PORT ACTIVITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26623, 20 November 1947, Page 10

PORT ACTIVITY

QUICKENING TEMPO LARGE AUSTRALIAN CARGOES After a lull in the activity at the Port of Otago, the tempo has quickened again, and with the arrival of four more ships to-day the wharves will present a busier appearance. Yesterday the overseas freighter Inchwells and three coastal vessels—Katui, Holmburn and Holmglen—occupied berths at Dunedin, another two overseas merchantmen, Mahana and Marabank, being tied up at Port Chalmers. In the aggregate, the shipping in the port was upwards of 30,000 tons gross, a figure which will swell to the 45,000ton mark to-day if the four vessels expected—two overseas, one intercolonial and one coastal —maintain their schedules. A reflection of the increasing Australian exporls to New Zealand may be seen in the fact that three ships will be in port to-day unloading cargoes from the Commonwealth. The discharge of 6200 tons, including a wheat consignment of 5000 tons purchased under the recent agreement between the Australian and New Zealand Governments for 5s 9d a bushel, from the Inchwells is nearing completion. Another vessel, the Fort Pic, is due to-day from Sydney with some 4000 tons of general cargo, including quantities of steel billets and coke and 7000 hardwood sleepers for discharge here. On her usual run from Melbourne, the Waitaki, after calling at Bluff, is expected at Dunedin this morning with a load of oranges and dried fruits. Yet another ship carrying Australian exports, the intercolonial trader Karetu, is due early next week. , , , , . The Kaimata, which is scheduled to arrive to-day, is bringing, a small general cargo from New York. There is a steady stream of overseas ships expected into the middle of December. Reviewing the wharf labour situation, the Dunedin branch manager of the Waterfront Industry Control Commission, Mr A. Mathieson, told the Daily Times that there we”' still some men idle yesterday, but the position might be reversed to-day, although the shortage might be only two or three gangs. He pointed out that several gangs would be released from the Katui and Holmglen, which were expected to sail to-day, and these would be transferred to the incoming ships.