REFRIGERATOR FAILS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 605, 6 March 1929, Page 1

REFRIGERATOR FAILS

TROUBLE AGAIN ON MAUI POMAKE

DIVERTED TO AUCKLAND

Press Association WELLINGTON, To-day. Advico v.-as received last night by the Secretary of the Cook Islands Administration Department, Wellington, from the master of the Maui Pomarc, en route from Samoa and Niue, that difficulty is being met with, in regard to cooling the fruit cargo, particularly in No. 2 hold. As a result, the vessel is being diverted to Auckland as the first port of call, and it is anticipated she will discharge part of her cargo there. It is hoped to carry the remainder on to the South Island. Earlier messages reported trouble with a hot bearing on the port generator, but as the vessel is equipped with duplicate generator sets, it was hoped the refrigerating plant would not be affected seriously. Apparently, however, the refrigerating effect lias not been sufficient to bring down the temperature of the whole cargo. Everything possible is being done to safeguard the cargo, but it is feared there will be some loss. Since the trouble that occurred in the carriage of bananas in August last, the vessel has been running under the direction of a technical advisory committee of engineers associated with the department in Wellington. A full inquiry into the cause of the present trouble will be held on the ship’s arrival in Auckland. The vessel and her machinery were passed “Al” by Lloyds in January.

Advice has also been received from Rarotonga that, owing to adverse weather, the Tahiti has so far been unable to ship her fruit cargoes at that port. The weather yesterday was unfavourable, and prospects to-day are still unpromising.