ANXIETY REGARDING A 5. VESSEL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13424, 15 March 1907, Page 2

ANXIETY REGARDING A 5. VESSEL.

Sydney, March 15.— The anxiety is increasing fojrjjfche safety of the German barque' 'A'lsterni',' 108 days out from, Callava*i She lefgb about the same time as the i^fatecj - Annasona and Maelgwyn. '•--••"-••

The Ventura, sailing on March 22nd, has only first class accommodation available, while the following ships, ihe Sierra and Sonoma, have that fofr first and second only. Sailing dates are advertised Arrangements have been completed, for the formation of a new steamship service, between the northern ports of France and Australia. The company is to be known as the Lloyd Francais, and the fleet <is to consist of five powerful vessels of 7000- tons each. As far as can be ascertained (says the Sydney Morning Herald) the company will devote .itself exclusively to the carriage of cargo, but the steamers to be built will probably, contain accommodation for a limjted number .of passengers. For the^last eight years the establishment of a line of this character has been consistently advooated by < the French' Chamber of Commerce in Sydney, and it is largely owing to the exertions of this body that a regular ser- \ ice is to be inaugurated. The pioneer vessel of the line is the Ville de Rouen, a steel steamship of 4721 tons, which in December last came to Australia in ballast all the way from France, and loaded at Port Pirie, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Albany. The Ville de Rouen is a fine type of the modern cargo carrier, built at Havre in 1903, and is owned by the Societie Anonyme de Vapeur Longs Courriers, of which Messrs H. Prentomit-Leblond and T2. Leroux, of Rouen, are the managers.