HEAPS OF BASIC SLAG.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 39, 8 June 1914, Page 8

HEAPS OF BASIC SLAG.

ARRIVAL OS' THE WALKURE AT NEW PLYMOUTH. Those whose business keeps them out of bod. late experienced a glad thrill last night (states the .News) when a long black steamer, bearing to experienced seamen all those peon liarities of lights and rig that denotv the ocean tramp, cast her anchor off New Plymouth, for they had witnessed the completion of the 90-days* journey of the Walkure from Hull, and with it the inauguration of direct, steam communication between the Old World and the port of New Plymouth. The Walkure arrived in the wake oi the Tongariro, which was heading for Waitara, and it. appeared to the watchers from the shore that th& captain had not been able to got in touch with the newcomer by means of the Morse signals. The Walkure rounded the Sugarloaves at about a quarter to twelve o’clock, and soon the telephone clerk whose business it is to attend to messages after midnight had a record busy time for the small hours of the morning. At half-past one o’clock, Captain Waller (harbormaster) telephoned the Daily News office that he line! not been able to get in touch with the vessel. The Walkure is the first direct ocean-going steamship to enter the port, and the largest vessel by mam tons which has ever- been berthed ah Now Plymouth. The chief object for which the Walkure was chartered was to secure large supplies of basic slag (a fertiliser which has become very popular in Taranaki of late), at the cheap <!.sfc possible rate. She was chartered direct from Hull (the nearest' port to Leeds) InMr Newton King, of New Plymouth. For this trip she flow the flag of tin Shaw, .SaviU and Albion Company. She is a German steamer, registered at Hamburg, of the steel turret type. 3335 tons gross register, 2403 tons net, 350 feet long, 49 feet wide, and 25.} feet moulded depth. Fully loaded, she draws 22ft Sin, and has a, maximum speed of ten knots. She left Hull on March 9, carrying 5000 tans of dead weight, including 3500 toils of basic slag, 1100 tons qf superphosphates, and 400 tons of salt, all consigned to Mr Newton King. From time to time it will he remembered several vessels, by the enterprise of Xew r Plymouth merchants, have been brought direct from Eng land to Xew r Plymouth. In 1910 the Viganella, a German sailing ship of 992 tons, drawing 17 feet of water arrived with a mixed cargo, and was safely handled. She was the first of the direct vessels. Then canu the Lauderdale, of 1500 tons, and in .May, 1911, came the Margit, a barque of 1242 tons, drawing 21 feet six inches of water—the largest boat to enter the port of Motnroa to date. Up till to-day no other direct boat have made the port, but it is more than vain imagining now, that sees a regular service of ocean-going steamers in the not far distant future.

SUCCESSFULLY BERTHED. DEEP WATER AT THE WHARF. [Per Press Association.] New Plymouth, June 8. The steamer Walkure from Hull, with 5000 tons of cargo, which i chiefly basic slag for Mr Newton King, arrived late on Sunday night, and was berthed at 9.30 this morning without the slightest trouble by Cap tain Waller, harbourmaster. The Walkure was drawing 22 feet aft and 21>feet forward, and lyid not loss than eight or nine feet of water under her in the .shallowest part of the fairway and over 20 feet under hei at the wharf at high water. No tug was required to bring the Walkure in. Her discharge is expected to occup; about ten days.