SERVICE TO CEASE

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1930, Page 12

SERVICE TO CEASE

I SYDNEY-FIJI PASSENGERS. 1 I NEW. CARGO ROUTE FIXED. . The Sydney-Fiji passenger service, carried on for many years by the Australian United Steam Navigation Company, and. later in conjunction with the Union Company, is to be abandoned; and will be replaced by a regular cargo service In June, 1928, the Australian Company’s steamer Suva', Was withdrawn and she* was replaced by the Union ,Qomr pany’s steambr Moeraki, which afterwards maintained a four-weekly< passenger and cargo service from Sydney to Fiji under the auspices-of both companies. Owing to the large number, oj passengers who travel betweep Fiji and. Sydney by the Matson liners and the. Union Company’s steamers Niagara and. Aorangi, the Moeraki’s passenger seri vice has declined, to such an extent that it is no longer payable. . When the Moeraki arrives at Sydney from Fiji on September 29 she will be withdrawn from the service and afterwards. the Union Company Will run a monthly cargo service from Australia tolFiii and Auckland. The call will be. Sydney, Lautoka, Suva, Levuka, Auckland,' Newca&tl© and then back to Sydney. The firsr. steamer on the new service will be the Karetu, which is scheduled to leave'-Sydney on October The withdrawal of the Moeraki the Fijian service will allow her to be utilised as a relieving vessel in the intercolonial. service if necessary. She is a sister ship to the! Manuka, which was wrecked at Long Point last December. Both vessel were I built at Dumbarton, Scotland, the Moeraki in 1902 and the Manuka a year later. The Moeraki s gross tonnage is 4421. The Moeraki has been , mostly engaged in the intercolonial service between Australia ana Wellington and/South Island ports.