AVELONA STAR ARRIVES

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1934, Page 9

AVELONA STAR ARRIVES

GISBORNE’S RADIO-PHONE. CONVERSATION WITH SHIP. ’ Gisborne, Jan, 13. • The first Blue Star Line ship to call at Gisborne under the new contract for the carriage of frozen meat from New Zealand, the Avelona Star, commanded by Captain G. E. Hopper, arrived direct from London this morning, and will commence loading cargo on Monday morning Taking advantage of the Harbour Board’s radio-phone installation, it was possible for a reporter to converse with the ship’s officer shortly after the vessel dropped anchor in the roadstead. “You are ahead of any port in the world in this respect,” was the officer’s reply to a question as to his opinion of the radiophone. He added that he had never heard of a similar installation and could conceive of no greater convenience to an overseas vessel in a roadstead port such as Gisbome. The officer stated that the first impression of New Zealand waters had pot been too favourable, as for the last 500 or 600 miles winds from all quarters had been experienced, giving the ship what he described as “a bit of a blow,” The Avelona Star came out in ballast at easy speed. She left London on December 10 and made a call at Bal • boa.