DIRECT STEAMERS TO TIMARU.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3967, 25 June 1887, Page 3

DIRECT STEAMERS TO TIMARU.

« : In another column will be found a notification relating to the "Shire" line of direct steamers, in the benefits of which Timaru will for the future share. The charter under which the Elderslie, one of the steamers of the " Shire " line, is now running, expires with her present voyage, but another charter has been signed, in which both the New Zealand Refrigerating Company (Limited) and the South Canterbury Refrigerating Company are interested. The new charter extends over three years, and relates to the Elderslio and Fifeshire, both of which belong to the " Shire" Company. A third of the meat space, namely, for, say, 8000 or 9000 carcases, will be reserved for the South Canterbury Company. The vessels will of course be prepared to load up with wool. They will call at Port Chalmers, Oaraaru, and Timaru, and each of the three ports will be visited four times a year, that is, each of the two vessels engaged in the trade will make annually two " out and home " voyages. The first steamer of the line, the Fifeshire, will be in Timaru harbour early in Decomber, and she will be followed by tho Elderslie in February. The Fifeshire is still building. She is a magnificent steel ship of 5200 tons (carrying capacity). She is classed 100 A 1 at Lloyd's : is 345 feet long ; has a breadth of beam of 47ft 6 inches; and depth of hold 24ft 6 inches. Her engines are 4000 horse power, and are of a new and greatly improved type. She will have accommodation for fifty saloon passengers, and is expected to make tho rnn from New Zealand to London in 45 days. The Fifesbiro will coino out under command of Captain W. A. Millar, who, until lately, had command of the Eldorslie. It will bo remembered that, at tho request of tho Timaru Harbour Board, Captain Millar some timo ago surveyed the port of Timaru. Ho was favourably impressed by his examination, and it is in consequence of his report that the company have determined to send their magnificent steamers here. The managing owners of tho " Shire " line are Meaara Turnbull, Martin and Co., of Glasgow, and their representative in New Zealand is Mr W. Alexander Moore, who may be addressed " care of New Zealand Refrigerating Company (Limited), Dunedin.