LATE SHIPPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1919, Page 4

LATE SHIPPING.

' NIAGARA AT AUCKLAND. Ihe B.M.S. Niagara, which arrived at Auckland oil Sunday afternoon, was grunted a clean bill of health. During the first portion of the voyage from Vancouver, Which was left on December 9, to Honolulu, tho vessel experienced a somewhat anxious time, encountering heavy weather off Cape Flattery. The gale, which was running in a south-easterly direction, lasted several days, and was probably the tail end of the hurricane which swept Honolulu, doing considerable damage, prior to the vessel's arrival thero on December 17. Tho Influenza epidemic having subsided, the passengers were allowed to land for a few hours, tho Niagara leaving the same afternoon for Suva, which was reached on Christmas morning. No passengers wero embarked at the latter island, as the epidemic wa3 rife. After leaving Suva a Yuletide function was hold, to which wore invited all the returning soldiers on board, most of whom wore Australian. The occasion was celebrated in a most enjoyable manner, the children in particular being well catered for in tho provision of a Christmas tree. A sum of over £3OO was contributed during tho voyage and presented to a bliucjed Australian soldier. The vessel carried over four hundred passengers, about a fourth of whom disembarked at Auckland, the remainder being through passengers to Sydney. In addition, she had some 2700 tons of general cargo for Auckland, and 1500 tons for Australia. A cargo steamer called Orator is expected to leave Wellington on January 1G with 4000 bales of wool, 20,000 bags of grain and 1000 casks of tallow.