LATE SHIPPING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15318, 14 September 1920, Page 6

LATE SHIPPING.

Sydney: Arrived at 11.30 a.m., Riverina, from Auckland. Newcastle: Arrived, Waitomo, from Auckland. Arrived, Waihemo, from Wellington. Replying to a "-recent deputations at Dunedin Mr D. A. Aiken, general manager of the Union Company, stated that their managing director m London had been endeavoring to secure more tonnage for immediate delivery, but he had so tar been unsuccessful. The deputation could understand that it would have been much more pleasant for the company and for everybody concerned if the company could have given all the cargo space that was desired; but the shortage of steamers was really due to circumstances over which they had no control, and no one would be better pleased than tlie company when these unfortunate circumstances were removed. The announcement that the Shire line built the first steamer specially constructed tho New Zealand refrigerated trade, which vessel loaded m New Zealand m 1884, has been contradicted by the New Zealand Shipping Co. The latter company claim that the first specially-constructed steamer for the New Zealand refrigerated trade was the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Tongariro, launched m August, 1883. The Shire line eteamer Elderslie, it is asserted, which was the first specially buiffc steamer of that Jine, was not launched until April, 1884; Captain Bone, marine . superintendent of the New Zealand Shipping Conipany, was chief officer of the Tongariro when she commenced running, i and he was subsequently master of that j vessel. The New Zealand Shipping Company's Aorangi and Ruapehu, launched m October and November, 188J, respeev tivoly, were also specially built for the New Zoaland frdsen meat trade. Prior to the construction of thoso three boats the Now Zealand Shipping Company used ohartered refrigerated steamers, and before that their own sailing ships carried frozen meat Home from New Zealand. In this connection it is interesting to note that the company's Mataura sailed ! from Port Chalmers on February 15, 1882, 1 with 150 'tons of frozen mutton. This was the first shipment of frozen produce from New Zealand. , | l