Union S.S. Co.’S "Matua” Links Central Pacific Groups
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand Ltd’s new motor vessel Matua (4000 tons) made her maiden voyage to the Central Pacific 1 groups at the end of August. She called at Nukua lofa (Tonga), Apia (Western Samoa), and Suva (Fiji), taking back a large cargo of bananas, coconut oil, tomatoes, and cocoa-beans.
Cruiser-sterned, with a white hull picked out with a green band, and her red funnel gleaming, the Matua was greeted enthusiastically at each port by officials and traders, who see in her a
means for a new era of prosperity for the Islands. By linking the main Central Pacific territories, together with a quick monthly trip to the Cook Islands, the new vessel will materially assist the valuable South Seas tourist traffic, and will give Islands growers good, depend able transport for their fruit, etc., to be marketed in New Zealand.
Comfortable, modern cabins on the upper and promenade decks provide ac commodation for 40 passengers. Seven insulated compartments, having a capacity
of 91,000 cubic feet, allow for the car riage of tropical produce in cold storage under the most up-to-date conditions.
Native passengers are quartered under the forecastle-head.
Captain A. H. Prosser is in command of the Matua, and his officers include Mr.
E. M. Anderson (First Officer), Mr. D. A.
Menlove (Second Officer), Mr. E. Ross (Third Officer), Mr. W. H. Craike (Purser), Mr. G. Gormbie (Wireless Operator), and Mr. H. Knewstubb (Chief Engineer).