PORT MELBOURNE WINS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 681, 5 June 1929, Page 2

PORT MELBOURNE WINS

END OF LONG OCEAN RACE AUCKLAND TO LONDON The actual times of arrival of the Commonwealth and Dominion Line’s steamers, Port Melbourne and Port Pirie, which left Auckland on March 13 for London, via Panama, are now to hand. Although both the vessels cleared this port within a few minutes of one another, the Port Melbourne was berthed at London 'two hours ahead of the Port Pirie, thus bringing to a close an ocean race which caused a considerable amount of interest. Both vessels loaded in New Zealand, and besides carrying large quantities of general and frozen products, had the bulk of the wool from the February wool sale at Auckland. Shortly after 10 p.m. on March 13 the Port Pirie backed out from the Central Wharf, followed closely by the Port Melbourne. Pilots were dropped soon alter the vessels cleared Rangitoto beacon, and as tlue vessels passed Tiri they were practically abreast. Six days later a radio was received from the vessels advising that the Port Melbourne was eight miles ahead of the Port Pirie, and both ships were encountering a moderate gale. On April 4 the Port Melbourne arrived at Balboa at 2.45 p.m., and the Port Pirie at 7 p.m. Bunkers .were taken on board there, and the Port Melbourne cleared Cristobal at 12.30 p.m. the following day, and the Port Pirie at 1.45 p.m. According to advice received by the Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering Company the Port Melbourne berthed at London on April 23 at 11.45 a.m.. and the Port Pirie at 1.45 p.m. the same day. The following are the times of the vessels’ movements: PORT MELBOURNE Left Auckland March 13, 10.40 p.m. Arrived Balboa April 4, 2.45 p.m. Left Cristobal April 5, 12.30 p.m. Signalled Lizard April 22, 1.0 a.m. Passed Dungeness April 22, 9.20 p.m. Passed Southend April 23. 3.10 a.m. Passed Gravesend April 23, 9.30 a.m. Berthed London April 23, 11.45 a.m. PORT PIRIE Left Auckland March 13, 10.50 p.m. Arrived Balboa April 4, 7.0 p.m. heft Cristobal April 5, 1.45 p.m. Signalled Lizard April 22, 7.0 a.m. Passed Dungeness April 23, 3.30 a.m. Passed Southend April 23, 3 0.10 a.m. Passed Gravesend April 23, 11.15 a.m. Berthed London April 23. 1.45 p.m. Captain T. Kippin.s was master of the Port Melbourne and Captain J. J. Hudson was in command of the Port Pirie.