Samoa—Tonga
pp. 73-76 · Read in the full issue
Shipping And Plane Services
THE following sea and air services are running to schedules in the Pacific.
Not all of the regular services which were suspended, owing to war condi tions. have been restored; but preparations are under way for their early reintroduction. As they become available they will be announced here.
Ship Services
Australia—North
America
THE regular passenger Trans-Pacific liners, withdrawn during the war, have not been restored.
Canadian-Pacific liner “Aorangi” (Sydney- Auckland - Suva - Honolulu - Vancouver) resumed running in August, 1948. A sister liner is expected soon. See timetable on next page. - Matson liners “Monterey” and “Mariposa” are not now expected back in the PaicifiC service.
Matson ship “Marine Phoenix,” carrying pas sengers, ran on a regular schedule —San Fran cisco-Honolulu-Suva-Auckland-Sydney; but was withdrawn in August, 1948.
New Zealand—Fiji—
Samoa—Tonga
Monthly Service by MV “Matua”
Service Conducted By Union Ss Co.,
Ltd.—Subject To Alteration Without
Notice
After annual survey In Auckland, NZ, “Matua” will go back on the Auckland-Islands run about mid-November. On her first trip she will call also at Pago Pago, American Samoa.
New Zealand—Cook
Is.—Niue—Samoa
fITHE motor vessel “Maui Pomare,"
A owned and operated by the NZ Gov
ernment, maintains a direct service
between Auckland and Rarotonga (Cook Islands), with alternative calls at Niue and Apia (Samoa).
Sydney-Nortolk Island-
New Hebrides
nPHE SS “Morinda,” Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., runs at approximately three monthly intervals from Sydney to Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, and main ports of the New Hebrides, and re turn.
New Caledonia
THE New Caledonian Government has sub sidised and maintained the coastal ship ping services. The East Coast, the West Coast, and the Loyalty Islands, under present conditions, receive 10 round trips per annum.
The ships call at the following ports: EAST COAST.—Yate, Ounia, Thio, Nakety, Canala, Kouaoua Kua, Moneo, Ponerlhouen, Tibarama, Pomdlmle, Wagap, Touho, Tipindje, Hienghene, Tao. Oubatch, Pouebo, Balade, Pam, Arama, and return.
WEST COAST.—Pouembout, Kone, Temala, Voh, Ouaco Gomen, Kouiaac, Tangaiou, Tiebaghl, Nehoue Poume, Baaba, Belep and return.
LOYALTY ISLANDS.—Mare (Tadine), Lifou (Chepenehe) Ouvea (Fajaoue, St. Joseph) and return.
The steamer “Neo Hebrldais" runs regularly between Noumea and Sydney, with occasional trips to the New Hebrides (mostly Aneltyumi.
The owners are Societe Maritime et Manlere Hagen, Noumea. Sydney agents: H. C. Sleigh, 254 George Street, Sydney.
Sydney-NZ-Fiji-Hawaii-Nth. America
'pHE Canadian-Australasian liner “Aorangi” (17.500 tons) recommenced a trans-Paciflc service between Sydney and North America in August. Her itinerary is Sydney, Auckland, Suva (Fiji) Honolulu (Hawaii), Victoria (Vancouver Island), and Vancouver (British Columbia. Canada). Time table for the Pacific section of her run is:—
RMS “Aorangl”
Honolulu Sep. 23 Nov. 25 Jan. 27 Mar. 31 June 2 Suva ° ct 2 Dec. 4 Feb. 5 Apr ff f, Auckland Oct. 5-7 Dec. 7-9 Feb. 8-10 Apr ? 2 -14 JuSe 14-16 Sydney, arr. Oct. 11 Dec. 13 Feb. 14 Apr 18 June 20 Sydney, dep. Oct. 21 Dec. 23 Feb. 24 Apr' 28 June 30 Auckland Oct. 25-26 Dec. 27-28 Feb. 28-Mar. 1 May 2-3 July 4-5 Suva Oct. 29 Dec. 31 Mar. 4 May 6 July 8 Honolulu Nov. 5 Jan. 7 Mar. 11 May 13 July 15 Subject to Alterations Without Notice.
Air Services
Summary of Pacific Air
Services
PAPUA AND NEW GUlNEA.—Regular Qantas service from Sydney.
SOLOMON ISLANDS.—Frequent regular flying boat service from Sydney by Trans Oceanic Airways.
NEW HEBRlDES.—Frequent regular flying-boat service from Sydney by Trans Oceanic Air ways. Service from Noumea by French plane runs twice weekly.
NORFOLK ISLAND.—Regular service from NZ by NZ National Airways; from Sydney by Qantas.
LORD HOWE ISLAND.—Regular weekly service from Sydney by Qantas and Trans Oceanic Airways.
FIJI. —Regular services from Australia by Pan American and BCPA (to Nadi); Auckland by NZ National Airways (to Nadi); from Australia by Qantas (to Laucala Bay, Suva); from Auckland by NZ National Airways (to Laucala Bay, Suva). Irregular calls from Australia to Laucala Bay. Suva, by Trans Oceanic Air ways. Regular service from Suva to Labasa by NZ National Airways.
Western Samoa, Cook Islands And
TONGA. —Regular service from Fiji by NZ National Airways.
TAHITI. —Regular service from Noumea by TRAPAS plane suspended In March.
AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND.—ReguIar service by Tasman Empire Airways.
AUSTRALIA-NORTH AMERICA.—Regular Trans pacific services by Pan American Airways and
Bcpa,
Sydney-Noumea-Suva
ONCE fortnightly a Qantas flying-boat (a Catalina), leaves Sydney in the early morning, and goes directly over the Pacific to Noumea. From Sydney to Noumea is a Journey
of about il hours. An overnight stop is made in Noumea, and Suva is reached the following afternoon.
Intending passengers should book through Qantas offices in Australia. Burns, Phllp (South Seas) Company, in Suva; and T. Johnston in Noumea.
Fares: To Noumea. £35 single: £63 return To Suva. £52/10/- single; £94/10/- return.
Noumea-Suva, £l7/10/- single; £3l/10/- re turn.
Sydney—Queensland—
New Guinea
QANTAS Empire Airways, Ltd., employing DC3 planes, operate a regular service between Sydney, Port Moresby, Lae. Finschhafen and Rabanl, and return, via Brisbane, Rock hampton, Townsville and Cairns.
This service is now known as the "Bird of Paradise’’ Service. DC3 aircraft, carrying 19 passengers, are used.
Planes leave Sydney on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9 a.m., and arrive at Lae at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The plane which leaves Sydney on Wednesday and arrives at Lae on Thursday then goes on to Rabaul It returns on Friday.
Planes leave Lae at 5.45 a.m. on Wednesdays, Saturday and Sunday, and arrive in Sydney at 10 p.m., accomplishing the Lae-Sydney run in a day.
The return plane from Rabaul leaves at 1.30 p.m. on Fridays.
Bookings may be made at Qantas offices at any of the towns named. At present, berths are available only to passengers holding official per mits to visit Papua or New Guinea.
Sydney-Lord Howe ls.-
Norfolk Is.
QANTAS, Sydney, run a Catalina once weekly from Sydney to Lord Howe Island. Fare, single. £l2. Return. £24.
Trans Oceanic Airways Pty., Ltd., 14 Martin
Place, Sydney, run a large flying-boat regularly between Sydney and Lord Howe Island.
Qantas run a land plane about once a fort night from Sydney to Norfolk Island. Fare, £22 single; £35/12/- return. (For Norfolk Island, see also under NZ National Airways.)
Noumea-Fiji-Tahiti
TRAPAS (a French company with headquarters in Noumea) ran an air service once a month from Noumea (New Caledonia), via Nadi (Fiji) and Altutaki (Cook Islands) to Papeete (Tahiti), and return.
It was announced in January that this was to become a fortnightly service; but service was suspended in March owing to hurricane damage.
New Caledonia—
New Hebrides
A PLANE based on Noumea runs between Noumea and Port Vila (New Hebrides), with calls at Santo and other places as required, and returns, twice each week.
Pan-American—
Trans-Pacific Service
PAN-AMERICAN World Airways clippers now provide the followine services in the South Pacific, using DC4 planes:— Planes leave Sydney every Saturday and Wed nesday and fly via Tontouta (New Caledonia), Nadi (Fiji), Canton Island, Honolulu, to San Francisco, and return along the same route, leaving ’Frisco every Tuesday and Saturday.
Planes leave Auckland every Friday and fly via Nadi, Canton Island, and Honolulu, to San Francisco: and leave ’Frisco for Auckland every
Monday. Pares are given below, in Australian currency:—
(Time-tables and fares subject to alteration without notice.) To convert to Fiji currency, reduce above figures by about 10 per cent.
Free baggage allowance is 66 lb. per person.
Excess baggage at 1 per cent, of single fare for each kilogram of excess (1 kilo —2.2 lb.).
NZ National Airways
South Pacific Services
THE Pacific services run by the New Zealand National Airways Corporation are as follows:
Auckland-Laucala Bay (Suva): A “Sun
derland” flying-boat leaves Mechanics Bay, Auckland, at 7 a.m. each Saturday for Laucala Bay, Suva (arrives 3.30 p.m.).
The aircraft departs from Laucala Bay. Suva, on the return Journey at 7.30 a.m. each Monday, and arrives at Mechanics Bay, Auckland, at 4 p.m.
Laucala Bay (Suva) -Labasa (Vanua
LEVU): A “Sunderland” flying-boat operates this service on a charter basis. A return trip is made between Laucala Bay and Labasa each Sunday,
Auckland-Norfolk Island-Fiji-Tonga
Western Samoa-Cook Islands: A “Douglas”
airliner leaves Whenuapal, Auckland, on alter nate Sundays at 8.30 a.m. (November 14, 28.
December 12. 26) for Norfolk Island (arr. 12.30 p.m., dep. 12.1 a.m. Monday), Nadi (arr. 6.55 a.m., dep. 5.40 a.m. Tuesday), Nausori (arr. 6.30 a.m., dep. 7.15 a.m.), Tonga (arr. 10.45 a.m., dep. 11.45 a.m.), ‘Apia, Western Samoa (arr. 4.10 p.m. Monday, dep. 7.45 a.m. Tuesday), Aitutaki, Cook Islands (arr. 1.50 p.m., dep. 2.45 p.m.), and Rarotonga, Cook Islands (arr. 4.5 p.m.).
The aircraft departs from Rarotonga on the return journey at 7.30 a.m. on alternate Thurs days (November 18, December 2, 16, 30) for Aitutaki (arr. 8.50 a.m., dep. 9.45 a.m.), Apia, Western Samoa (arr. 3.35 p.m., dep, 8 a.m Friday), ‘Tonga (arr. 11.15 a.m. Saturday, dep. 12.15 p.m.), Nausori (arr. 3.10 p.m., dep. 4.15 p.m.), Nadi (arr. 5.5 p.m., dep. 2 a.m. Sunday), Norfolk Island (arr. 8.10 a.m., dep. 1 p.m.), and Whenuapal, Auckland (arr. 5.45 p.m.).
An additional return service between Raro tonga and Aitutaki is operated on alternate Wednesdays when traffic warrants. •Crosses International Date Line.
Auckland-Norfolk Island: A “Douglas”
airliner leaves Whenuapal, Auckland, every Sun day at 8.15 a.m. for Norfolk Island (arr. 12.15 p.m.), and departs on the return flight at 1.15 p.m., arriving at Whenuapai at 6 p.m.
FARES, single (in NZ currency): Auckland to Norfolk. £l2/10/-; to Fiji, £2B/10/-; to Tonga £3l; to Samoa, £34; to Aitutaki. £39; to Raro tonga, £39/10/-. Norfolk to FIJI, £l9. Fiji to Tonga, £B/15/-; to Samoa, £l3; to Aitutaki £29/15/-; to Rarotonga, £3l. Samoa to Raro tonga, £l7/15/-; to Aitutaki, £l6/10/-; Suva to Labasa, £4/10/-. Return fares, less 10 per cent.
BOOKING OFFICES: Wellington, Govt. Life Bldg., Customhouse Quay; Auckland Airways House, Customs St.; Dunedin, 8-10 Manse St.; Christchurch, Union SS Co., 168 Hereford St.; Gisborne, 74 Peel St.; Palmerston Nth , 107 Broadway Ave.; Hamilton, 8 Alma St.; Rotorua, Airport Bid., Fenton St.; Norfolk Is Burns Philp, Ltd.; Fiji, NAC at Nadi and Suva; Burns Philp, Labasa and Lautoka; Tonga, Mrs F. F. Melhose, Fou-amotu Airfield; W. Samoa, Burns Philp (SS), Ltd., Apia; Cook Is., Mrs. P McVeagh, Aitutaki, and Mr. J. D. Campbell' Rarotonga. ’
Sydney-Vancouver
BCPA Service
DRITISH Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Limited operate a three trips per fortnight trans-Paclflc service from Sydney via Fiji, Canton Island. Honolulu and San Francisco; and a fortnightly service between Auckland and Vancouver, via the same air port.
Planes leave Sydney every Sunday evening and alternate Wednesdays, and Vancouver, on the southbound trip, every Sunday and alternate Thursdays, planes leave Auckland every alter nate Wednesday and arrive in Vancouver the following Saturday. This southbound trip com mences from Vancouver on alternate Fridays.
Pares are (in Australian currency), Sydney- San Francisco. £2OO single and £360 return, Auckland-Vancouver, £AI9B single; Auckland- Nadi (Fiji), £A39.
Skymaster aircraft carrying 30 passengers, in fully-reclining slumber-seats, and a crew of nine are used on the service.
Trons-Tasman Service
Sydney—Auckland
TASMAN Empire Airways, Ltd., operate a flying-boat service between Rose Bay.
Sydney, and Mechanics Bay, Auckland. Large flying-boats, capable of carrying 30 passengers, are employed. The trip is comfortable, and takes approximately 8 hours.
The flying-boats leave both Sydney (6.30 a.m.) and Auckland (8 a.m.) every morning except Sundays. Six flights each way per week. Fares: £35 (A) (£2B NZ currency) single; £63 (A) (£5O/8/- NZ currency) return.
In addition, this flying-boat service is, at pre sent, supplemented by a Skymaster service, details of which are available on application to TEA offices in Australia and New Zealand.
Bookings may be made at Tasman Empire Airways in Auckland and at Qantas Empire Air ways, Carrington Street, Sydney.
Single Return £ s. d. £ s. d.
Sydney-’Frisco 200 0 0 360 0 0 Sydney-Pljl 55 0 0 99 1 3 Auckland-’Frisco .. .. 184 1 3 331 5 0 Auckland-Pljl 39 1 3 70 6 3 Piji-’Frlsco 145 0 0 260 18 9
TOA Services
tRANS Oceanic Airways run the following Pacific services:— SYDNEY-LORD HOWE IS.: A regular fort nightly service with large four-engine flying boats from Rose Bay. Fare; £ll single; £2l return. Free baggage allowance 50 lb. Excess baggage and freight rate 6d. per lb.
SYDNEY-NEW HEBRIDES: A regular monthly service with large four-engine flying-boats from Sydney, via Noumea (overnight stop), to Vila
and Espiritu Santo. Fare: Sydney-Vila, £45; Sydney-Santo, £5O; Noumea-Vila, £l2/10/-; Noumea-Santo, £lB. Freight: Sydney-Vlla or Santo, 2/- per lb.
Sydney-Solomon Islands: A Regular
monthly service from Sydney, via New Cale donia and New Hebrides to Tulagi, Solomon Islands. This service is frequently extended to Lingatou, in the Russell Islands, and calls are sometimes made at Vanikoro, in the Santa Cruz Group. Fares: Sydney-Tulagi, £75. Free bag gage allowance, 60 lb.; excess baggage and freight, 3/- per lb.
New Caledonia-New
Hebrides
ATRAPAS amphibian runs twice each week between New Caledonia and New Hebrides.
The days vary, but on the selected day the planes adhere to the following time-table:— Noumea—dep. 0630. Vila—arr. 0900 Vila—dep. 0945 Santo—arr. 1115 Santo—dep. 1145 Vila—arr. 1315 Vila—dep. 1400 Noumea—arr. 1630
Papua-NG Local
Services
MANDATED Airlines, Ltd., of Lae, New Guinea, and other private operators, run air ser vices between Lae and the New Guinea mainland centres of Wau, Bulolo, Madang, Wewak, Aitape, Mt. Hagen, Finschhafen, Moresby, Kokoda—in fact anywhere in Papua or New Guinea where there is an air-strip. These planes carry pas sengers, mails and cargo on regular schedules or charter flights.
Guinea Air Traders Ltd., of Lae. New Guinea, employ six aircraft on local services, and on charter work.
Under arrangement with the Administration, a Qantas plane, carrying Administration personnel and cargo, and mails, flies once each week from Lae to Rabaul, Kavieng and Manus, and returns to Lae by the same route.
Wing Commander Cyril Vivian Hart died suddenly in Toowoomba (Qld.) on October 19, 1948. In the course of his duties, he had made many flights to New Guinea and other islands of the Pacific and became well-known to Territories residents. He was instrumental in the disbandment of Air Force units in New Guinea and Northern Australia on the cessation of hostilities. He was a relative of Mr. Jim Henry, who takes an active interest in the Brisbane New Guinea As sociation.