PORT OF BLUFF.

Southland Times, Issue 19896, 15 June 1926, Page 2

PORT OF BLUFF.

SAILED. —Monday, June 14. Calm, sa (Captain Sharp), 892 tons, for Dunedin, at 6 p.m.

EXPECTED ARRIVALS. Mahana, Liverpool, via ports, to-morrow. Waikouaiti, Newcastle, June 17. Waitemata, San Francisco, via ports, June 25. Lepanto, New York, July 4. Hertford, London, via northern ports, July 5. Karori, Walpole Island, early July.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Waikouaiti, Dunedin, June 18. Mahana, northern ports, June 21. Waitemata, New Plymouth, June 27 Lepanto, New York, July 5. Hertford, Liverpool, July 7. Karori, Dunedin, July.

GENERAL NOTES. Yesterday opened with heavy rain and much wind, but it moderated during the day. The oyster fleet has been unable to get out for several days and stocks are getting low. The Calm shipped 300 tons and left for ,1 Dunedin at 6 pun. The Oreti came up through the north channel about 3 p.m. and passed on, apparently for Invercargill. The Oreti left Dimedin on Saturday morning for Bluff. The Karori is to load phosphates at Walpole Island shortly for Bluff, where she is due early in July. The Lepanto, which sailed from New York about the middle of last month for Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Timaru, Dunedip and Bluff, is duwflftthe l^t-named 1 port on June 25. Messrs J. G. Ward and Company, have received cable advice stating that the West Islip will in all probability be despatched from New York for Bluff on September 1. The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company’s steamer Mahana, which is expected to arrive at Bluff to-morrow, will lift 28,000 freight carcases of meat and 6,000 crates of cheese. Now completing her discharge of London cargo at New Plymouth, the C. and D. Line advise that the steamer Port Napier commences loading there and sails to-day for Gisborne, thence Tokomaru Bay, Lyttelton and Wellington to fill up, sailing finally from the last-named port on June 28 for London, via Monte Video. Cable advice received by the Federal Company states that the steamer Norfolk sailed from Liverpool on June 5 with cargo for discharge at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Port Chalmers. She is expected at Auckland on July K, and at Wellington a week later. Cable advice received by the New. Zealand Shipping Company states that the steamer Wirral left Montreal on June 4 with cargo for discharge at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin. She is expected at Auckland on June 19, and at Wellington a week later. The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company advise that the liner Tamaroa, late Sophocles, leaves Southampton on September 10 with passengers for Wellington and cargo for discharge at Lyttelton and Port Chalmers. The Mataroa, late Diogenes, is scheduled to clear Southampton on November 5 for Auckland and Wellington, and is due at Auckland on December 8. WITHIN WIRELESS RANGE. The following vessels were expected to be within wireless range of the undermentioned stations last night:— Auckland.—H.M.S. Diomede, H.M.S. Dunedin, H.MJB. Veronica, H.M.S. Laburnum, Marama, King Malcolm, Ngakuta, Kaimiloa, Kauri, Kairanga, Hinemoa, Tofua, Nucula, Kent, Ulimaroa, Niagara, Tahiti, Wellington, Port Napier. Wellington.—Wahine, Mararoa, Tamahine, Arahura, Ruahine, Korormiko, Semiramis, Kartigi, West Henshaw, Ruapehu, Devon, Tascalusa. Awarua.—Manuka, Waikouaiti, Waiotapu, City of Bombay. a Chatham Islands.—lonic, Wilresden. GISBORNE’S NEW HARBOUR. Such rapid progress is being made with the new Gisborne harbour that there is a possibility that vessels drawing up to 18ft will be able to use it within the next 12 months. Every section of the work is ahead of schedule, and so far the work has cost less than the amount estimated. For more than 40 years, says an exchange, the problem of providing a satisfactory harbour has been before successive Gisborne Harbour Boards, but the silt-laden Turanganui River has always been the handicap. Now the river is to be diverted; the new harbour will be situated where the river formerly ran, and the river itself will be diverted to a point on the Waikanae beach to the westward. The first stage of the work—the cutting and dredging of the cut through which the river will flow—is estimated to cost £750,000, and will provide harbour facilities for coastal vessels. The second stage of building the diversion walls would allow overseas vessels to use the harbour, but the eventual completion of the project is to a very great extent dependent upon the success of the preliminary section of the work. The hulk Monowai is being used to bring a good supply of stone from Whareongaonga Bay, some distance from the town, and a small breakwater will be made at the exposed beach at Whareongaonga, so that barges can assist in the transportation. To divert a river and thus form a harbour is a feat which has never before been attempted in the history of Australian and New Zealand engineering, and the project is therefore of more than ordinary interest. The scheme was first brought forward by Mr Leslie Reynolds in 1918, and the present scheme follows closely the line of .his original plan. If success attends

present efforts, Bisborne’s old-time harbour problem will be at an end, and the ultimate development of the port and district assured. TRANS-PACIFIC CARGO STEAMER MOVEMENTS. Wairuna. —Leaves Sydney on June 18 for Vancouver, via Lautoka, Suva and Fanning Island. Waiotapu.—Left Wellington on June 10 for Melbourne and Sydney to complete discharge. Waitemata. —From San. Francisco, due Napier on Sunday, 13th inst. After discharge of part-cargo she proceeds to Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Bluff and New Plymouth. Enton. —Was to leave San Francisco on June 12 for Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin and Sydney. Hauraki.—Leaves San Francisco on June 20 for Auckland, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. The forward loading dates at Pacific Coast ports are approximately as follows: Wairuna. —Loads at Vancouver and San Francisco early in July and early in August for Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney. Waiotapu.—Loads at Vancouver and San Francisco late in July and early in August for Wellington, Melbourne and Sydney. Hauraki. —Loads at San Francisco and Vancouver during September for probably Auckland, Wellington, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. Waitemata. —Loads at Pacific Coast ports during October for New Zealand outporta. Waihemo. —Loads at Pacific Coast ports during October for Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney. Wairuna. —Loads at Vancouver and San Francisco during November for New Zealand and Australian porta.