New Shipping Line?

Australia to East Possible Extension of Trade

Thursday Is., May 4.

DIRECT rail communication be tween Canton and Paris will be shortly opened, if the disturbed state of affairs in China will permit of the running of trains.

This seems likely to open up new opportunities for trade in Australian goods, especially in the southern part of China, and an increase in the export of perishable goods, such as fruit, butter, meat, etc., is expected to occur. As it is, all the cargo between Australia and the Far East seems to be one way only, and that the right way for Australia.

It may be on this account that rumours of a new shipping line have reached Thursday Island. The route will be the usual one between Hong kong and Australian ports, Thursday Island being a port of call, unless the E. and A. Line returns to its old run when the new line will be deviated to Rabaul. It is said that an emissary of the new line has already proceeded to a Mediterranean port for the pur pose of inspecting two vessels that the company has under offer.

Although' this news is unconfirmed, it seems within the range of possibility.