THE DIRECT STEAMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15826, 26 July 1913, Page 8

THE DIRECT STEAMERS.

LONDON, July 25,-Arrived: Whakatane, from Wellington.—Sailed: Whakarua, for New Zealand. • ■ The Invercargill is due to-morrow morning with a cargo of timber from Stewart Island. The Breeze is duo to arrive here on Tuesday from Northern ports. The Storm arrived last night from Westport direct. . The Flora is due to-morrow from Westport direct. After discharge she will return to the West Coast. The Waihora is to leave Newcastle to-day with a cargo of coal for Fiji. She will afterwards load sugar for Auckland. Tho Waitemata is to leave Lyttelton today for Timaru. After completing her discharge sho will leave on Wednesday lor Newcastle. Tho Waitomo sidled from Port Chalmers yesterday morning for Newcastle, where she will load for Bluff, Dunedin, and Oamarti. . The Hercules came .up from Port Chalmers early vesterday morning to complete tho discharge of her large cargo of hardwood. Mr J. Scott joined the Tarawera_ yesterday as chief officer, relieving Mr Reid, who has been granted holiday leave. Mr W. Martin transferred, to tho position of chief officer on the Waitomo at Port Chalmers on Thursday, relieving Mr Bruce, who came ashore on holiday leave. Captain A. C. Showman returned from holiday leave during the week, and resumed command of the Waihora at Sydnoy yesterday, relieving Captain Doorly, who will return to Dunedin for instructions.

The U.S and. A Co.'s chartered steamer Aberlour is expected to leave Wellington to-dav or to-morrow for Nelson, thence 'to Lyttelton and Dunedin, for final discharge of her New York cargo. The Maitai sailed yesterday afternoon for Auckland, via East Coast ports, Mr H. Drammond, eJiief officer of the Wimmora, left tho vessel at Sydney this trip. Mr T. Cloko was promoted to ch'ff officer for tho trip to Auckland, and has now reverted to his former position as second. Mr R. Bracken, second officer of the Victoria, joined the Wimmera as chief yesterday-, and Mr Price, who acted as fourth- officer of the Wimmera from Sydney, has joined tIW Victoria in a similar capacity. The Wimmera is due to-morrow morning from Sydney, via Auckland and East Coast ports. Sho will sail on Tuesday on her return trip. . The Moeraki is due this morning from Sydnev. via Cook Strait. She, will sail from Port 'Chalmers to-morrow afternoon for Melbourne, via Blulfl and Holmrt. The Kaitfing-ata sailed from Port Chalmers vesterdav afternoon for Greymouth. where she will'load a cargo of timber for Sydney. The Whangape is due at. Auckland today with a cargo of coal from Westport, and after discharging her cargo she will proceed to Newcastle to load for New Zealand ports. ' The Kent sailed early yesterday mornmg for Bluff, where she will put out the remainder of her Liverpool cargo before proceeding to Townsville for Homeward load-

It was rumoured yesterday that there was a. probability of the Maungamu being withdrawn from the intercolonial service for a time owing to the smallpox epidemic in. Sydney. Upon inquiry at the Union Company's office yesterday afternoon we wero informed that the rumour had no foundalif consequence of injuries sustained by a bicycle accident on Thursday, Mr H. B. Hodges, second officer of the Koinata, had to remain asliorc at Wellington, and is being'relieved by Mr J. W. Cameron. The. Wakefield is expected to be clear of the DimedLn portion of her cargo of benzine and kerosene, amounting to about 25,000 cases, some time to-day, a-nd she will probably sail this evening or to-morrow morning for Lyttelton. The Waipori is due to leave, Sydney today to load a cargo of coal at Newcastle for Melbourne. She will leave tho latter port on August 12 for Hobart, Duncdm, Lvttelton, and Wellington, with cargo that would have been brought over by tho Willociira had tho latter vessel continued her running in the intercolonial service. The £arori was due to arrive at Melbourne yesterday with a cargo of timber from G'rcymouth. She will laitcnvaTds complete di<=charET: at Melbourne, and will then load a cargo of phosphates at the latter port for Timaru, Napier, and New Plymouth. . ~ , . , Tli« Taltme is due at Auckland to-day from the Eastern Pacific. She will afterwards nroceed to Wcstport to load for Wellington", and will then bo withdrawn for docking and overhaul The Shftw, Snvill 'liner Kiimara is scheduled to remain at Port Chalmers until August 16, when she will load at Timaru, Auckland, and Wellington, sailing finally from tho last-named port on September 5 for London. The Shaw-Savill liner Waimaiia, which left on Juno 19, is due to arrive at Wellington on August 5. She will afterwards visit- LytteK'on and Dunedin for final discharge. . ~, The Tyser liner Indrabarah arrived oil the H<?a3k during Thursday night, and was boarded early vesterday morning by' Pilot ■ •M'Douiall, who made an attempt to enter tho harbour during the forenoon. Owing to the heavy south-west Salo and the fact that the big liner was in very light trim and difficult to inanasc the pilot deemed it prudent to keep outside rather than take any risks such as might have to bo faced by bringing the Indrabarah through the narrow in the teeth of the gale. the gale showed no sign of abating last evening but if the weather is at all favourable the vessel will doubtless como up to Port Chalmers early this jnorning. Advice has been jleceived to the cltect that the steamer African Monarch, which is under time charter to Mr A. 11. Hasel, left Hakodate (Japan) on July 8 with a full uavo of superphosphates and sulphur lor Auckland and other New Zealand ports. The vessel is due at Auckland about August

Mr A. J. Tointon, late of the steamers Romulus'and Arapawa, has joined the Himitangi as chief officer. Mr D. Owen, late of the Haupiri, has joined the Arapawa as mate. . , Mr J A. Owen, second engineer of the Regains, left that vessel at Wellington on Wednesday. , . Mr J. V. Burns, eecond engineer of the Pukaki, having rejoined his ship, Mr D. B Hutton has come ashore for instructions. The Sumatra, one of the fleet of 20,000tonners ordered some time ago by the Ger-man-Australian Line for the ContinentalAustralian trade ha 6 begun her maiden voyii"o to Australia, having sailed from Hamburg on the sth inst. The Sumatra is at present the largest liner owned by the Ger-man-Australian Line 'for the mission, an honour she will evidently share with the steamers Java and Tasmania, and from the accounts received of hci' is a decidedly, fine vessel in every respect. She is, of course (says an Australian cxehti.i.ge), essentially a cargo vessel, but is fitted with wireless, electricity, and other things necessary for the handling of cargo in the promptest possible way. Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane arc the norts the Sumatra is bound for but she will call at Antwerp, Capetown,

and AJffoa -Bay on route. After completing her discharge at Lyttcltou the Ruahine will subsequently visit the Bluff Napier, Auckland, and Wellington to load for London. Captain Forbes is still in command of the Ruahinc, and has with him the following officers :-Mcssrs P. P. CWford (late Turakma), chief officer; H. M Williams, sfcond; A. S. Bird, third; H. Oliver, fourth; Dr J. C. Hones, surgeon; Mr C. Scarle, purser; Messrs J. Seott, civet engineer; A. White, second; A. Milbach third; A. R. Peaveoii, fourth; E. Bourne, fifth; M. Keyes, sixth; J. Bssot, first refrigerating engineer; J. btorm, second; Mr J. Vyec is electrician, and Mr It" L. 'W'illis Marconi operator.