THE S.S. MOANA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 17

THE S.S. MOANA.

THE PROGRESS OF THE UNION COMPANY. Sydney, June 4. At the invitation of the directors of the Union Steam Ship Company a large gathering, including members of the Ministry, the Parliament, and leading representatives in commercial and financial circles, lunched on board the Moana to celebrate her addition to the Australian-American service. Mr James Mills, who presided, traced the expansion of the company, and said none in the colonies and very few in the old country OOuld equal it 1b importance. It stood tenth On the list; of large shipping firms in the world, and the Moana was the finest steamer in Australian -waters. The Postmaster-general, Mr Cook, praised the pluok and enterprise of the directorate of the company, and said it was deserving of every encouragement. He favoured an increased subsidy to the company, as its succesi meant closer union between England, America, and Australia. Mr Jackson pointed out that when the Company started the subsidy was L 37.000, and now it was only L4OOO from New South Wales, which was repaid to the Government la postage, bat was not sufficient to induce

the company to place Buch steamers aB the Moana on the line, Jane 7. The Moana sailed for Auckland to-day. The series of festivities to mark her departure on her maiden voyage across the Pacific was wound, up with a brilliant send off from a large and influential gathering at the wharf Admiral Bridge, as the guest of Mr James Mills, was amongst the visitors to the Moana, and complimented the U.S.S. Company on the acquisition of suoh a fine steamer. Mr and Mra Mills are passengers by the Moana for New Zealand.