SHIPPING

Southland Times, Issue 17664, 23 February 1916, Page 4

SHIPPING

TIDES.—FEBRUARY 2-1. Bluff 4.26 a.m. 4.10 p.m. Invercargill . . 5-06 a.m. 5.20 p.m. Riverton •• 2.26 a.m. 3.10 p.m. PORT OF BLUFF. There were no shipping movements at this port yesterday. The Kinross, loading case oil for the Vacuum Oil Company, at New York, is reported to be commencing loading operations during this month. She should arrive at her first New Zealand port during the latter part of April. Tempestuous weather was experienced by the collier Melbourne throughout the voyage from Newcastle to Wellington, which terminated on Friday. Immedin:aly after leaving the Australian coast ; : e ran into mountainous head seas and generally rough weather, which greatly j i carded progress. Conditions moderated somewhat until entering Cook Strait, when heavy seas swept over the vessel, which, however, was not damaged. The Melbourne is at present discharging her ical at Miramar. The chairman (Mr A. E. .lull), at the meeting of the Napier Harbour Board tin Tuesday (says the Hawke’s Bay l;.rrald), moved that the necessary steps be taken to obtain legislative authority y,r the borrowing of £50,000 for the purpose of commencing the proposed injur harbour. Speaking to the motion, Mr .lull said he hoped the hoard would adopt lue proposal. He thought the money could be obtained cheaper within the dominion than elsewhere. It was not desirable that a poll be taken. The board should raise the money without the people having to pay a rate for it. Air Langridge said that, under the preat circumstances, he was in favour of toe motion, because most of the country people wished the inner harbour scheme to proceed. Under other circumstances, ho was not in favour of local bodies incurring heavy expenditure without the sanction of the ratepayers. Without further discussion the motion was carried unanimously. EXPECTED AT BLUFF. Invercargill Dunedin Feb. 30 Kotare Dunedin Mar. 1 i'aioona Melbourne Mar. 8 Invercargill ...... -Dunedin Mar. S Kotare Dunedin Mar. 8 V. immera Melbourne Mar. 10 Kotare Dunedin Mar. 15 Invercargill Dunedin Mar. 15 Kotare Dunedin Mar. 25 OVERSEA SHIPPING. DUE AT WELLINGTON. Steamers. Prom Left. Due. Niwaru .... London Jan, IS Mar. 27 Kumara .. London Jan. 5 Mar. 1 Kimutaka .. London Jan. 17 Mar. 12 Arawa London Jan. 29 Mar. 15 Tongariro .. Liverpool Dec. 6 Feb. 14 Levon Liverpool Dec. IS Feb. S Zealandic .. Liverpool Dec. 21 Mar. S Opawa Liverpool Jan. 7 Mar. IS (•takl Liverpool Jan. 23 Apr. 2 Laron Ogilvy New York Jan. 13 Feb. 27 Talawa .... New York Nov. 14 Feb. 14 Port Augusta New York Nov. 25 Feb. 6 Waiwera ... Montreal Dec. 1 Feb. 12 Waihemo ... 'Frisco Jan. 23 Feb. 26 THE SHIP FAMINE. Since the ship Limine set in there have , been numerous suggestions made regarding how craft can be secured to "cope with the demand for tonnage (remarks a, Sydney exchange;. Amongst the latest is that several of the hulks now at Sydney and some at other Australian ports, could he rerigged and made seaworthy again. It lias to be admitted that there is some reason in The idea, for in their day some of the cruft named could hold their own with anything alloat, and if freights remain on the high plane much longer, as appears likely to be the case, the cost entailed in making them sea- j ■worthy again might prove to be money

well spent. SHIPBUILDERS AND MERCHANT WORK. An Knglish shipping journal of recent elate comments interestingly on the que.stion of merchant ship construction "At last there are signs," states the paper, “that British shipbuilders will soon he free to devote at least a little of their intention to merchant ships. This year has been unique in that our leading firms —lndeed, most firms—have had to concentrate their energies on Naval work o£ one l:ind or another, and, if not actual Naval work, then munitions of war. As a direct consequence few of our shipyards have been aide to execute their contracts for merchant ships. The demands of the State have been urgent; they have been met. The enormous resources of tin- British shipbuilding industry have been placed almost unreservedly ut the command of the Ciovernment. with results which may not be published from the house-tops, hut are' known to have added enormously to our Naval strength. The word lias, apparently, gone fort!;, and the time has arrived to free private firms, where possible, to complete their long-delayed order;; for merchant ships, some of which have lain on the slocks for twelve months untouched. The output of mercantile sliip'dug this year has fallen far below par; it will probably turn out to be not, more than half the tonnage of last .vear. There was never more need for new ships than to-day, and it is not to he doubted that as soon as builders are in a position to accept new orders ami guarantee delivery, such orders will come rolling in, notwithstanding the high prices which prevail. Tin re is a large wastage' of shipping to make good, Theic is. moreover, accumulated capital riiidy to be invested in new shipping. Shipowners have, perforce, waited patiently for the time when the needs of the State wi re satisfied, and they could place their orders with some prospect of obtaining reasonable early de-

livery. That time is coming, and with it will come notable activity in the shipbuilding trade. We have lost some of our shipbuilding pre-eminence through , the war. America, Norway, Sweden, Holland, and Japan have profited, and are forging ahead rapidly as shipbuilding and shipowning competitors. There are probably strenuous times before us, but we do not fear that British owners and builders will rise to the occasion.” (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) LONDON, February 22. Arrived—Osterley. Departed—'Wairuna. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, February 22. Arrived —Mararoa (5.35 a.m.), from Lyttelton; Monowai (2.45 p.m.), from Dunedin and Lyttelton. Sailed—Ngakuta (0.10 a.m.), for Greymouth; Taihui (8.30 a.m.), for London; Kowhai (3.15 p.m.), for Westport and Bluff; Tongariro (3.30 p.m.), for Lyttelton and Dunedin; Manuka (0 p.m.), for Lyttelton; LYTTELTON, February 22. Arrived —Maori, from Wellington; Cygnet, from Kaikoura; Wakatua, from Kuikoura. To Sail—Maori, for Wellington. DUNEDIN, February 22, Arrived—Paloona (9.45 a.m.), from Bluff; Petone (5.10 p.m.), from northern ports. Sailed —Invercargill (2.30 p.m.), for Bluff: Westralia (2.15 p.m.), for Sydney via Auckland; Waiwera (3 p.m.), for Bluff. AUCKLAND, February 22. Sailed—Rakanoa (3 p.m.), for Newcastle. QUESTION OF RATING. CARGO OR PASSENGER BOATS. WELLINGTON, February 22. As three of the Union Co.’s big cargo steamers have been engaged for special services the question arises if they are still classed us cargo boats. If held to be passenger ships the officers are entitled to increased pay. The matter is now being considered, and if negotiations arc unsuccessful the Merchant Service Guild will probably apply to the Court for a ruling. THE ARAWA, WELLINGTON, February 22. The Shaw, Savill liner, Arawa, left Capetown on Sunday last en route from London and should reach Wellington on March 16th. After landing passengers and mails she proceeds to Auckland to commence the discharge of cargo. THE TAIN UPS CARGO. WELLINGTON, February 22. The Tainui, which left to-day for London, took 19,148 crates of cheese and 6556 boxes of butter. THE WEATHER. ' SUMMARY AND FORECAST. WELLINGTON. February 22. Following is .Mr Bates' weather summary for the past 24 hours: —The weather lias been generally warm and fair, but cloudy and threatening at times in many pans of the dominion. The wind lias been variable and moderate to strong westerlies have ruled. Little change in atmospheric pressure lias taken place. Forecast-: —Present indications are for variable and strong breezes, westerlies predominating, and the weather fair to cloudy generally, with scattered showers. The barometer will be unsteady with a rising tendency. VANCOUVER SERVICE. MAKURA, left Sydney January 20 for Auckland. Arrived there January 24. Left January 25 for Vancouver, via Suva and Honolulu. Due Vancouver February 10. NIAGARA, left, Vancouver January 19 for Auckland, via Honolulu and Suva. Arrived Auckland February 7. Sailed same day for Sydney direct. Arrived there February 11. SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE. MOANA, left Sac Francisco February 2 for Wellington, via Papeete and Rarotonga. Due Wellington February 24. MOANA, leaves 'Wellington for San Francisco March 2, via Rarotonga and Papeete. Due San Francisco March 22.