New Zealand and Bristol.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 21, 23 November 1910, Page 6

New Zealand and Bristol.

IMPROVING THE SERVICE. LONDON, October 14. Apropos the arrival of the Federal-Houlder-Shire liner “Nairnshire” at Avonmouth with a cargo of produce from New Zealand, the “Western Daily Press” reviews the present position of this direct service between the west coast of England and the Dominion. This trade has now been established for several years, and these boats, besides taking out large quantities of general cargo, largely consisting of galvanised iron from the well-known local firn! of Messrs. John Lysaght, Ltd., bring back perishable goods of all kinds, such as frozen meat, butter, cheese, rabbits, etc. It is unfortunately true that these steamers bring very little 'butter to this port, although a large quantity is consumed in this district, but it all comes via London, and thence to Bristol by rail. As a set off against the decrease of t’ne butter shipments can be put anincrease in the trade of frozen meat and cheese. During the last season over 33,000 crates of cheese were landed at the Avonimbuth Docks direct from New' Zealand. and distributed to all parts of the west of England, South Wales, and the Midlands, and it is confidently anticipated that this cargo will show an increase from year to year. When the service was first started there were frequent complaints that the steamers went into River Plate ports to pick up frozen meat, which delayed their arrival on this side, and which the owners maintained was necessary owing to the small quantity of cargo that offered to Bristol. On making inquiries we learn that recently the service has been improved, and that during this year no boat has been allowed to call at any port for cargo after leaving New Zealand, although this has meant that several boats have sailed from New Zealand having a lot of vacant space in the holds, which means a heavy loss to the shipowners. The average passage this year is 51 days, and this is likely to be improved, as some of the older boats have been taken off this route. It is understood that the F.H.iS. lines will not allow any more steamers to call at South Amercia to load, so that Bristol merchants will be able to rely on a more regular service that has been the case in past years. In this connection it is interesting to note that the previous boat, the steamship “Sussex.*’ 5.086 tons gross register, owned by the Federal Steam Navigation Company. Ltd., did the voyage from Lyttelton to Avonmouth in 47 days, which shows what can be expected with direct boats. It is also staged that, boats with a large rapacity for carrying cheese, blitter, and meat are being put into this service (luring: the coming year, so it is hoped that Bristol merchants will secure as much cargo as possible for shipment direct to Avonmouth, so that a still better service of steamers may.be obtained. It is only by supporting the shipowners in this way that merchants can make sure of getting better facilities, and it has been recently stated that larger and quicker boats will be put into the trade as soon as the quantity of cargo offering warrants that step being taken.