SHIPPING NOTES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 962, 12 March 1917, Page 8

SHIPPING NOTES.

Mr Jacquery, assistant purser of the Mararoa, Joined the Moeraki in Wellington, and Mr Rogers, late of the Moeraki, has signed on Uie Mararoa. The Riveriiia left Sydney on Thursday for Wellington direct. She is expected at Lyttelton on Wednesday. Captain B. M. Aldwell, who has been acting as master of the Moeraki, went ashore—at Wellington for instructions, and Captain Collins, who has been on holiday leave, resumed command. Mr J. Ritchie has joined the Kakapo as second officer in plnce of Mr M. I- Singleton. Mr R. D. Rutherford has signed on the Mararoa, as fifth engineer. Apropos of the six auxiliary schooners to be built for a well-known Sydney firm for the copra trade, it has transpired that two representatives arc now on the Pacific Cons', conducting investigations into the prosi.eet of having the vessels constructed there. One of the emissaries Is an engineer, the oilier a master mariner who has had long experience in the Sydney-South Sea Island traffic, and is therefore fully conversant with all requirements of the vessels desired.

Still another New Zealand cooster trader, the Tiiinui. has changed owners, having been acquired from the Wanganui Freezing Company, from Mr A. W. Ogle. Tlic little vessel was built in 1903 by J. I.ngan at Auckland, and was engined by Price Bros., Auckland. She is a wooden vessel of 12X tons gross and 00 tons net, her principal dimensions being :—Length, 92ft Sin: beam. li»ft 2in; d»pth of hold. Cft 7in. Captain M. Jensen, who is master of the Tainui, has been in command of the vessel since she was first commissioned. Recently the Tainui was thoroughly overhauled and subjected to alterations at Kaipara. The German Ocean or North Sea which has come into such prominence during the present war. is remarkable for its shallow depths, which in a great part of its bed extend to only about O.T feet. This sea has an approximate area of 190.000 square miles and extends from Dover to the Shetland Islands. On thenorth east it Tonus a w ideann called the Skagcr-Rnck, xvhich separates Norway from Denmark and communicates southward with another arm. the Cattegat, which extends between Sweden and Denmark and connects with the Baltic Sea by three straits. It is noted for its high tides, caused by the great oceanic tidal wave which originates in the Atlantic, and for the salinity, which is much greater than that in the Western Ocean. Little ice forms, and there is no obstruction to navigation except in parts of the immediate shore lines There are numerous fishing banks, including the Great and Little Fisher, the Jutland, and the Dogger Rank.—"Exchange. At the beginning of the war n mutual war insurance society was formed under the auspices of the Norwegian Government. The principles under which this society operates are similar to those adopted by the British Government, with this diffcrenc. that whereas under the British plan the Government is responsible for the greater part of the losses sustained, under the Norwegian plan this responsibility falls upon the shipowners collectively. Inder the present law. which was passed August 21, 1914, and amended in certain particulars July 1«. 1915, and May 20, 191 G. it was arranged to make insurance cnmn'lsory on practically all shipowners. Under this systi m slupowncrs are obliged to deposit funds or fur-

nish s-cur'ities sufficient to cover any pos sible deficit in the final liquidation. In the same manner they are entitled to share in an\ possible surplus. No risks are taken on business thai conflicts with the rules ol the belligerent as regards absolute contraband. | \s ;-. result of the recent large losses, the I mutual ins'irance society has decided t» ' make substantial increases in war pre minms. The losses to Norway s shipping 'arising through the war have been greater than those experienced by any other neutral, and stand second to those of only Great Britain ami France. AMOKI'RA SAILS FOR THE SOUTH. \t hilf-past C on Thursday night the tr-ihiing steamer Amokura sailed from Port Chalmers for the southern outlying islands in M-irrh of castaways. She will arrive !■ nk in N-w /'-aloud in nlMiut 2"i days' time, it was originallv proposed that the Amokura sK■,■!-! pro to the Kermadccs, but owing t« the hnrriiane season being on. the trip will not take place until after she returns to ' the Dominion. A (;<H)l> RF.CORD. ( immuider Hooper and the instructors on Hie Government training steamer AnyAiir. 1,-ivr pood reason to be proud of one of their nhi boss (( aptain John F. Walkcrl. who reeintlv' qualified at London for his extra in i .l.i's ti. ket i«-avs the "Post".. Captain Wiil it joined the Amokura at the age of 1"i i:> Mav. 19"7. and completed his training .hi the \n- ikura on February IS. l!!!*), having served upwards of 20 months on the •,<>s<l. Mi- then shipped on the Te Anau as'ordinary seaman, afterwards serving on virions coastal vessels, including the lwirque Ahlebaran. After qualifying for second male in London he joined the British barque Amuiree at Dunkerque. On completion of the necessary service in that capacity he qualified for first mate or the Amuiree, commuting three years' service on that vessel in October Inst. He then took his certificate as master iu London, and determining t* fco further he was eventually successful in qualifying for extra master a few weeks ago in' London. Caplaiu Walker is the first Amokura boy to obtain this distinction. It is his intention to visit In the near future his parents (now living near Dargaville), whom he has not seen for five years.