BIG LINER HERE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 78, 3 April 1939, Page 12

BIG LINER HERE.

DOMINION MONARCH. I _____ WILL STAY TWELVE DAYS. VOYAGE FROM WELLINGTON. I . Shipping history w:i* mucin for Auckland to-day when the port welcomed the Sliaw S:'.\i!l and Albion <'mii])any's liner Dominion Moniuvli, Hip l;ir.Lrcst and inn-,), powerful motor ship afloat, on her firnt i it. Out of tin , morning mists nt the harl)()i i r I'liliiinci! the 27,liJM-tnn giant loomed Ix'fort! S o'clock into the sight of the hundreds of people who had been watching for Iht from many points of vantage. Wellington had had the honour of extending Now Zealand's first welcome, hill for Auckland the occasion of her arrival here to-day was none the less great, nml interest in the big new hliip wan liili'iwc. Hut for tho mist tho morning was a perfect one, and it was through still, glassy waters that the Dominion Monarch moved slowly up to her berth at Queen's wharf. There was not the harbour pageantry tliat could have been expected had she made Auckland her first port of call in Xcw Zealand, but all eyofl were upon her. Without difficulty or delay, the ehip was edged into tho wharf, and a few minutes after S o'clock she was tied up alongside. So ended a trip up the coast from Wellington in perfect weather conditions. The ship did not eet out to establish a record for the voyage, for tho schedule over the whole of her maiden journey provides for reduced speed. During an hour's test of her engines, north of the Enet Cape, a speed of over 20 knots was attained, but thie waa not a full trial. Passengers and Officers. Special passengers for the trip up the coaHt included the Minister of Justice, the lion. H. G. R. Mason, and Mre. Mason, the New Zealand manager of tho Shaw Savill and Alliion Company, Mr. E. V. lie van, and Mre. Be van, the Hon. Eliot R. Davis, M.L.C., and Mrs. Davis, Mr. and Mm. Stronach Patcrson, and Captain V. G. Webb, marine superintendent of tho Union Steam Ship Company.

In command of the Dominion Monarch is Captain W. H. Hartmaii, formerly marine superintendent of hie company at Wellington. He has with him the following officers: —Staff captain, Captain D. Aitchison; chief officer, Mr. A. C. Jones; second, Mr. L. R. Bull; third, Mr. C. A. Holleyoak; chief engineer, Mr. A. T. Gibson; staff chief engineer, Mr. J. W. Brew; second engineer, Mr. R. H. Reid; third, Mr. 0. L. Jones; surgeon, Dr. F.~J. M. Kennedy; assistant eurgcon, Dr. R. G.. Samuel; purser, Mr. E. Cordcry; assistant purser,"" Mr. S. Nicholson; chief steward, Mr. A. E. Dcmeza. To-morrow an official luncheon will be held on. the vessel and on Wednesday l> veiling a reception for the South African tourists will be held in the Catholic Women's League rooms under tho auspices of the South Africa Club. Twelve days are to MS spent in port by the liner. She has London cargo to discharge here, and then she will begin her program mo of loading for South Africa and England. On April 15 she wjll leave for Napier and Wellington, Hailing finally from the latter port on April 20. On her eecond outward voyage the Dominion Monarch is due to "get into her stride," and an instance of the rapid travel which will then be made possible is given ill the fact that South Africans will bo able to reach New Zealand 19 days after leaving Durban. Tourist trade between the two Empire countries is expected to be greatly enhanced by the -lie w service. Eighth of a Mile Long. ,_, And as for the ship herself—it will be a long time before the novelty of her huge size wears off. It ie hardly an exaggeration to eay that you can almost, look down into Lower Queen Street from the topmost of her nine decks! From early this morning and throughout the day, the wharf was never bare of Aueklanders, who gazed upwards' at her black-painted hull, towering buff funnels and single mast. To build this great liner cost well over £1,500,000. She measures 682 feet in length—which means more than an eighth of a mile from bow to stern— her upper decks are more than 28 yards wide, and her depth from games deck to keel plates ie 82 feet 0 inches. Two trains could pass in either of her two streamlined funnels, 'each of which is greater in circumference' than any tunnel in New Zealand. In general equipment the Dominion Monarch must rank as one of the iinest and most up-to-date ships afloat. Her safety apparatus is actually well in excess of international requirements. Spacious decks, tasteful interior decoration and comfortable appointments help to make her passenger accommodation equal to the best in the world.