Pacific Shipping

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Two More Trips for "Marine Phoenix"; "Bulolo" Back Soon

AFTER it had been announced that the “Marine Phoenix” (which is under charter to the Matson Company) would make no further Pacific trips after her north-bound journey in April, it was decided that she would make the San Francisco-Sydney run once more. It now is certain, however, that she will make two runs. The Sydney office of the com pany is taking bookings for the extra trip in late July or early August.

It is expected that by that date the Union Company’s “Aorangi” will be ready for her first post-war Pacific crossing, and the “Marine Phoenix” will then be withdrawn. The Sydney manager of the Matson Line said, in mid-May, that the dormitory accommodation of the “Marine Phoenix” certainly could not compete with the superior accommodation of the reconverted “Aorangi.”

New Carpenter Ship

THE latest addition to the Carpenter Line, the “Lakemba,” was in Suva on May 19 in the course of her maiden voyage from Vancouver to Sydney, and reached Sydney on May 28.

The “Lakemba” is a 7,000 tonner, and is air-conditioned throughout. She has spacious and well-appointed accommoda tion for 50 passengers.

Sir Walter and Lady Carpenter and Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Carpenter were pas sengers from Vancouver, on the ship’s first voyage. They were given a warm and special greeting in Suva.

"Bulolo" for Papua-NG Run

HPHE Burns Philp Line ship “Bulolo” is due to leave Liverpool on June 3, and is expected to reach Fremantle on July 4. She is being brought out by Captain Duddell, who recently went to the United Kingdom for that purpose.

“Bulolo,” after her valuable war-time service, as a Royal Navy ship has been completely refitted at a cost of £1,000,000 sterling, and is expected to be back on the Papua-New Guinea run about the end of July. This is the best news that residents of the New Guinea territories have had for a long time.

The 6,000 ton “Bulolo,” which was luxuriously appointed, had been on the Australia-New Guinea run less than a year when war broke out in September, 1939. She was immediately taken over by the British Admiralty as an armed mer chant cruiser. She was at every Allied landing in the northern hemisphere dur ing the war and became famous as the first headquarters ship for Combined Operations.

Since the war finished sea travellers to Papua and New Guinea have been forced to travel under primitive condi tions. The return of the “Bulolo” to the run will be a great boon to Territories residents.

Mr. James Burns, of Burns Philp &' Co., Ltd., said recently, at the company’s an nual meeting in Sydney, that they had contemplated two new ships for their line, but plans to build these had been abandoned. Reasons for this were high capital cost, unreasonable time in ports, and inflated running costs.

Mr. Burns said that the ships would have cost about £2,000,000 each. The comparative price of similar ships de livered in 1941 was £250,000 (Australian).

As an instance of increased running time and costs he said that in 1938 the “Marella” did six trips to Java and Singa pore per year. In 1947 §he did four trips,

cutting out Java. During 1938 running’ costs of this ship were £393 per day. They now were £685 per day.

The Pacific Islands Society

Sir Brian Freeston, Kcmg, Gov-

ernor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, has graciously agreed to become Patron of the Pacific Islands Society.

Before a record gathering of the Society in May, the Rev. Richard Piper, of the Methodist Overseas Mission screened coloured films of Tongan people and scenery which he himself filmed during the Tongan Royal Wedding last year.

Members were glad to welcome, also, the Rev. F. S. Faubula, of Tonga, who spoke to them in English and Tongan.

Visitors included the Rev. E. T. Olds, President, NZ Methodist Conference; the Rev. C. F.Gribble, Director of Education, Tonga; the Rev. W. R. and Mrs. Steadman; the Rev. A. W. Amos, whose grandfather was a missionary in Tonga; the Rev. J. S. Faubula, Mesdames Colyer, Lucas Farleigh, Wood, Judy Tudor, Lamacraft,’ Mackay, Fuller, Chidgey, Trollope,

Middleton, Vaughan, Beasley; the Misses Joan Livingstone, Wood, Chidgey, Mackay; Messrs. Colyer, Page, Stuart Reay, Line, Beasley, New Members: Mrs. R. H. Lucas (nee Kathleen Morgan), Miss M. Kearney.

The June gathering of the Society will take the form of a cocktail party at History House, on Wednesday, June 22, from 5.15 to 7 p.m.

The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held at History House, 8 Young Street, Sydney, on Wednesday, Juty 28,. at 7.45 p.m; Nominations for all officers of the Society are to be in the hands of the Honorary Secretary not later than Wednesday, July 7.

After the meeting, the Rev. W. K.

Deasey will give an illustrated address on “Norfolk Island”

Although he had gained his pilot’s licence only 18 days previously, Mr. S.

Jamieson, of Lae, New Guinea, won the navigation contest of ‘the Royal Aero Club of NSW on May 15.