RECORD CONSIGNMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 932, 27 March 1930, Page 10

RECORD CONSIGNMENT

AUCKLAND FIRM’S PHOSPHATES WESTMOOR’S MANY VOYAGES How old would a fish's tooth be which was found 100 feet under the earth’s surface, and 200 miles inland in North Africa? Captain H. M. Starling, in command of the motor-ship Westmoor, now at Central Wharf,, has such a tooth in his possession. It came from a phosphate field in Morocco. Captain Starling says that it is not unusual to find fish teeth at the phosphate mines, . for the mines themselves are really graveyards of fish that probably were left stranded when the ocean receded in some prehistoric upheaval. The tooth is about an inch long, slightly curved, and tapered to a fine point. The only sign of the centuries that have passed since its job was to bite smaller fishes is its colour. It has faded to a light oak. but is in a state of perfect preservation. Captain Starling has at times collected interesting curios in his voyages. He once had three sticks covered with beautiful salt crystals, from the artificial salt lakes of Spain. His ship, belonging to the Moor Line, has been busy in transporting phosphate and basic slag for some time. On this trip to Auckland she has aboard 4,500 tons of Moroccan phosphate and 3,000 tons of basic slag. All this cargo was lifted at Ghent, in Belgium, and is consigned to a big fertiliser firm in Auckland. It is a record consignment for one importer. CARGO IN BAGS The cargo is in bags, which makes slower loading and discharging. “Our last trip was to Japan,” said Captain Starling, “and we took 8,000 tons of bulk phosphate from Casablanca. Loading there, of course, was very speedy, and we had our holds full in eight loading hours. An average rate for loading or unloading in bags in many ports is 2,000 tons a day. But this is done with lighters alongside carrying 500 tons each. Here the work is necessarily slow, owing to the small trucks on the wharves. “Yes, Japan takes a considerable amount of phosphates and some slag.. They are a very industrious people. When the phosphate is mined it is railed to the coast, and some of it is shipped to Antwerp for bagging or to be manufactured into slag. There has been a tremendous demand on fertilisers in the last few 3*ears, from all agricultural countries.” The Westmoor will not finish unloading' until next week and is pot yet aware of her itinerary. She is engined with an all-British motor, manufacfactured by Doxford and Sons, Ltd. This motor is free from the deadly poisonous fumes that have to be con- j tended with in one-stroke oil engines. ! With the Doxford engine the com- j pression and exhaust is enclosed between two opposed pistons in one cylinder, thus ensuring that no fumes I escape except through the correct j channels. TRADE WITH CANADA OPPOSITION TO TREATY OTTAWA, Tuesday. The complete abrogation of the Australian trade treaty was urged in the House of Commons today by Mr. Robert Gardiner, Leader of the United Farmers’ Party, of Alberta. He moved an amendment to the Government’s motion to resolve the House into a committee of supply. Earlier in the session the exposition introduced an amendment calling for the rescinding of the council making the treaty applicable to New Zealand. Mr. Gardiner’s amendment was based on the resolution condemning the treaty passed at the recent convention of the United Farmers of Alberta. The mover argued that agriculture was being used to secure markets for tho manufacturing industry. He objected to any Canadian industry being used for the benefit of any other. When the Australian treaty was applied to New Zealand, it resulted in a great inflow of butter, and a consequent depression of prices in Canada. The only reason why Australian butter did not enter Canada in greater volume was because the dumping clause was applied. Mr. Stevens (Conservative) moved a sub-amendment asking the House to declare that the operation of the existing Australian treaty indicates that the fullest development of trade between Canada and Australia has not been achieved by either country, and that the Government should endeavour as soon as possible to secure a revision of the treaty to the mutual benefit of both countries. LONDON WOOL HOLDS Reed. 10.45 a.m. LONDON, Wed. At the wool sales, 9,095 bales were offered, including- 1,480 from New Zealand. About 5,100 bales were sold. There was a large selection of greasy Merinos, principally of top-makers’ sorts, and an excellent supply of scoureds. There was a good tone and late rates were fully maintained. New Zealand greasy crossbred sold at 10§d and 9*d.