The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1900. THE UNION SHIPPING COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 229, 22 November 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1900. THE UNION SHIPPING COMPANY.

One of the arguments used by those opposed to Federation is the danger of id jury to the maritime interest of the colony. New Zealand, during the last 20 years, has built up a shipping trade of which any colony may well be proud. Few people are aware of the enormous dimensions of the internal shipping trade of the colony which is breeding a race of hardy seamen who will compare very favourably with the seamen of any other country. It is generally admitted that the large [coastal trade of Great Britain is the school in which her seamen are reared, The value of coastal trade to the colony may be seen when we say that the total number of vessels entering and leaving the various coastal ports was—inwards: 4952 sailing vessels and 16,402 outwards: 4954 sailing vessels'and 16,338 steamers. The total tonnage inwards and outwards was no less tban 13,275,841 tons. This does not include the shipping to and from the colony from Australia, Europe, and other foreign ports. Under this heading, 609 vessels entered the ports of the colony and 604 vessels cleared for outside ports with a total tonnage of 1,619,049. Of this huge coastal trade, a very large proportion is done by the splendid fiaet of steamers owned by the Union Steamship Company. New Zealand has been specially favoured in the matter of shipping companies, and the enterprise of her people is shown in a marked manner by the way in which they have come forward and formed shipping companies, which have bought steamers, and in this way built up a trade which has been of immense benefit to the district in which their port was situated. Wanganui and Fatea are both notable instances of this. The Union Company itself was originally st<i -; ed us an Otogo venture, and we well i etnemher

the interest taksn in what was th'n deemed a rash venture—when the company in 1874 decided to send Home and have two vessels, the Hawea and the Taupo, bniJt in Glasgow to their order. The venture, however, proved a qualified success, and shortly afterwards, the company further startled the colonial world by purchasing Mews s MeMeeban Blackwood and Co.'s fine fleet of intercolonial steamers, then trading between Now Zealand and Sydney, and Melbourne, and other Australian ports. The company has made great strides since then, and now possesses what is admittedly tho finest dee* in cdonial waters, if not in the world, comprising no less than 54 *team vessels, with an aggregate tannage of 77,044 tons. No less than ."G of the vessels conwrisin-r this fine fleet are ships of from 1000 to 4000 tons,-while their engine p-iwer and tho general fittings of the whole ofth in are of the very best obtaiiinb o. The officers ami crews are nil puked men, ami ilie clockwork regularity with which then" vessels inn, ai:<l ;lie comparative freedom for Accident; w.sid Ting tV» tiatwn o r th*i c<i;ist and por',s, tbeyj navigate is "jurpri-ing. Although the h-iidqiuaters of tho company urn at Dun-din, there is nothine patty or ip iroo iial in (he management of tho ■ mpany's biisinp.--s ; and vliwevw t-j-eir .steamers g-i, thry are looked "or is welcome vi'iio[>:, .\V,v Plymou hj, :'.s a por', is -really im'obted to «hn Ji. ion Compa.-jy vv :,I:. j ">, ay in which, | I through ggod an.d evil rtspauj thov ""«'/«Kll->«.I-.-'.'..'f--. -

have stuck to it. The regularity with which their steamers haye run, and the superior class of vessels they hare maintained in the New Plymouth trade, has done a great deal to build up the trade of the port, and help the Harbour Board in their efforts. They have also on more than one occasion generously met the Harbonr Board in their efforts to lower the cost of landing goods at the breakwater. In all the ports frequented by their steamers, the company is represented by an agent who is invariably a man who identifies himself with everything tending to help forward the commercial prosperity of the port and district in which he live*, besides keeping his company posted with the - growing requirements thereof. In addition to catering for the commercial welfare of the colony this notice would not be complete did we not mention the admirable arrangements always made forthe amusements of the people, Whenever occasion arises, the company readily adapts the running of its vessels to the requirements of the people, and' at holiday times either by altering its timetable or putting on extra steamers, exceptional opportunities are afforded to the public of moving from place to place. The peculiar geographical features of the colony render the people very dependent en the shipping facilities, and these arrangements are heartily appreciated. For several years also a very delightful excursion has been arranged to the West Coast Sounds and a winter trip to 'the Isiands. Two of the company's very best vessels are placed at the disposal of the public on these occasions, via., the Waikare of 3071 toss and 3000 horse power, and the Mesa ef 3915 tons and 4000 horse power. The first of these leaves Melbourne for Dunedin on the 3rd January, bringing over Australian tourist*. She leaves Dunedin on the 10th aai goes to Stewart Island and thence to the celebrated West Coast Sounds, returning to Dunedin on the 27th Janaury, Aus- . tralian tourists reaching Melbourne on the 4th February. The winter trip of the Moana to the Islands should be an ; exceptionally enjoyable one, and will ! occupy from 6to 7 weeks. The route has not yet been finally decided upeu, > but it is pretty certain to include Fjji,| Samoa, and the islands lately annexed to Moana will leave July, and th« climate of the Islands is said to be simply delightful at that time, and all making the trip may be certain of a very enjoyable time, j Full particulars of the fares, which are very reasonable, and dates of the Bteamers movements can be obtained at the various offices of the company throughout the colony.