PORT OF BLUFF.

Southland Times, Issue 21100, 4 June 1930, Page 2

PORT OF BLUFF.

ARRIVED. • —Tuesday, June 4.— Poolta s.s. (Captain J. Bruce) 1,675 tons from Dunedin at 7.40 p.m. Port Huon m.v. (Captain J. E. Compton) 10,730 tons from Dunedin at 7.50 p.m. VESSELS IN PORT. Hororata s.s. Rangitata t.m.v. Poolta s.s. Port Huon m.v. EXPECTED ARRIVALS. Turakina, Oamaru, June 6. Waipiata, Dunedin, June 9. Kartigi, Melbourne, June 10. Calm, Lyttelton, June 11. Karetu, Melbourne, June 15. Canadian Constructor, Dunedin, June 24. Kent, Dunedin, June 27. Karamea, Dunedin, July 5. Port Fremantle, Port Chalmers, July 9. Mirrabooka, Oslo, July 26. Somerset, Port Chalmers, September 15. PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Hororata, New Plymouth, to-day. Poolta, Greymouth, to-day. Karepo, Oamaru, to-day. Waikouaiti, Dunedin, to-day. Port Huon, Lyttelton, to-morrow. Rangitata, Port Chalmers, June 6. Turakina, Timaru, June 8. Waipiata, Dunedin, June 10. Kartigi, Dunedin, June 11. Calm, Dunedin, June 11. Karetu, Dunedin, June 16. Canadian Constructor, Wellington, June 27. * Kent, Port Chalmers, June 30. Iftramea, Timaru, July 9. Port Fremantle, , July 13. Mirrabooka, Melbourne, July 30. '■ Somerset, , September 18. INWARD CARGO ON HAND. Cephee, ex Maheno, in B shed (J. G. W.) Narkunda, ex Karetu, in B shed (D. and Co.) Nieuw Holland, ex Waikouaiti, in B shed (D. and Co.) (D. and Co.): Dalgcty and Company. (Hend.): Henderson and Company. (H.L.T.): H. L. Tapley and Company. (J.G.W.): J. G. Ward and Company. (N.M.A.): National Mortgage and Agency Company. (N.Z.S.): New Zealand Shipping Company. (0.5. C. Oreti Shipping Company. (U.S.S.): Union Steam Ship Company. GENERAL NOTES. The Awarua (Captain R. J. Hamilton) arrived from Halfmoon Bay at 10 a.m. yesterday morning with passengers, mails and cargo, including a small consignment of fish. Fishing at Stewart Island has been practically at a standstill for over a week. The few boats that, ventured out met with poor results. In rough weather the water gets muddy and whether there is more feed stirred up or the fish are unable to see the bait seems a problem to the fishermen. The oyster steamer Cowan arrived back from the South Cape mutton-bird islands on Monday evening. She experienced a very rough trip to the islands. She is again leaving about Thursday. The Wetere (Captain W. B. Dixon) and the Kekeno (Captain 11. Roderique) were expected back this morning with their final parties. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Hororata which has been in port since Thursday discharging fertilizers, is expected to sail this evening for New Plymouth to complete and to commence Homeward loading. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s fine motor vessel Rangitata was thrown open for inspection yesterday morning and afternoon, many people availing themselves of the opportunity afforded. To-day she will continue discharging general cargo including basic slag, and will sail about Friday for Port Chalmers. The Union Company’s steamer Karetu is scheduled to load at Melbourne about Saturday for Bluff, Dunedin, Lyttelton, and Wellington, being due here the following week to discharge Australian cargo. When repairs have been affected to the Cambridge’s propeller at Port Chalmers she will load general cargo, sailing about, the 9th or 10th for Timaru, Lyttelton, Wellington and Gisborne, at which ports she will complete. She leaves Gisborne finally about June 28 for Ix>ndon, via Panama and Curacao. In the Royal Naval College Museum at. Greenwich there is a collection of models of ships illustrating the progress of Britain's sea power. It starts with the long-boats of the Vikingss, with their rows of oars and their shields hanging round the sides, and continues up to the latest type of warship. There may see a replica in miniature of the Great Harry, first of a long line of England's “wooden walls.” She was a twodecker of about 1,200 tons, and was the first warship to fire her guns from portholes instead of from the deck. In the museum are preserved many interesting naval relics, including a model of the battle of Trafalgar. How far bottles may drift in the ocean is a question for which mariners have recently been trying to obtain a satisfactory answer, says the New York Times. Two unusually long drifting records have already been reported to the Hydrographic Office in Washington. In each case the bottle had travelled nearly one third of the distance around the world, or a little more than 7000 miles. One bottle thrown overboard in the North Atlantic near Europe by an officer of the Norwegian steamer, Childar, was picked up near the Marshall Islands. The second, dropped in the same locality from the American steamship K. R. Kingsbury, drifted 7000 miles. The longest bottle drift in the records of the office was made about twenty years ago. A bottle was thrown into the sea on May 31, 1909 and was picked up again nearly three years later on May 19, 1912, after travelling 11,830 statute miles.

An official of the Port of London Authority in a recent lecture gave the following facts:—Over, 1,000,000 net register tons of shipping enter and leave the port every week. Nearly three-quarters of a million tons of goods enter and leave every week. The authority has warehousing accommodation for over 1,000,000 tons of goods. About 2,139,000 tons of timber are imported into London annually. In 1929 about 12,000,000 gallons of wines and spirits were imported into London. There is at the present time a stock of rum at the West India dock sufficient to intoxicate every person in the United Kingdom. There is enough tea in the Authority’s warehouses to provide everybody in the United Kingdom with two cups of tea a day for about six months.

Standing in a corner of a Gisborne garden, across the road from a church and within sight and sound of the sea, stands the captain’s cabin of the ill-fated Star of Canada. It has been transformed into a home. Some say, “Flitch your wagon to a star.” This is a case of hitch your home to a Star of the sea. The cabin was bought when the Star of Canada was piled up on the rocks at Kaiti, and now one. of the buyer’s daughters has it for her interesting and novel home. One enters the grounds through a gate made from the halfwheel of the ship. As one approaches the cabin one sees the lower deck outlined in concrete. Inside, the ship idea is preserved, but everything modern is there, too. The gangway acts as stairs to the bedroom, the portholes are lead-lighted windows. Little curtains are draped back from them, and even hammocks are swung in a sleeping room. On the upper deck a fine view is obtained, and the compass is still there in position. One can still feel the spirit of the sea, although the cabin is in a garden. Last Christmas the effect was heightened, for all present were in sailor dress, as much as possible, and at the Christmas dinner there came the sounding of the ship’s bed of the lost Star of Canada. Personal Items. Captain A. W. Creese, of the Kckerangu, has taken command of the Talune, relieving Captain A. Murray on holidays. Mr. M. M. McArthur is at present first mate on the Calm. On the same vessel Mr. A. McArthur has relieved Mr. E. W. Proc- . ter as third engineer. Captain G. B. Hoddinott, who has been on holiday leave at Auckland, has taken temporary command of the Waimea, relieving Captain G. W. Evans for instructions. PORT HUON ARRIVES. The Commonwealth and Dominion Line’s motor ship Port Huon arrived at Bluff last evening from Liverpool via northern ports to continue London loading. The vessel sailed from Liverpool on April 12, and except for stormy conditions during four days in the zltlantic the weather was generally fair during the voyage. Colon was reached on April 26 and Balboa was cleared the following day. The voyage occupied 33 days 2 hours, the steaming time being 32 days 11 hours, and the average speed 14.18 knots. The steaming time from Balboa to Auckland was 18 days 19 hours, at an average speed of 14.2 knots. This is the Port Iluon’s first visit to Bluff. She is one of the latest motor liners built for the company, and is a sister ship to the Port Fairy. Captain J. E. Compton is in command of the vessel, and he has with him the following officers: —Chief, Mr. C. P. Thrower; second, Mr. J. A. Fairbairn; third, Mr. N. M. Muzzell; fourth, Mr. E. N. Howard; wireless operator, Mr. G. Bell; chief engineer, Mr. A. C. Neall; senior second, Mr. R. Cromarty; junior second, Mr. W. Mitchell; senior third, Mr. W. Langley; junior third, Mr. J. Bormond; junior fourth, Mr. J. Fairs; first refrigerating engineer, Mr. D. Brooks; second, Mr. G. Stannard; chief electrician, Mr. H. Murray; chief steward, Mr. J. W. Francis. Upon completing here the Port Huon will sail to-morrow for Lyttelton and Wellington. POOLTA IN PORT. On last evening's tide the Union Company’s steamer Poolta arrived at Bluff from Dunedin to discharge a quantity of hardwooA from Grafton. It is expected that the vessel will clear Bluff this evening for Greymouth where she will complete discharge. KOTARE'S MOVEMENTS. With timber from Port Craig the steamer Kotare is expected back at the Invercargill jetty this morning. The vessel will return to Port Craig to-morrow to load for Dunedin. TURAKINA TO DOCK. The Turakina, at present, loading frozen meat at Oamaru, will dock at Port Chalmers for sighting, in order to ascertain the extent of the damage responsible for the leakage. CALM DELAYED. Considerably delayed in the north, the Canterbury Shipping Company’s coastal steamer Calm, originally due at Bluff tomorrow, will now not arrive from Lyttelton until next Wednesday, the 11th inst. After discharging and loading a quantity of general cargo, the vessel will sail the same day for Dunedin. KENT’S ITINERARY. The Federal Line steamer Kent is expected to arrive at Auckland this morning from Liverpool. She has general merchandise from west coast ports of Great Britain for discharge at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Bluff, being due here at the end of the month. After completion of discharge the vessel will load at Bluff, Port Chalmers, Timaru, ‘ Lyttelton, Wanganui, and Wellington. She is to be despatched finally from Wellington on July 16 for London and west- coast ports of Great Britain. INTERCOLONIAL STEAMERS. Owing to the Marama entering the Wel-lington-Lyttelton ferry service to enable the Maori and Wahine to undergo their an nual overhaul and survey, the intercolonial passenger service will be slightly curtailed during the next few weeks. The Marama arrived at Wellington on Sunday from Sydney and sailed yesterday for Lyttelton, where she will take the Maori’s running, leaving Lyttelton to-night for Wellington. The Tahiti, which arrived at. Wellington on Sunday morning from San Francisco, via Papeete and Rarotonga, will not. leave until to-day for Sydney, and will be the only passenger steamer from Wellington this week. Next week the Ulimaroa will be the only vessel arriving, and is due at Auckland on June 10, which is the normal service. The Tahiti is due back at Wellington from Sydney on June 16, and will be the only passenger steamer arriving at Wellington that week, though the Maunganui will maintain her usual time-table, and is due at Auckland on June 17. The Marama will resume her running in the intercolonial service on June 20, leaving Wellington on that day for Sydney, and thereafter will maintain the normal service. In the Melbourne service the Maheno, which is at present undergoing her overhaul at Port Chalmers, will resume her running on June 14, leaving that day and Bluff on June 16 for Melbourne. SALE OF THE RIMUTAKA. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s veteran liner Rimutaka, which has been sold after 30 years of service in the United Kingdom-New Zealand run, was built in 1900 by the well-known shipbuilding firm of W. Denny and Bros., Dumbarton. The Rimutaka has made 61 voyages to New Zealand, and left Wellington on her last trip on February 26. Lloyd’s Register gives her particulars as follow: —Twin screw; gross tonnage, 8,997 tons; length, 457.7 feet; beam, 58.2 feet; draught, 30.8 feet. When she was launched 30 years ago her tonnage was 7,700, but since then alterations have been made which account for the increase of about 1,200 tons. A remarkable thing is that the old liner maintained to the last the same speed as she was built for —namely, 12 knots. This is a record of which the .builders of her engines, Messrs Denny and Bros., have reason to be proud.

In the early days the Rimutaka voyaged to and from New Zealand round the Cape of Good Hope, calling at one or two Australian ports. Her course of later years has been via the Panama Canal. During the Great War the Rimutaka carried colonial troops, and she also made two trips to China for food supplies. The first commander of the ship was Captain Greenstreet, now retired. He was followed by Captain F. A. Hemming, also retired, who was master for 18 years, and his successor was Captain Barnett. Captain C. B, Lamb, her last commander, had only been on the ship for two voyages to New Zealand. GERMANY TO ENTER AUSTRALIAN SERVICE. To meet the keen competition from the new Swedish motor liners Parrakoola and Mirrabooka in the Australian overseas passenger and general cargo trade, Germany is diverting several of her more modern and most luxuriantly furnished motor vessels from the Far Eastern to the Australian run. The first of these fine vessels, the motor-ship Leverhusen, is at present in Australian waters. Built in Hamburg, for the Hamburg-America line, the Leverhusen made her maiden voyage in the Far Eastern trade in June, 1928. Although primarily a cargo vessel, the Leverhusen has first-class accommodation for 38 passengers. The vessel is luxuriantly appointed throughout, and is undoubtedly the finest vessel of her class that has visited Australian waters, says the Melbourne Age. Her single and double berth cabins are fitted with most modern appointments, while her bed cabins de luxe, papered with specially-prepared silk, are equal to any in the most modern mail liners. She is of 386 tons gross register, 463 feet in length, 60 feet in breadth, and 28 feet in depth. The vessel has cargo capacity of 10,000 tons, and is fitted with A.E.C. norcompression Diesel engines, capable of propelling her at an average sea speed of 131 knots. Passengers during the vessel’s uneventful voyage were presented with the comprehensive news budget daily through the trans-Oceanic copyright press from the Sonnabuncl wireless station, Nauren. WITHIN WIRELESS RANGE. The following vessels were within range of the undermentioned wireless stations yesterday:— Auckland: Canadian Conqueror, Tofu», Canadian Victor, Kent, Plume, Ruahine, Cressington Court, Waipahi, Golden Cross, Quercus, Elveric, Niagara. Wellington: Maori, Wahine, Tamahine, Arahura, Aorangi, Port Adelaide, Mataroa, Taranaki, Kairanga, Orkanger, Mahana. • I Awarua: Makura, Narbada, Waikouaiti, Port Huon, Tutanekai, Kartigi. Chatham Islands: Weirbank. TELEGRAPHED REPORTS. COASTAL AND OVERSEAS. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, June 3, Arrived:—Maunganui 5.20 a.m. from Sydney; Tainui 6.50 a.m. from London; Kaituna 7.15 a.m. from New Plymouth; Karra 12.20 p.m. from Greymouth. Sailed:—Waipiata 12.40 a.m. for Wellington; Canopus 6.30 a.m. for Westport; Canadian Conqueror 7 a.m. for New York; Niagara 11.30 a.m. for Vancouver. Wellington, June 3. Arrived Maori 7 a.m. from Lyttelton; Himatangi 8.30 a.m., put back; Huntingdon 10.30 a.m. from Wanganui; Katoa 11.50 a.m. from Lyttelton; Regulus 12.30 p.m. from Tarakohe; Breeze 1.30 p.m. from Lyttelton; Golden Coast 5.30 p.m. from Auckland. Sailed: —Marama 5.15 p.m. for Lyttelton; Maori 7.55 p.m. for Lyttelton. Lyttelton, June 3. Arrived: —Wahine 7 a.m. from Wellington; Progress 9.5 a.m. from Timaru; Opihi 11.50 a.m. from Timaru. Sailed:—Wahine 8.30 p.m. for Wellington. Dunedin, June 3. Sailed: —Port Huon 6.45 a.m. for Bluff.,