons. ' During the previous poriod there were 15 arrivals, of 34,547 tons, and 13 departures, of 32,453 tons..

The coastal trade has been represented by 32 arrivals, amounting to 22,1412 tons, and 25 departures, of 17,787 tons. -For tho previous poriod the figures were 25 arrivals, of 16,251 tons, and 28 departures,, aggregating 22,602 tons.