OUR HOME TRADE. INCREASE OF SHIPPING.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 419, 19 October 1889, Page 4

OUR HOME TRADE. INCREASE OF SHIPPING.

It is encouraging to note that the trade between the colony and the United Kingdom has of late so greatly increased and assumed ! such proportions thattheshippingcompanies are chartering numbers of additional vessels, bofch large cargo steamers and sailingships, to meet the requirements of the growing commerce. The two direct steamship companies a short time ago, it was announced, had chartered six new cargo steamers, aggregating 24,000 tons, for the conveyance of colonial produce Home. The New Zealand Shipping Company's chartered steamer Duke of Westminster, a fine vessel of 3,726 tons net register, will be probably the first of these new vessels to visib Auckland. She ie fitted up with refrigerating apparatus, and has special chambers for the preservation and conveyance of dairy produce a new departure in the Anglo-New Zealand trade. She 13 expected out in the colony about the end of the year and is to load up at the variousNew Zealand portsfor London, leaving for Home about the end of January. The agents of the Duke of Westminster are already inviting applications for space from intending shippers of dairy produce and other freights. She will be followed by two more steamers, and the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company will have three, the two companieshaving arranged to load their steamers each alternate. Ab the ond of January, accordingly, the Duko of Westminster will be followed by a Shaw, Savill steamer, to leave the colony in the end of February next. \^ ith the additional steam tonnage at their disposal the companies expect to be able to despatch Home at least 4,000 tons more cargo every month than is at present shipped. Auckland will be visited by direct steamers much more frequently than in the past, for it is certain that one of the large cargo steamers of the Companies will call here each month. The New Zealand Shipping Company just now have twenty-four large sailing vessels engaged to load at the various ports in the colony for London and New York — two of ' the vessels for the latter port — between the present time and the end of the year. The majority of the ships load in the South wibh wool and grain for Home. The Bessfield, a chartered ship of 1,298 tons, will be the next Bailing vessel on the berth here foz* London, after the despatch of the ship Crusader, now loading. The New Zealand Shipping Company are also, reviving their New York direct trade, which was allowed tod ropsome years agoewing to the slackness of shipping business bej tween here and the United States. Of late the trade has increased with such rapid strides, mainly owing to the great demand for New Zealand dressed flax, that the Company have just decided to place sailing vessels on the berth for New York again. They have already two vessels definitely fixed for the U.S. metropolis. The barque Lurline, now due here from London, will, on the discharge of her London cargo, load kauri gum and flax ior New York, and will leave here about the end of the year. The other vessel is the barque Hulda, which is to load gum and flax at Wellington. Additional vessels will be placed on the New York berth shortly, the demand for the tonnage fully warranting it.— " Auckland Star," October 16.