THE ERA OF BIG SHIPS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144147, 17 July 1913, Page 8

THE ERA OF BIG SHIPS.

This is the era of big ships, tn April last the Niagara (13,415 tons) made her first entry into Sydney Harbour. She was then" the largest vessel that ever passed through Sydney Heads. In less than three months this honour has passed to the Blue Funnel liner Nestor (14,2-30 tons), which reached Sydney a week ago. Not only is the Nestor a big ship, but she is, says the Sydney Morning Herald, absolutely the biggest ship that has ever been in Australian ’.raters. It is a distinction, but one whieh she will not long enjoy. Soon the White Star Company wilt send to our shores the Ceramic, whoso 18,000 tons will tako from the Nestor her proud pre-eminence; and, no doubt, bciorc very long the Ceramic in her turn will have to lower her colours to a newer and a huger rival. To-day it has been recognised that it is more economical to build one big ship than two little ones, given a regular and sufficient supply of freight, whether living or dead. Mail steamers, whose route lies through the Suez Canal, are not likely in the immediate future to bo bigger then the Maloja or the Oratna or the Grosser Knrfnrst. But for the lines which trade round the Cape, and of which the Nestor and the Ceramic are representatives, there is no such boundary. They can build as big as they like, and the only thing that need limit the size of these ships is the depth of Australian harbours. The easier the access to our ports the greater .will be the vessels which will relievo the annual congestion of wool and wheat. And the ports which are unable to float tbeso leviathans will inevitably find that they are apt in the future to bo neglected by them.