NEW MOTOR SHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 3

NEW MOTOR SHIP.

IMPERIAL STAR ARRIVES

AUCKLANHER IN COMMAND.

Commanded by an Aueklander who has not seen his native town for 27 years, the Blue Star Line's new motor ship Imperial .Star arrived at Auckland on her maiden voyage yesterday morning after a fast passage of 29 days 9 hours from Belfast, where she was built. She is now loading produce at the Central wharf, and is to fill up for London at Southern ports. The master of tho Imperial Star is Captain D. 1!. Macfarlane, son of Air. 1). R. Macfarlane, of William Street, Dominion Road. Born in ]s!}.">, Captain Macfarlane went to sea in sail at the

age of 15, passed the examination for ■second mate in 1915, and obtained his master's "ticket" three years later. He has been with the Blue Star Line for 20 years. His present command is the first of three motor ships ordered by the Blue Star Line from Harland and Wolff, Ltd., of Belfast, the others being the New Zealand Star, due on April 22, and the Australian Star, due on May 10, both of them sister ships of the Imperial Star. The rakish stem, cruiser stern and squat funnel, oval in section, give the Imperial Star an appearance of power and speed which was justified on her maiden voyage, during which she averaged 10.2 knots. She has only one mast, the derricks for working the after hatches being slung from Samson posts. Six holds are provided for cargo, there being 250,571 cubic feet of uninsulated space for general cargo and 530,288 cubic feet of insulated space, which includes 10 gas-tight chambers with capacity for 1000 ton's of chilled beef. Everything that can be done by electricity is so done The 20 winches on deck, the windlasses and the steering gear are driven by electric motors, while the galley has ail electric stove. _ For passenger accommodation tlie Imperial Star has four single and four double cabins, all spacious and handsomely furnished, and each .having its own bathroom. The saloon, panelled in flaming birch, is divided by glass door.-, so that one half can be used as the dining room and the other half as a lounge.