FRISCO-SYDNEY SERVICE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12588, 19 October 1911, Page 5

FRISCO-SYDNEY SERVICE.

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph.— Copyright.) SYDNEY, October 18. Confirmation has been received of the Oceanic Steamship Coy's intention to resume the 'Frisco- Sydney service via Honolulu, leavirig New Zealand out. The -Federal Postmaster-General has been notified of the Oceanic .Corhpany's proposals, which are arousing keen interest m coriimercial circles.

The Oceanic S.S. Company, which is dominated by the Spreckels interest, has, it is definitely announced, decided to.reconstruct r the Ventura and Sonoma as oil burners, at a cost approximating £150,000, with a view to resuming running between San Francisco, New Zealand, and Australia. These two boats, which originally cost £200,000 each, have been lying idle m the Bay of San Francisco since 1906, waiting for a Government subsidy to enable them, to resume the service. Apparently it has now been decided to start runniug without waiting any longer for the subsidy, which* seems further away than it was m 1906. A contract has been signed for the work of putting the vessels' m order for the service, and it is estimated that work Avill be provided for 300 men for half a year. When these' vessels burned coal, the maximum speed was 16i knots per hour. The sister ship Sierra was converted into an oil burner some time ago and has been running between, 'Frisco and Honolulu, and it has been found that her speed increased to 17 knots. It is estimated that the substitution of oil for coal as fuel will reduce the cost of running 40 per cent, and it is expected that the run across will be accomplished m nineteen days, instead of .21. as formerly, when coal fuel was used. Tanks are to be built that will give these vessels a steaming radius of 10,500 miles.^