THE WAKATIPU.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1892, Page 2

THE WAKATIPU.

iThe Union Company's b.s. Wakatipu, which is due to arrive here on Tuesday next, en route for Sydney, lias been laid up at' Port Chalmers for som6 time past for the purpose of receiving new boilers, engines, and alterations to her passenger accommodation and extra cargo space. A poop deck 60fb long lias been built on her, and under this is the new second-class passenger' compartment, which is both airy and well ventilated, and is lighted by a handsome ground glass skylight on the poop in addition to the ordinary - scuttle ,I'ghts. This compartment is handsomely decorated, and has everything neediul; for the comfort of_ pas-•-eehgers ; there'are excellent lavatories, a cabin for ladies', stewards' and .stewardesses' rooms, and a large pantry. | Nearly the whole of the old socond-class , compartment, which was on the 'tween deck?, has been thrown into the cargo srjace, 1 affording room for some 300 tons extra. ■ .This is entered from part of the old cabin (where space for a large number of still exists), co that a clear

passage is obtainable fore and aft the ship ~ A bridge deck has been, built amidships, on which is a large and wellventilated room for the captain; while under this deck are the state-room 3 for the officers and engineers. The first-class smoking room is immediately under the lore part of the bridge deck, and is very snug and cosy. The galley and store-rooms have all been rebuilt and fitted with every necessary appliance. At the entrance to the saloon there is a very prettily decorated social hall, which occupies the position formerly taken up by the captain's state-room. She has been fitted with now 'tween decks, and a great part of rpif upper stacks has also been renewed" ■The former engines were of the doublecylinder compound type. These have been replaced by four cylinders arranged on the quadruple expansion principle. The diameters of the cylinders are respectively 19.}, 29, 39 and . 56_ inches, with ft stroke of 42 inchos. ' The boilers (two in number, of the ordinary marine type) are 13ft 9in in diameter and lift 4in long, with six furnaces 38 in internal diameter, and .02 3£in tubes. The boilers are of steel throughout, the shell plates have a thickness of lgin, and the furnaoe 9-16 in. The combined heating surface in 3,084 square feet, and the total fire grate area is 107 square feet. They have been tested to a pressure of 3601b per square inch, the ordinary working pressure being 1801b.