THE MAUI POMARE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21539, 11 January 1932, Page 5

THE MAUI POMARE

HEATING OF FRUIT CARGO SMALL QUANTITY JETTISONED. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, January 10. The Government motor ship Maui Pomare arrived at Wellington yesterday from Apia arid Niue one day ahead of schedule. Instead of first calling at Lyttelton the ship was diverted to AVellington. Some difficulty was experienced in controlling the temperature ot the fruit. Entries in the log show that the Samoan portion of the banana cargo was shipped in much hotter conditions than usual, the shade temperature at Apia, on the day of loading being 00 degrees. Some of the fruit tendered for shipment, although green in appearance, was quite soft, which would suggest that it had been submitted to heating for a considerable period prior to shipment. It is well known .that fruit subjected to such conditions gives off an abnormal amount of heat in storage. High seas and high atmospheric temperatures followed the vessel to Niue. At Niue the hatches were again opened to admit a further shipment of Niue fruit. This, fortunately, was in first-class condition tor shipment. After leaving Niue, although . the refrigerating machines were running perfectly, difficulty was experienced in bringing down the temperatures of the Samoan portion of the cargo. To avoid the loss of the whole cargo it became necessary to abandon the attempt to cool one hold, and the fruit in this portion was jettisoned. The whole of the Niue , shipment arrived in perfect green condition. A preliminary departmental inquiry was held on board after the vessel’s arrival in port, but no statement is available for publication. Since the vessel was recon ditioned some 18 months ago her propelling and refrigerating machinery have functioned perfectly. The vessel has made regular monthly trips with calls at Apia, Niue, Dunedin, Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland.. Since the inauguration of the service the vessel has carried some 250,000 cases of bananas, and only a very small proportion of these has arrived in other than perfect condition. The bulk of the cargo this trip is being taken on to Lyttelton.