THE NIAGARA

Otago Witness, Issue 3085, 30 April 1913, Page 25

THE NIAGARA

A SPLENDID VESSEU CLAIMED TO BE UNSINK ABLE. MELBOURNE, April 24. At the invitation of Sir James Mills a large gathering of leading public and commtsrcial men, including the Hon. Mr Fisher (New Zealand) and Mr Tudor had luncheon aboard the Niagara to celebrate the Union Company’s latest addition to its fleet. In the course of a speech at the luncheon on board the Niagara Mr Tudor said that he and the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher had not yet completed their reciprocity negotiations, but he hoped that when the Hon. Mr Foster (Canada) arrived in a few days they would he able to come to a satisfactory arrangement. The Hon. Mr Fisher (New Zealand) declared that the Niagara was one of the looms which were weaving a better and more lasting undenstandnig between the people of the overseas dominions. New Zealanders desired a better understanding, more trade, and more commerce. Sir James Mills, in replying, said that though the Canadiau-Australasian line was under the control of the Union Company it was a cosmopolitan affair, because there was now as much Australian as New Zealand money invested in the Union Company. The more Australia and New Zealand worked together the better it would be for the Anglo-Saxons in these dominions. The Niagara was the largest colonial-owned ship afloat. Though she was now coal driven she would, on reaching Vancouver, fill her 5000-ton oil fuel tanks, which would hold sufficient oil to bring her to Sydney and back to Vancouver. These tanks rendered her uneinkable, and she was the only unsinkable ship afloat. Captain Gibbs stated that the opinion on the Clyde was that nothing on the same level as the Niagara had ever left Britain. SYDNEY, April 24. The Niagara arrived here at noon today. The vessel, which has created much interest amongst shippers, is one of the most palatial and up-to-date steamers ever seen in AustraliaApril 25. Sir James Mills was a passenger by the Niagara. He stated that he received a cable from the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Borden) congratulating him on the arrival of the vessel. Sir James denied that his visit had specific reference to shipping matters. Regarding the New Zetland rumours as to a probable increa»e in freights, he merely remarked that imagasative people were sometimes given (a inifiaJutements.