SHIPPING NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 56

SHIPPING NEWS.

THE DIRECT STEAMERS.

The Corinthic, which sailed from Wellington on March 19, arrived at Plymouth on Monday afternoon, May 4. The Rimutaka arrived in London from (Wellington on the sth. The Pakeha sailed from London for Lyttelton on the sth. The Wbakatane left London on the sth for Auckland, Wellington, and the Bluff. Tho Maori, which left London on the 12th April, left Capetown for Wellington, via Hobarfc, on. Monday, 4th inst. The Tomoana sailed for London from iWellington on the 6th. The New Zealand Shipping Company s s.s. Turakima sailed for London from Wellington, via Monte Video and Teneriffe, at 6.30 a.m. on Saturday. WELLINGTON, May 5. The Corinthic, from Wellington, arrived fit Plymouth on Monday. . .LONDON, May B.— Arrived: Corinthic, from Wellington. Sailed : Whakatane, for .Wellington; Tokomaru, for Lyttelton. HOBAKT, May 11.— Arrived: Papanui, from London. TJp to Friday afternoon the s.s. Ranga3ira had put out about 2800 tons of cargo at the George street pier. It is announced that the New Zealand Shipping Company m so well satisfied with the Turakina that it has decided to add two more steamers of the same class to its fleet. An order for the construction of the Tcssels has been placed with Brown and Co., of Clyde-bank, Scotland. The new steamers ■which will be of 10,000 tons groes register, are to be ready by the end of the year. They are to be able to steam 13 knots an hour, and both will be fitted up for the accommodation of 25 saloon passengers. Eaoh of the boats will be driven by twin screws. Important developments in the Belfast shipbuilding industry are promised shortly. These are to include the transfer from the Thames of part of the business of Messrs Tborneycroft and Co., the well-known shipbuilders. Up to the present no definite arrangements have been come to with the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, who received an application from Messrs Thorneyoroft for the lease of 50 acres of reclaimed Gamd on the County Down tide of Belfast Lough, and immediately adjacent to the famous works of Meesrs Harland and Woolff. The ground hxa been chosen and marked cut, kut the Harbour Commissioners think that the offer of £750 per year for the 50 acres is too small. There is every prospect, (however, that a satisfactory arrangement /will be arrived at. and that at the near •future Belfast will be &b\- to boast of three Siuq© shipbuilding yarde. A party of Americans have chartered the S.s. Oregon, of 2500 tons, for a trade cruise ito Australia and South Africa, extending ltd China, Japan, and the Philippines. She ■will be a floating sample room, her hold 'being divided into a number of compartments, each large enough to display a couple of tons of American manufactures. 'Large quantities of phosphates are being feliipped at Ocean Island, in the Pacific, for Home ports. The deposits are said to be fchV richest in the world. It is expected that no less than 50,000 tons of the phosphates will be shipped from the island during tho year, and probably double that quantity in 1904-. Ocean Island has an area of 1380 acres, and is a raised coral reef. It is surrounded by a nearly level shore reef some 100 yards wide. The island is surrounded by cliffs of coral rock from 12ft- to 30ft high, which are broken ud into pinnacles. From the l?tter the land gradually rises to a' height of 260 ft. the centre of the island being practically flat. The following are the shipping statistics for the past week: — Arrivals — Victoria, s.s., 1870 tons; Corinna, s.s.. 812; Te Anau, s.s., 1028; Warrimoo, s.s.. 2076; Mararoa. s.s., 1381; Eunice, scow, 171;— total, 7338 ton*. Departures — Invercargill. s.s., 123 tons; Upolu, s.s., 700; Westralia, t.s., 1819; Victoria, s.s., 1870; Corinna, s.s.. 812: Te 'Anau, U.S., 1028; Warrimoo, 2076;— total, 8428 tons. Total arrivals and departures, 15.766 tons. The s.s. Rangatira commenced taking in frozen produce, wool, and tallow at the George street pier on Monday morning. She 'eft on Tuesday for London, via Oamaru and northern ports.