TRADITIONAL NAMES

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1930, Page 8

TRADITIONAL NAMES

INTO 1? EST'IXG R EAI.I NISCEXCES

LONDON, October 3

The “’Journal of Commerce.” in a leading article draws attention to the fact that the New Zealand Shipping Company has long worked on the definite piolicy of repeating traditional names for new ships when it is possible, and in this policy the company is fully justified on two solid grounds. One is. that the tradition built up is well worth perpetuation, and the other is that the history of shipping means much more to the New Zealander than it does to the average Briton, and every ship which comes out hearing a. traditional name recalls interesting reminiscences of her predecessors. For the three magnificent new motor liners which are now under construction for the express cargo service (the winter goes on to say) the names Otaio, Orari, and Opawa have been chosen, names which in two cases are strongly reminiscent of a famous class of nearly a quarter of a cert try aigo. In those days the three names selected were Orari. Opawa, and Otaki. hut the last-named, sunk during the war in a particularly era,'llant encounter with a German raider. has already been perpetuated on the comnanv’s list in a shin built some ten^rears aeo, •red ntnio. the of the class to he launched, has been selected in her place. THE OLD STEAMERS. The new motor-ships h;\ve a gross tonnage of roughly 0000, a deadweight capacity of 12,300 on 31ft Gin draft, and a speed of 151 knots in all circumstances. The older steamers were smaller, round about 7200 tops gross, with an original speed of 14-1, knots, and a deadweight capacity of 11,282. They were propelled by twinscrew triple-expansion engines, hut the Otaki, of course, was a triple-' screw ship, and was the first to be given combination machinery, with two reciprocating engines exhausting into a low-pressure turbine. The old 1 Orari had a very placid career on the New Zealand trade until she was diverted according to the will of the Shipping Controller, under the Liner Requisition Scheme at the end of the war, while during the great coal strike of 1926 she was taken off her regular run in order to collect coal from the United States. .After that service she was laid up at Falmouth, and remained there until January, 1927, when she was sold to scrappers at Troon for £18,250, and made her way up under her own steam. THE OPAWA.

The Opawa had rather more incident in her career, for in 1911 she was diverted to St. Helena to pick up and take on to Australia the 368 emigrants •of her former consort, the Papanui, which had landed them there when she caught fire. Like her sister, she was taken up under the Liner Requisition Scheme, hut was employed very largely on the River Plate trade. After the war she sailed frequently from the Bristol Channel, and in the summer of 1923 inaugurated the new direct service from ATanohester. She also was laid up in Falmouth, but in Jnnuarv. 1928. was sold to a. Norwegian concern for rather less- than £20.000, and converted into the floating whale factory Antarctic, as which she is still doing excellent service.

“As false and fickle as ’tis fair.”—Heb-

Winter is certainly now past, but the weather is ever a fickle jade, changing with startling suddenness. You will find that coughs and colds are still prevalent and that the soothing and relieving properties of that fine old specific. Baxter’s Lung Preserver, are still in great demand. “Baxter’s” also acts Yas a wonderful tonic. Now obtainable at all chemists and stores with a new screw cap which preserves the contents. The large, family szie bottle at 4s 6d is.the

most economical. Smaller sizes 2s Od and Is 6d. —Advt