Again The Matson Ships

I Early in July it was reported from Washington D.C. that the United States Government had agreed to pay the Oceanic Steamship Co., the sub sidiary of the Matson Co., the sum of $3,826,778 for the refit of the Mariposa, and would purchase the Monterey for $3,097,925 and refit her as a troop ship. [ Matson agents in Australasia state, however, that it is unlikely that the

Mariposa will return to the Pacific trade. The intention of the Com pany if and when it resumes the service, is to use two new 20,000 tonners.

The US Government’s settlement was the result of a $l3 million suit in the United States Court of Claims for alleged failure to meet its obli gations in returning the two vessels to the Company after the war.

The Bank Line freighter Wey bank left Auckland in mid-July for the Gilberts to take aboard labour gangs which will replace those at present employed on plantation work at Fanning, Wash ington and Christmas Islands. En route, the Weybank was to load coconut oil into her ballast tanks at Fiji. She will lift copra for Europe at the northern islands.