THE 'FRISCO SERVIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 18 April 1907, Page 2

THE 'FRISCO SERVIC.

AX KNAOOKUA'J'IOX. Auckland, April 17. Mr. V. A. Sprmil, Xew Zealand msiii•igvr for Hie Oceanic Company, nil brinu interviewed l,v tin- Herald, said In- had ii'il. been informed bv 'Frisco lliiil 111-.-Sonoma would hi' till' list boat of 111" company's line In leave Auckland, alihonuh'it illicit In' tin- lust limit for sunn' little tinir. Tl»' ipiestion woulil not ln> decided until ;i meeting nf directors ami shareholders whs held in 'Frisco. liegarding tlu> statement of tin' Xeu' Zealand Times telegraphed from Wellington, Mr. Spronl siiiil if was exaggerated. It wns unlikely Unit infitrluation would (liter through to n private

individinil in Wellington which would In' more up-to-date and (iccuratc tlmn that received oflicially fvoin tin' company, lie siiiil lli.it up to yesterday nothing whs I di'ciili'd upon ill 'Frisco. Changes in ownership' were possible, lint looking ill it from 11 uvographical standpoint, the seniie would never lie discontinued so lull!; as there w;is no quicker route to London. The puhlinitiou of such a inc.;s:i';e ns thai sen from Welliii'.'tiili was de'irinc.lllal in Hie company':, passenger trade iulcrct, especially wh-n on the

Yesterday's N'.Z. Times has Hie fnllowine: "I'Tnin n private souice we learn Iha I 'it is the intention of the Oceanic steamship service to cense operations for a time on the arrival in San I'Tnucisco of the Sonoma which was to leave Auckland veslerday for the California!! port. Our informant said that as fur as he could gather a preliminary meeting of the directors of the Oceauie Company had been held at Kan Francisco, and it had been reported that the intention was to lay up each steamer as it arrived there, and abandon the service to the colonies until such time as the Heel was thoroughly overhauled; then, if possible, to "obtain the renewal of the subsidy from the Xew Zealand, (lovernmenf.' In that event the service will be resinned to Auckland and Sydney, but if a satisfactory arrangement could not be made, with our Oovcriiinent the company would cut X'ew Zealand out of its itinerary altogether. The company has ' had expert engineers travelling on its steamers for some time past, and it is - understood that they have reported thai, ■ the foundations for the engines were f structurally weak. On the reports furi nislied the engines and boilers are to he - lifted out and the foundation or engine i base of each vessel is to he strengtheni ed sulliciently to stand the vibration of - the powerful engines possessed by the - steamers."