NEW LINE OF STEAMERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 217, 22 December 1910, Page 2

NEW LINE OF STEAMERS

THE CRAIG LINE REPLACED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Wednesday. The well-known line of Craig sailing ships which have been engaged in the Australian-New Zealand trade for years past is about to disappear, giving place to a new line of steam ships which will be owned by a large syndicate. The Craig fleet is owned by Mr. J. J. Craig, of Auckland, who stated to-day that it was his intention to dispose of the vessels as opportunity offered. Already some of the -vessels have been disposed of, and the remainder may be expected to disappear shortly. Some time ago Mr. Craig announced this step, giving as his reason that the New Zealand shipping laws were prohibitive. He joined a local syndicate for the purchase of the steamer Inga, and the experience with this vessel has been so satisfactory that the syndicate has decided to establish a line of several 1 steamers to engage ii\ the Tasman Sea cargo trade at present carried on by the Craig sailing ships. The second steamer of the new line is now under construction at Home, and will jbe launched early next year. The new ves-j sel will be about, double the size of the Inga, and will carry about 2000 tons of cargo. The syndicate have decided that their fleet shall be known as the "I" line, and the names of all their boats will begin with that letter. The pioneer -vessel is the Inga, and the boat now on the stocks will be named the Ihumata.