Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-07-08
OCEANIC MGR.
HERE; SERVICE
TO BE IMPROVED


Bearing important documents and
correspondence. mailed at London.
Eng, on June %, President and
General Manager F. S. SamuaIs of the
oceanic Steamship Compar- proposes
to deliver the same into the hands of
the Australian Commonwealth officials
at Sydney within twenty-nine DAYS
from the date that they left the British
capital
For the purpose of making minute
inspection of the working of the new
San Francisco Australian line, General
Manager Samuels is an arrival today
as a through passenger in the liner
Sonoma.
1t is Mr.. Samuels' intention to assure
himself by personal inspection that all
arrangements for the handling of pas
sengers. freight and mails at the diff
ferent ports of call are satisfactory,
and where defects exist he will take
steps to remedy the matter.
The, Oceanic Steamship official is also.
taking careful note of host of details
in the operation and MANAGEMENT of
the vessels now in the transpacffic SER
vice. On the voyage from San Fran
cisco to Honolulu, Mr.. Samuels among
other matters brought to his attention
was an interested observer of the work.
ing of the newly installed oil-burning
apparatus in the Sonoma and Ventura.
From the latter vessel he received WIRE
less messages concerning the amount
Of fuel consumed on the outward and
a portion of the homeward voyage of
the Ventura.
Vice President Samuels will make a
hurried call at Page Page. jas the Ven
tura is to remain at the Samoan port
but five hours on this trip
Captain Trask has Instructions to
push the Ventura to top speed after
leaving Page Page, and 1t is expected
that the Oceanic schedule to Sydney
will be reduced at least twenty -four
hours
During his stay at Honolulu today
General Manager Samuels gave his
sanction to a plan originating with the
local Office, to the effect that cable
be sent from Sydney on the date of
sailing, which will give a detail report
OF the cabins available for passengers
from Honolulu to San Francisco. The
receipt of message at this port Civ
ing the number of the stateroom will.
1t is claimed, greatly facilitate the
booking of intending passengers for the
Coast. As the cable should reach here
fortnight before the arrival of an
Oceanic liner from the Cofonfes. the
local staff win be given ample oppor-
tunity Of berthing passengers, thereby
fnsuring general satisfaction not OBJ
tainable by othed methods.
The papers that Vice President Sam
uels bears from London to sydney will
reach the New South Wales city in
four days less time in the Oceanic So
norna than by any other means of
transportation, If all goes well with
the Ventura and no accident is encoun-
tered that will result ingcutting down
the speed. At the trials held at San
Francisco the Sonoma made better time
than expected The ocean mail act calls
for sustained speed of is knots an
hour. The Sonoma maintained speed
of more than II knots for Ave hours
and demonstrated its ability to main
tain that gait indefinitely. In addition
to testing the ships speed the trial was
for the purpose of ascertaining the
general condition of the ship and its
adaptability for service in time of war
as an auxiliary cruiser.
The trial was conducted by naval
board at the head of which was Cap
tain Charles A. Cove, U. s. N, comman-.
dant of the naval training station at
Yerba Buena; Lieutenant Commander
G. s. Lincoln and Naval Constructor
Henry NJ. Gleason, S. N The Off
GERS expressed themselves as well
pleased in every respect with the ship.
its engines, equipment and appoint
ments
The Sonoma was driven from the
lightship 80 miles out to sea and
averaged IL knots an hour.
During the ffve-day stay of the So
MONA at sydney, Mr.. Samuels expects
to meet with large number of bust
ness men who are at the head of large.
commercial interests in the Colonies,
with view to interesting them in a
new line with its fast and improved
service to the United States.