P. & O. STEAMERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 784, 6 April 1910, Page 7

P. & O. STEAMERS.

THE PORT OF CALL,

WELLINGTON INFLUENCES FEARED.

"MANY THINGS' MAY* COME TO pass."" ' '.''■""" ; (By Teleerapli.—Snecial Corre»DohaenU t Auckland, April 5. Information has been received by Messrs. .Russell and' Some'rs, local agents for the P.. and O. Company, from the head office of tho company in Sydney, to the effect : that a ,'inpnthlyservice of the P. and 0".. steamers.will be run to New Zealand from November to April next. "The'.servicp will, be commenced by the Mongolia, leaving Sydney on November 19. .'This vessel will be followed in turn at four-weekly intervals .by the '-' Mooltan, Mantua, Marmora; Mongolia (second trip), and Mooltan (second trip). The respective dates of arrival of the steamers, commencing with the first trip" of the Mongolia, will be: November 23, December 21j January 18, February 15, March 15; and April 12. Tho last P. and 6, steamer to call here during l : the present season will be the Morea, due on the 13th instant. Messrs; Russell and Somers point put that .their ' adr vices cpEtain;. no intimation that the company's steamers .are'tocalTat ''.'Weir lington, as was recently rumoured.. There is a general'opinion in shipping and-commercial circles in :i .Auckland that Wellington is not by any. means a friendly neutral" to "the" northern" port, in this calling of. the P. and o.'boats to the Dominion,' but that'a quiet but determined ..effort ■■ is beihg-made to divert at least some of-the boats to Port Nichplsph,' Although for the time being our position appears to be peacefully secure, it is'considered by the active minds of the community that if we allow ourselves to be; lulled . with, too great" a sense of this security, many things may come to' pass before tic spring, and tho P.'. and 0. :steamers revisit our shores. \ lit fact, the opinion is very pronounced in; business circles of ■ the city that further action of a very inimical character will be taken to jeopardise Auckland'-i interests. This view has decided'the Presidentlof. the Auckland * Chamber of Commerce'to .go' to the . fountain-head without ; loss of; time, that ; the ppsition may -at ; ■'■ all: events for the present be- made as definite as circumstances ..permit.-' Last evening, accordingly, Mr.; Gunsbn dispatched the following cabiegram to Sir Thomas Sutherland, chairman of directors m London of the P. arid 6. Company:— -. -■-■■-. .-..■..■■■.-

: Trust Auckland will -be. retained : as monthly port of call. Service'highly appreciated and valuable." This cable Mr. ■Gimsbn'sent on behalf of the chamber, and the matter will probably bo discussed at its next meeting, by which time.it ;is expected an answer will have been received. It will also prove .to the company that Aucfc' land ■» well alive to its interests, and to th 6 importance it attaches to the retention of the Waitemata as po rt of call for the P. and O: boats' -■