THE STAR OF AUSTRALIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 295, 13 December 1899, Page 4

THE STAR OF AUSTRALIA.

A FINE STEAMER.

- The new steamer Star of Australia, the • latest addition to the Tyser fleet, arrived from. London via Melbourne and Sydney ; tins morning, on her maiden Voyage to the colonies. She is a splendid steamer or , 'the cargo tramp class, and;is, next to the :■ Delphic, tho largest steamer which has I vet visited this port. Leaving London she 'had the largest cargo ever carried to •Australia in one bottom, and oil arrival - at Melbourne had to discharge about 1300 ;,tons before she could proceed up tha ' river. She-has.about 3000 tons of general , -cargo to discharge at this port."The Star of Australia is the fifth vessel built by Messrs Workman. Clark and Co. for • Messrs J. P. Correy and Co., of London, r.v,(\ is of the following dimensions:— Length 440 ft. breadth 55ft. depth (moulded) "".a... with a gross tonnage of 7198. She 'has been constructed under special sur> •vr-v to class 100 Al at -Lloyd's, and to the BnV.rd of Trade requirements as a first cOn'J.s cargo ship. There are three complo'ti -locks extending from stem to stern. ."' ,-."■'. seven water tight bulkheads, divid- ,'.., '~-.--. ii.p vessel into eight separate comp.r'm'cnts, viz.. five cargo holds,, machi- • iv spaces, and two peaks. Water, bal--1 I is carried in the after peak, and in !• \ 'louble bottom, which extendsthe entire _ ' „s.th of the holds and machinery spaces. :, ' ;,c forward holds and 'tween decks-hav_ '>--n insulated, and are capable/of-stow-' i'r.i- over 100.000 sheep. The refrigerating -i v.,r'hine is a duplex tandem., putting "' ♦:. fiSCigh .40.00(1 cubic feet per hour, an<_ 1 •• considerably the largest cold air ma«.tine yet flUedonboard ot any vessel.The

vessel is rigged as a brigantine, the fore lower mast, and yard being of steel. The deck machinery and cargo gear hayc been • arranged for the minimum waste of time in the discharge of cargo and tor easy handling of the vessel.-It embraces 10 derricks worked by 1 powerful steam winches, steam and screw steering gear, and a patent windlass, all of the. best makes. The engines are of the tripleexpansion type, . supplied with steam at a pressure of 2001b from four large steel boilers. The vessel is in command of Captain John Simpson, commodore of tne "Star" fleet. Of the voyage Mr Willis, the chief officer, reports that the Star of Australia left London on October 4, and arrived at Melbourne on November 22 after an. uneventful trip of 48 days. Left again for Sydney on November 29, arriving on December 1. Discharged cargo and loaded frozen meat for London, leaving at 1.30 p.m.. on Friday last.for New Zealand. Experienced -moderate to fresh northerly winds across the Tasman Sea. Cape Maria being sighted yesterday afternoon. Fine weather was experienced down the coast, and the vessel berthed at the wharf at 10 a.m., after a good trip of 4 days 21 hours. The work of discharging cargo was begun to-day, and on completion the vessel will load produce for London;' sailing on Tuesday next for the South. The vessel was inspected by a larse number of visitors to-day, all expressing admiration at the vessel and her appointments.