Important Changes in the Union Company’s Steamers.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1174, 13 October 1882, Page 2

Important Changes in the Union Company’s Steamers.

The following information with regard to the running of the Union Company's boats will be of interest: —The Penguin is at present being fitted with new boilers and engines, and improved passenger accommodation. The Waitaki has temporarily taken her place in the time table. On the return of the Rotorua, however, from Sydney, the latter will take up the Penguin’s running until her refit is completed, after which she will be placed on the East Coast as an extra boat. The recent arrival of the Omapere has allowed of the Mahinapua being permanently placed on the running for which she was designed, and she will now make fortnightly trips between Dunedin, Lyttelton, Wellington, and the West Coast ports of the South Island. The Omapere will trade regularly on the East Coast us a, cargo bout, and to give special facilities to the North Island trade the Southern Cross will run exolvsively between Auckland, Gisborne, and Napier. It is anticipated that the services of these smaller boats will, to a large extent, relieve the through passenger steamers of coastal cargo traffic, and bo ensure the summer time-table being punctually carried. To meet the increased trade with Fiji during the summer months, the directorslhave replaced the Talaroa by the Hero. The Taiaroa will almost immediately be placed in the Timaru trade, allowing the Waitaki to resume the sendee between Dunedin and Oaniaru, for which she was originally built. In order to give every encouragement to passenger traffic the usual reduced fares will be adopted over all the Company’s lines during the months of Decern-