P. AND O. FLEET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 138, 11 June 1914, Page 2

P. AND O. FLEET.

SIX NEW STEAMERS. _, | It is well known that the P. and t). programme involves important changes from time to time in the corn position of the company's fleet, it being necessary to replace older vessels, while -Mill good for many years' service, by larger and more costly ships. Th" Borneo, Sunda, Palawan, and Sumatra, known as the Borneo class, each of less than ."..000 tins, were added to the company's fleet of intermedial., vessels in 150.",, at which date, for their type and trade, their size wan considerable. Within the past-few weeks, after only IS years' service, these vessels have all been disposed of—two fur delivery in .Japan, tbe others to purchasers in Bombay. They arc being re-pla.-'d by of the Khi\a type of double their tonnage and of proportionately greater power and speed: and whereas there were four steamers of the Borneo das.-, six ships of tbe Khiva typo arc in course of const ruction, and their completion will place al the service of passengers a series of intermediate steamers superior to any of their predecessors.

Tlie first of the new ships t.> be completed, the Khiva, recently sailed from Loudon with a full complement of passengers on her maiden voyage to China and Japan. The Khybcr also is running in the company's intermediate direct Japan service, and tbe Kannala is programmed for a maiden voyage to C'alcttttson August I. Four of these steamers will have been constructed ai the yard of Messrs (am mc 11, Laird, and Co.. of Rirkenhead: the remaining two. the Kashgar and Kashmir, are" being built at (Ireenock.

The outstanding feature? of the new vessels are the. broad expanse of their sheltered promenade decks: the large preponderance nf "outside" cabins for one or two passengers, the free provision in each cabin of electric ventilating fans: the extremely dainty scheme of white enamelled decoration of tbe spacious dining saloon, whose restaurant tables accommodate parties of four persons or more: and the air of comfort which is produced by the arrangement and furnishing of the music and smoking saloons: adjoining and_opcning out of the latter is an example of that favourite institution in modern steamships—the verandah cafe. The dining saloon and most of the cabins arc on the spar deck. the first and second class subsidiary saloons for smoking, music, etc.. together with v number of two-berth cabins, being placed amidships on the hurricane or promenade deck. The intermediate |». and (). services between London and ■ lapan. by which passengers are ennveved ■it lower fares without transhipment en rout", are very largely used at all seasons of the yea.r by the Eastern travelliti!: public, and tbe new steamers are likely to prove a welcome addition to the existing facilities.. . _