BID FOR S.S. PATEENA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1816, 31 July 1913, Page 9

BID FOR S.S. PATEENA.

BY NORTHERN S.S. CO. RUMOURED STEAM CHANGES. It is understood that negotiations are in train for the purchase of the Union Company's familiar coastal steamer Pateena by the Northern Steam Ship Company, of Auckland.' On inquiry at the local office of tho Union Company yesterday a reporter was merely informed that "no official information on the subject had as yet been, received," but it has been freely mentioned in shipping circles of late that the Pateena had been sought by the Northern Company, but .that tho Union Company did not feel disposed to sell her until she could be replaced in tho Wcllington-Picton-Nelson service by « suitable steamer.

Now that the Wahine lias taken up tho running in the Wellington-Lyttelton ferry service the question has, of coursc, arisen: What will tho Union Company do with tho Mararoa? It was mentioned in Tuesday's issuo that there was some demand for the latter steamer in the WellingtonNelson' run. With that object in view a deputation of Nelson business, mpn and citizens will arrive in Wellington from Nelson by tho Nikau this morning for the purpose of interviewing the local manager of the Union Company on thp subject. For some considerable time past Nelson peoplo have been asking for o bigger boat between Wellington and their liort, and It is well known that they havo had an eye on the Mararoa. Whether the trade between the ports mentioned warrants a larger steamer than the Pateena remains to be seen, and it is understood that the Nelson deputation will have to offer good proposition" before the Union Company accedes to their request. As, however, the Northern Company seem to be desirous of acquiring the Pateena, and nlso in view of the fact that the Mararoa will be out of commission in a few wteks, tho Nelson peoplo may secure the object aimed at. The deputation,' which will arrive this morning, consists of Mr. W. W. Snodgras, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. H. D. Duncan, chairman of tlio Nelson Harbour Board, Mr. G. Macmahon, member of tho Harbour Board and Waimea County Council, -Mr. A, Thompson, lfurchison County Council; Air W. Lock, Mayor of Nelson; Mr. J. Hunt, of the Richmond Borough Council; and others. Whilst in Wellington the deputation will also wait on tho Minister for' Public Works in reference to- continuing the Glenhope railway' towards Murchison, and also on the Minister for Railways in Tefcrence to tho Nelson Harbour Board taking over the control of the wharves at that port. At present the wharvoa are controlled by the Railway Department, ' Up till now the largest steamer trading regularly between Nelson and Wellington is the Arnhura, 1590 tons, then comes the Mapourika, 1203 tons, the Pateena, 1212 tons, and tho Nikau, 218 tons. It is understood that tho Nelson public desire a night service between Wellington aril Neleoii. If the Mararoa is placed in tho run, she should cut out the distance between the two ports in about six and a half hours. As for the future sphere of' tho Pateena (if sold), it is thought likely that she may bo placed in the Onehunga-Ncw Plymonth service, and tfhat the Raiawa will be placed in another, run. It will be remembered that the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce recently advocated an improved steam servico between Auckland and the principal ports in their district. Although no definite information could be gathered locally yesterday, it is believed that if the Northern Company buy tho Pateena'the Rarawa will take up tho running from Auckland to Tauranga,