Union Co.

Purchases Ships

Four Cargo Vessels For Sydney- Vancouver Run

FOUR 7,000-ton cargo vessels of the Park Line, operated by the Canadian Government, which are already familiar to residents of Pacific ports, have been acquired by the Union Steam Ship Co. of New Zealand, Ltd., to replace war losses.

The ships are the “Parkdale Park,” the “Salt Lake Park,” the “Sunnyside Park” and the “Dominion Park.” They will be renamed “Waikawa,” “Wairuna,” “Wai tomo” and “Waihemo” respectively.

The ships are similar to the American Liberty ships and have a cargo capacity of 10,000 tons. None is more than three years old. The change of ownership is being effected in Canada. The “Sunny side Park” was proceeding to New Zea land in March and would arrive there as the “Waitomo.” The “Parkdale Park” is also Dominion-bound.

It is the intention of the Union Steam Ship Co. to operate a monthly service between Vancouver, San Francisco, New Zealand, Sydney and Melbourne with the new ships.

The four new steamers will replace the “Limerick,” “Hauraki,” Waiotapu” and “Wairuna,” which maintained the Pacific cargo service before the war. The “Lime rick” was sunk during the war, the “Hauraki” was captured by the Japanese and the “Waiotapu” was sold in the United Kingdom last year.

The American authorities have notified the New Caledonian Administration that, as the evacuation of the remaining troops is not being carried out as fast as had been anticipated, it will not be possible to hand over the big ice plant before August 1, instead of April 1, as had been planned. The cost of ice plant and re ceiving station is understood to be in the neighbourhood of five million francs.

The Rev. Dr. J. W. Burton, nresident general of the Methodist Church, accom panied by Mrs. Burton, recently returned from a tour of the United States.