DUTCH SHIP FUMIGATED

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31092, 22 June 1966, Page 20

DUTCH SHIP FUMIGATED

Rats Found On Board The four cargo holds of the Dutch passenger freighter TjflMwong were fumigated at Lyttelton’s No. 7 wharf yesterday as a precautionary measure because of the discovery of ha’.f a dozen rats by port health officers in WelMngton. No cargo was worked yesterday. While officers guarded the gangway, the ship’s company, consisting of mainly European officers and a Chinese crew, was bilileted ashore. The Tjildwong has been discharging at Auckland and Wellington. She arrived at Lyttelton on Sunday and on Monday discharged latex, timber and general cargo. She is a regular eastern trader owned by the Royal Interocean Une and drydocks and fumigates regularly at Hong Kong. According to the Port Health Officer at Lyttelton (Mr J. L. O’Callaghan) it was considered prudent to fumigate without delay. Mr O'Callaghan said aM ships had rats, and fumigation was a routine procedure. Only about half a dozen rats had been found as a result of the fumigation. Normal cargo work will resume again this morning and the TjlHwong Is expected to sail later today for Dunedin to continue discharging. Carpenter ants were found for the eleventh time this year In cargo ships from the east coast of the United States on Monday afternoon. When agricultural officials found active ants in e hold in the Otivebank, which arrived in Auckland from New Orleans on Sunday, the Press Association reported.