SHIPPING NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2407, 19 April 1900, Page 50

SHIPPING NEWS.

COLONIAL AND FOREIGN. A RIUVALS.

- • Vessel Tonnage From- April, luveroargill.ss. ... 32a ... Invemu-fciil ...10 I-lora, s.s SHB ... Auckland ... 12 Janet Nicol, e.s. ... 498 ... Greymouth ... 13 Upolu, ss. ... 7CO ... Wcstporl ...13 Inverc»rg 11, ss. ... 123 ... Stewart Island... 14 "Whakatane, s.s. ... 6000 ... Londou 24 > Wsikare, s s. ... 1901 ... Melbourne ... 14 "Westialia. s.s. ... 38 9 ... Auckland ... 15

Depastures.

Vessel Tonnage For April, Wi-ir ora, s.s. ... 12b9 ... Sydney 10 IFbra, s.s. ... 838 ... Auckland ... 13, TJpol'J, s.s. ... 700 ... Westport 35 Osrin, brsgantine fSL ... Glatence hiver... jfi Janet Nicol, p. 5.... 493 ... Greymouth ... 1(5 Rotokino, s.s ... 13C4 ... 'Jimaru 16

THE DIRECT STEAMERS.

The Mamari (from London, Maich 17) left Capetown on Thursday morning, 12th inst. WELLINGTON, April 16.— Sailed: Indra-ghk-i, for London. MELBOURNE, April 10.— Arrived: Tomoaia, from London.

LONDON, April 13.— Arrived : Ruahine, from Lyttelton. — Sailed: Waiwera, for Lyt4<»lton.

.' 7? RIVAL OF THE S.S. WHAKATANE.

The New Zealand Shipping Company's new Bi.eamsb.ip Whakatane, from London, via northern ports, arrived at Port Chalmers on Saturday, and was berthed at the George Btreet pier to discharge some 2600 tons of general cargo for this port. She is a fine bpecimen of the combined passenger and cargo feteamer, and was launched at the end of the year 1899 from the yards of Messrs Hawthorne, Leslie, and Co., of Newcastle-on-fl'yne, having been constructed under special survey: She is built of mild eteel to Lloyd's fhighest requirements, and is rigged as a topsail schooner. Her engines are of the iripleujxuansion type, the "diameter of the respective cylinders being 30in, 48in, and 78in, with Vi length of stroke of 54-in. Steam is generated by four steel boilers tested to stand a working pressure of 1601b to the square inch. JShe carries a full equipment of boats, and is j .'fitted with all the most recent labour-saving i She has five cargo holds; the j ji,hree forward ones being insulated for i "tfche conveyance- of frozen meat and other '(cargo; and her cargo space is set down tat 469.135 cubic feet. She has a comfortable, •though unpretentious looking saloon, situsited right amidships on the bridge deck. It , will accommodate 26 first class passenger?, j lOpening to this deck there is a snug boudoir j sfor ladies, and a well-appointed smoking room for gentlemen. Above this is the flying ihridge, where the captain has his quarters, and a chart room close at his hand. The Steerage passengers are located right aft in ttnost comfortable quarters, the saloon fittings Saken from the ILaikoura and Rimutaka hay"ing been used in their erection. This com- ' partment has berths for eighty persons, and S ■a spacious dining room able to accommodate them all, the temperature of v/hich is kept Tip in cold weather by two super-heaters, a very considerate idea. She carries water ballast in six tanks, with a capacity of 114-8 tons. The dimensions of the ship are: — Length 420 ft, breadth of beam 54ft, and depth of hold 32ft. The Whakatane is under the' command of Captain Sutcliffe.

The s.b. Waihora steamed down to Port ■Chalmers on the 10th, and left in the afternoon for Sydney, via Auckland. The experimental trawling steamer Doto is snaking a thorough observation of the fishing >grounds in the vicinity of Otago Heads, Wickliffe and Blueskin Bays. From this she (proceeds south. No doubt when Mr Ayson forwards the complete report of his surveys and the results some very valuable information as to the habitat of our fishes will be acquired.

The Shire Line steamer Buteshire is expected to reach Port Chalmers about Thursday. After taking in her Dunedin cargo she goes to the Bluff to complete loading for London.

The s.s. Weslralia, from Auckland, arrived on Sunday afternoon, and was berthed at Victoria wharf.

The s.s. Westralia, while passing- through the Bay of Plenty on her southward trip from Auckland, struck a piece of driftwood. The force of the impact was almost imperceptible, but as it has been found on arrival here that one of the blades of her propeller has been stripped off and another damaged, it has been decided to dock the steamer and refit four mew blades. Advantage will also be taken of the docking to execute a thorough overhaul, and the steamer will consequently not sail northward till Monday next, 23rd inst.