NEW FEDERAL-SHIRE LINER.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2454, 6 May 1915, Page 8

NEW FEDERAL-SHIRE LINER.

GEARED TURBINE MEAT-CARRIER. A somewhat notable event from the marine engineering point of view has occuS rcefntly on the Clyde. The twinscrow geared turbine steamer Cumberland, a marrying vessel of over 10,C00 tons carrying capacity, was launched at Port Glasgow for the Australian and New Zealand trade of the Federal Steam Navigation Company. London. The new vessel is to be supplied with her machinery by Messrs. Rowan and Co.. who have recently had gear-cutting plant set up in their establishment. Tile vessel is the first geared turbine or the first turbine of anj kind, which the firm have engined. while the work, it is understood, will also bo remarkable In this respect-that the machinery will be made completely, gearcutting and. all, in the 6tiop.

PANAMA CANAL. NOTICE TO MARINERS. The following notice to mariners ha 6 been issued by the Governor of the Panama. C^nal:—East Breakwater. Colon Harbour-. The seaward end of tho trestle which was used in the construction of the east breakwater was carried away by heavy seas on February 9, 1915. and tht two white lights, in a vertical lino, which marks its seaward (western) end, were lost with it. Until the tre6tle can be reconstructed, the=e lights will be discontinued, but the gas buoy, showing a flashing white Ujht, which wais moored off the seaward end of the trestle/, and which yra6 moved from time to time as the trestlo was extended, will remain in it« present position namely, in the prolongation of the axis of the east breakwater to seawold. and about 320 ft. to the eastward of the seaward end of the west breakwater. , Vessels are Teamed that the wreckace of the trestle, and parts of the uncompleted breakwater, most of which are submerged, are a danger to navigation, and they should not attempt to pass inshore to tho ra«tward of the gas buoy, but keep bet-ween it and the end of the west breakwater.

INVERTAY DUE AT AUCKLAND. Advico has been received by the loca\ 'office of the A. and A. Line to the effect that their chartered steamer Invcrtay is due at Auckland to-day from New York, via Panama Canal. The vessel is expccted to arrive here on Tuesday, May 11.

MONTREAL TO WELLINGTON. It is announced that the New Zealand Shipping Company's Wliaketane will leave Montreal tor Australian and I<ew Zealand ports on May 15. She is due at Wellington about August 6. The Shaw-Savin liner Matatua, is scheduled to leave the Canadian port for Wellington on June 20. Should she got away to time the vessel will arrive here about September 11. GREYMOUTH BAB. During the past two weekß a number of Union Company's colliers have experienced vexatious delays at Greymouth, where the conditions at the river entrance appear to have been unusually bad. On April 19 vessels were able to get out, but from that date till April 24 the bar was unworkable. Two days later it was again unworkable, and practically all tho steamers winch loaded there last week were hold up. Owing to the largo amount of detritus brought down the river, however, the bar shoaled badly, soundings showing a depth of only 18 feet, consequently 6teamers which were drawing 16 feet had to put out some of their cargo to allow for a safe margin in order to avoid bumping whilst going out of the river. In consequence of these delays there has .been a congestion of cargo from the mines, and timber mills, where the men have, it is reported, lost a, considerable amount in wages through broken time. According to an experienced authority the weatlier on the West Coast during tho past summer has been tho worst experienced for many years. Advice was received from Greymouth by the local office of the Union Company yesterday that the weather was bad at that port. The colliers Karori. Kini, Ngahere, Kamo, and Kaitangata. were reported to be inside the bar ready to sail for their, respcctiyo ports, while the Kittawa, OpouTi. Ngakuta were reported to be outside the entrance awaiting a favourable opportunity to enter. MESS-TABLE GOSSIP. Captain J. Smith, of the Union Company's local coal department, is at present at Auckland on holiday leave. Mr Kennedy, late third officer of the Moana, is at present in. Wellington awaiting instructions. • ~ Mr. W. J. Swayles Eyre, chief officer of the Manuka, has rejoined his ship after sick leave at Sydney. Mr. J. H. Tenner, seventh engineer of the Manuka; left that vessel at Wellington on Tuesday. „ Mr. C. 0. Bullock, lat© third officer of the Kaitangata, has joined the Corinno as second, in place of Mr. J. Watson, who has transferred to the Kaite.ngata. Mr. B. Huntley, second officer of the Pateena, has signed on the Kaitangata. as second, while Mr. R. Erwin, late of the Kaitangato, has joined ,tho Patoona as 6econd. Mr. R. J. Prebble, late fourth officer of the Warrimoo, has transferred to the Bakflnoa as third officer. Mr. B. W. M. Thomson, late fourth officer of the Mokoia, has been promoted to third on. the Flora, relieving Mr. L. D. Clark, who has joined the Expeditionary Forces. Mr. R. H. Stewart has returned from holiday leave, and is now second officer pro tcm. of tho Monowai, and Mr. Cox, who was filling the vacancy, reverts to his former position of third officcr. Jtr. Bathbone, second officer of the Mapourika. has transferred to the Kaituna, relieving Mr. Watkins, who will proceed to Sydney for instructions.

A southern exchange states that arrangements have been made to dispatch the Tarawera from Dunedin on her northward trip a day earlier next trip. Consequently 6he will leave Dunedin on Thursday for Auckland, via, way ports. According to the latest mail advices that have reached Sydney the steamer Austin lia (7458 tons register), previously owned by the Doutsch Australisch D.G. (GermanAustralian Line), has 1 been purchased by the 8.1.5. N. Company, also that tho steamer Reichcnbach (4217 tone) of the came lino has been acquired by the Bergenske D&mpskibsselskab, Norway, for 880,000 kroner. In regard to the latter vessel it is reported that the Norwegian Government has refused to allow her to depart on the grounds that international complications might arise. N When tho Union Company's Waitomata, has completed discharge of her San Francisco cargo at Sydney sho will take the wool-loading berth at Anstralin ports for 'Frisco. The vessel will lift about 22.000 bales of wool. About £8 ss. to £8 10s. per ton d.w. is now being quoted by British shipbuilding ■Arms for the construction of cargo steamers or about 7000 tons d.w. and £9 per ton d.w. for vessels of smaller capacity. Tho price of triplc-ospansion engines for cargo steamers is said to have advanced from 12t to 15 per cent, since October last. Shipowners could he found willing to pay these increased costo, however, if builders wcro in a position to ofTer with certainty reasonably early delivery. Tho question of delivery is at present tho great stumbling block'in the way of'«. large number of new contracts being placed. The local ofHco of the Union Company ha« been advised that their steamer Waihora is due at Auckland from Sail Francisco on May 14. and at Wellington a few days later. It is expected that tho Shavr-Savill Unci* '/ealnndic will leave Tima.ru for Wellington on Saturday. She will fill up horn nnd *nil for Gisborne. Whangiirei, and Auckland nil May 11, and will clear the iflit-iEcntioncd port, for London about May 31. A proicotcd departure from Gisborne for WaLlWtop yflßt'nrdfl.y flfttrnooD, Wflfl t.hn

has <wivißed the head office of the company that lie expected to arrive here about noon to-day. The Arawa will EQil from Wellington for London early next week. Messrs. Bnnnat-yne and Co., local a*enU for the 0. and D. Line, have been advised that the Star of Scotland -was to have left the Bluff for Lyttelton at 7 p.m. yesterday. The vessel will subsequently visit Wellington for Homeward loading. An expected arrival at Wellington from Gisborne to-morrow will be the Canterbury Rtea-mchip Company's Calm. The vessel, which will bo making her initial visit to ths\ port, loads for Lyttclton. Oamoxu, Timarn, Domedin, and the Bluff. Having relieved the Paloona in the New Zealanrt-HohfirUMelbourno service the Mokoia. is due at Wellington from Dunedin direct to-morrow. She will be dispatched for the Tasmanian port nt 5 p.m. on Saturday.