THE UNION S.S. SERVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2229, 5 November 1907, Page 2

THE UNION S.S. SERVICE.

Press Association. DUNEDIN, Nov. 4. Sir James land Lady Mills returned to the Dominion to-day. by the U.S.S. Co.’s new steamer Marama. On arrival at Port Chalmers, Sir James was presented with an address of welcome on behalf of tlio citizens. In the course of an interview. Sir James said that at present he could not say anything definite about the Vancouver service. ltenewal of the company’s contract had been secured for two years on condition that they replaced the Miowera with a new steamer. This was being done, and a ship about 1000 tons larger than the Miowera was being built on the Clyde. Meantime a movement was on loot to establish a faster service to tako the place of the present one. Proposals were now being laid before a committee appointed by the Imperial Government. Sir James outlined the company’s immediate programme. Additional steamers were being built to meet the extension of local trade, and to replaco older steamers. There was a 7000-tou sixteen-knot steamer for the Vancouver service; a 4000-ton tliirteen-knot steamer for the Island trade of the same make as the Atua, but-larger; a largo cargo steamer was building at Port Glasgow of the same type as the Waihora, dead weight 8500, sea speed 11 knots; also a clafgo steamer of the turret typo, the fastest of its class ever tried by the Union Company, was now building at Sunderland, Thin was a very popular type with some owners at llame. It was claimed that in dead-weight capacity on given tonnage they offered advantages not uossossed b.v other steamers. This was in the nature of an experiment by the company. Sir Janie.! expressed himself as well satisfied with the Marama’s trip. The voyago from Plymouth to Otagc Heads occupied 36 days, lan. average speed of 16 knots. The time from "Williamstown (Melbourne) to Otago Heads was 82 hours, an average speed of 16} knots. "Although this was the record trip, she was called upon at no time to exert hpr full power, as the coal consumption was’a consideration.