REDUCED PASSENGER LISTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18659, 30 August 1930, Page 8

REDUCED PASSENGER LISTS.

AUSTRALIAN SERVICE AFFECTED. By Telegraph—Preu Association. WELLINGTON, August 29. Evidence of the falling-off in passenger travel over the Tasman Sea is furnished by the fact that the Maheno, from Bluff to Melbourne, on her last trip carried only 66 people from all New Zealand ports, and left Melbourne yesterday with only 83. Only recently on account of the decrease in the Sydney traffic, the Union Co. reduced the inter-colonial service to one vessel. SYDNEY-FIJI SERVICE. PASSENGER BOAT WITHDRAWN. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, August 29. The Sydney-Fiji passenger service, carried on for many years by the Australian United Steam Navigation Co. for the last two years in conjunction with the Union Steamship Co., is being abandoned, and will be replaced by a regular cargo service. The Australian United Steam Navigation Co.’s old steamer Suva was withdrawn in 1928, and was replaced by the Union Coy.’s steamer Moeraki, which since then has maintained a four-weekly passenger and cargo service from Sydney to Fiji under the auspices of both companies. Owing, however, to the majority of passengers preferring to travel between Fiji and Sydney by the Aorangi and Niagara, and the Matson liners, the Moeraki’s passenger service has declined to such an extent that it is no longer payable. The Moeraki will be withdrawn from the service on her arrival at Sydney from Fiji on September 29th. In her place the Union Company intends instituting a new monthly cargo service from Australia to Fiji and Auckland. The ports of call will be Sydney, Lautoka, Suva, Levuka, Auckland, Newcastle and back to Sydney. The first steamer in the new service will be the Karetu, w’hich is scheduled to leave Sydney on October Ist.