THE RAKAIA.

CAPTAIN BARNES, R.N.R

The Rakaia is a steel vessel of J5628 tons, gross, and was built in 1895 by Messrs Hawthorn, Leslie and Co., ot Newcastle. She is classed as 100 A.I. Her dimensions are as follows : — Length, 420 ft., depth 32ft., beam 54ft. Her engines are 3000 h.p. Captain E. H. Barnes, R.N.R., is in command, and lie has the following officers with him :— Chief officer. Mr F. Beavis ; 2nd officer, Mr W. L. Goddard ; 3rd officer, Mr D. Doughton ; 4th officer, Mr D. Harboard; chief engineer, Mr H. L. Ridler : second engineer, Mr G. Cleaver; 3rd engineer, N Mr N. Matthews; 4th engineer, Mr K. Moak ; sth engineer, Mr A. Mervyn ; chief refrigerating engineer, Mr W. Dugdale; 2nd do., Mr G. S. Leipman. Dr Fisher is the medical officer, and Mr H. T. Webb the chief steward. ■ Captain H. C. Barnes, R.N.R., of the Rakaia, has been with the New Zealand Shipping Company for 17 years. Previous to that he was on a sailing vessel trading to Australia. This is his first visit to Nelson. He expressed himself well satisfied with the harbour, which he considered only required a little more dredging and better wharfage accommodation. _-. Dr. Welby Fisher, the medical officer of the Rakaia, was born in Nelson, but he does not remember the place, as he was taken away from here when he was three weeks old. He is a son of Mr Thomas R. Fisher, formerly a merchant of Nelson, who is at present general manager of the Standard in-, surance Company, at Dunedin.