Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-07-18
French STEAMERS
in SOUTH PACIFIC

With the opening of Panama canal,
Honolulu may yet find itself includ-
ed In an itinerary OF a round the
world tour followed by one or more
French steamship companies, now
gaining a substantial passenger and
freight business in the South Pacific.
With the arrival OF the Canadian.
Australasian liner Makura from the
Colonies yesterday comes report OF
remarkable activity at present being
displayed by French shipping compan.
les in regard to the Australian, and
more particularly to the South Sea
Island trade.
The proposal of the Messageries
Maritimes Company to replace its
present steamers by larger vessels
has been known for some consider
able time past, and it will not be long
before the Ganges. Louasor, Euph-
rates. Konang ST. and Ell Kantara will
take up the running to Australia and
: Noumea.
According TO advices which came
to hand, other French companies are
anticipating new departures, and a
new line of steamers has been insti
tuted by the Compagnie Nayala de
F0ceanie, with round-the-world It'll.
nerary. The service is to be main.
tanned by four new steamers of about
5000 tons, running from Antwerp to
New Caledonia, via the Cape. From
Noumea the steamers will proceed to
the New Hebrides and Tahiti, return.
ing via Cape Horn, Bordeaux and
Nantes. 1t is the intention eventually
to discard this round-the-world route
on the opening of the Panama Canal,
when the steamers will come direct
to Tahiti, via the Canal, and proceed
from thence to New Caledonia, max.
ing q call at Apia (Samoa), en- route.
This latter route will not be advan-
tageous TO Sydney, as it is intended
to make Nouema the terminal point
for the vessels, which will return via
the Canal. The steamers St Andre
and st. Joseph, owned by this com
pany, were the pioneer steamers OF
the new line. In view of the pros
poets which the opening of the Pa.
mama Canal offers to Noumea, how.
ever, the Governor of New Caledonia
has appointed commission to con.
slider improvements at that port,
which will be necessary to meet the
increased trade
The Messageries Maritime, as well
as putting larger steamers into the
Australian trade, is also, ii is said,
about to start a new service between
Singapore, Batavia and Noumea This
enterprise on the part of French
shipping companies indicates strong
optimism regarding the trade of the
South Seas, and should dispel any
idea which mightsex as to the pos.
sfbhity of the French relinquishing
any Of their rights, either in New Ca
ledonia or the New Hebrides.
-
Japanese Gain Another Liner
The British India steamer LaIpora,
recently sold TO Japan, has been re-
christened Taihei Maru, and will be
registered at Dairen. She was built in
1885 by Messrs w. Denny Brothers
Dumbarton, to the fulfilment OF
Lloyd's highest requirements, and has
4 gross tonnage of 3,269, a net tonnage
OF 2,124, length of $40 feet, a breadth
OF AZ feet, and depth of % feet.
"a
Mauna loa Back From kona Coast.
The Inter-Island steamer Mauna Loa
returned from Kona and Kan coast
ports this morning, the vessel bring
ing a regulation cargo of Big Island
products. including several thousand
sacks sugar, and consignments of to-
pacce, coffee, sisal, honey, hides,
fruits, live stock and sundries. The
Mauna Loa is scheduled TO depart
over the same run on next Tuesday,
the vessel sailing at noon.