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Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15355, 2 October 1923, Page 9

A strenuous time has been experienced lately by ' Lloyd's Agency in Wellington, for, during the last three months, no fewer than four big vessels have come into port in more or less serious condition as. regards unseaworthiness, and have had to be repaired by the agency. First, there was the Reardon-Smith liner Jersey City. Some of her fire-boxes fell down, and the replacing of them entailed considerable work. Then a wireless message was received from the Commonwealth and Dominion liner Port Auckland, slating that she was putting back to Wellington for repairs to decking, which had been severely strained during bad weather. To carry out the work meant a return journey of 2800 miles. However, the decks were repaired and the vessel sailed again for London, but scarcely any time had elapsed before the French steamer La Marseillaise arrived, also badly damaged by rough weather. Her forcpeak was strained, the telcmotor steering gear was out of action, and many rivets loosened in the iron plates on the sides. All this repair work was carried out, and the vessel left for Sydney, but the agency was given no respite. The Dutch steamer Djcmbcr scut word from Auckland that she required repairs to her decking, which was strained, also as the result of bad wealher. Contractors set to work and completed the job just in lime for the boat to sail for Australia to load under a new charter.