SIR JAMES MILLS' RETURN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 5 November 1907, Page 2

SIR JAMES MILLS' RETURN.

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. Fer Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night.

Sir James and Lady Mills returned to the Dominion ito-day by the U.b*. Company's new steamer Maram*. Un urrival at Port Chalmers, Sir James

was presented with an address o£ welcome on behalf of the citizens. In the course of an interview Sir James said that at present he could not say anything definite about the Vancouver service. The renewal of the company's

contract ted been secured for two years on condition that they replaced the Miowera with a new steamer. This was being done, and a ship about 1000 tons larger than the Miowera was being

built on the Clyde. Meantime, amovement was on foot to establish a faster service to take the place of the present one, and the proposals were now being laid before the committee tuppointed by the Imperial Government. Hir James outlined the company's immediate programme. Additional steamers were being built to meet the extension of local trade and to replace older steamers. There was a 7000-ton six-teen-knot steamer for the Vancouver service; a 4000-ton thirteen-knot steamer for the Island trade, of the same type as the Atua, but larger; a cargo steamer building at Port Glasgow of the same type as the Waihora, dead weight 8500 tons, sea speed eleven knots; also a cargo steamer of the "turret" type, the first of its class ever tried by the Union Company, was, being built at Sunderland. This was a very popular type with some owners at Home, It was claimed that in dead weight capacity on a given, tonnage they offered an advantage not possessed 'by other , steamers. This was in the nature of an i experiment by the company. Sir James expressed himself as well satisfied with ; the Marama's trip. The voyage from Plymouth to Otago Heads occupied 30 days, at an average speed of 16 knots. Time from Williamstown (Melbourne) , to Otago Heads was 82 hours, an aver-' ; age speed of isy ss knots. Although ■ this was a record trip, she was called ; upon at no time to exert her full power, i as coal consumption was a considera- , tion. . ;