RED FUNNEL FLEET.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1604, 22 November 1912, Page 4

RED FUNNEL FLEET.

THREE -NEW STEAMERS. During the course of mi interview with Sir Jas. Mills (managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company), yesterdny, a reporter ot The Dominion gathered s-trmc particulars of Hie new steamers which arc shortly to bo added to the lied Funnel Fleet. Two large vessels, said Sir James, iwcrc under construction to the company's order—tho Wahine, for the AVellington-Lyttelton ferry service, and the Niagara, for the Vancouver trade; The Waliino, ho said, would ho similar to the iluori in type, but would be a little larger, and would probably develop a little batter speed. The vessel should be in commission about April or Slay nest. The Wahine will replace tho Jlararoa in the ferry service, and there will then be a daily connection with the first south-bound express at Lytielton. Tho coining of the Niagara would, he said, improve the Vancouver service considerably. She would 1)0 a very fine .up-to-date -ship. Tt was the company's intention to have another steamer of tho Niagara type to replace the Maralna. Thny must wait, however, till they had had experience of the Niagara—for jhliu would b? their first oil-burning ship—before ordering another. Tho intention was to use American oil fuel, taking in bunker supplies at Vancouver and Honolulu for the round trip. It might be possible, he said, in answer to a query, to use Tarnnnki oil so-oie day, but a supply of it could not be counted upon at present. If the Tarauaki oil should prove fit to burn it would be a creat convenience lo the company io lie able to take oil in at Auckland if it could be supplied at a price .to be compared with the co«t of coal or American oil. Unfortunately in-' ilustrial troubbs at Hoiho had delayed the construction of the Niagara, but she would Imvp the Clyde about March 1, and probably take np her running in tho Vancouver service in May. In addition to these two vessels, he said, the company had a small cargo vessel building in the West of Scotland for the New Zealand coastal trade. This vessel would arrive hern in about six months. .

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