A HOME ON THE HIGH SEAS

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 170, 20 July 1935, Page 1 (Supplement)

A HOME ON THE HIGH SEAS

SINCE prehistoric times there has always been some meai by which men might cross the sea. Perhaps the ideu originated from a dark-skinned youth as he watched a

floating log borne swiftly down by the current. Perhaps someone in distress found refuge on a drifting tree which bore him safe to the shelter of the shores. Be that as it may, it is safe to suppose that the first attempt at shipbuilding was the dug-out canoe. Followed later the stately Roman galley, manned by slaves, the Norsemen's flat-bottomed ships, and the Viking ships whicl/ patrolled the coast of Western Europe. Sails became more frequently used, and during the early part of the 15th century, several large vessels, the wonders of the time, were constructed. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth shipbuilding progressed apace, for England and other nations were engaged in plunder and warfare. The need for a ship faster than sails soon became a long-felt want, for sailing boats * were often becalmed for weeks, | drinking water and food thus becom- | ing scarce. Ia 1803 the first successful stsamboat was built, and 34 years later the Atlantic Ocean for the first time was crossed by ships using steam,

To-day, the product of an age of science and invention, complete with her engines, her internal communications, her wireless, her refrigerators, hor electricity and her multitude of other wonders, we have the modern ocean liner. Such a ship may well be compared to a compact, well regulated, well equipped, self-contained town floating on the sea.

All available space in this little town is crammed with the wonder of science and invention. There is no overlapping, no unnecessary equipment, no useless labour. Everything is there for a specific purpose—to ensure the efficiency of the vessel and the comfort and welfare of those who sail in her.

And let us suppose for a littlo moment that a great liner leaves New Zealand shores bound for faroff England. She will steam 10,000 miles through storms and winds and high seas, through every possible type of temperature and weather before the journey ends and English soil is reached. She will carry all classes and creeds aa her passengers. The statesman, the millionaire and the doctor will live side by side w;th the emigrant in this same floating world. There will be explorers and authors, politicians, tourists —men, women and children of all types and nationalities will share life oil shipboard.

When we think of the size and speed of otir modern ships, we realise the tremendously powerful engines required to drive them, a*nd the ship's engine-room is probably the most interesting part of the ship. The ill-fated Lusitania, the great liner sunk in the war, had a total horse-power of 70,000, and even higher powers than this have been reached by the more modern liners built since the war. _ _ All great ships carry a number of delicate and important instruments, first among them being the compass. This, of course, is an absolute essential to all vessels at sea. Every ship carries one, and lart*e ships carry many, fixed in different parts of the vessel. Beinc thus able to chart its course, the next important thing to know is how fast she is travelling, so that, having set his course, tlio captain is able to calculate the distance he has steamed along it. The instrument that performs this is the familiar log. Accurate time, too, is essential on board; in fact, an ordinary clock or watch is not a sufficiently accurate timekeeper for a ship, and special clocks called chronometers are made for ships. These clocks, of the finest workmanship, are very carefully tested. To those wio know little of life at sea, and even to many of those who do, the wonder of a great ship is incredible. Think just for a moment of the White Star Company's great liner Majestic. Her machinery has 100,000 horse-power. There are 48 great boilers and they cover five acres. She has nine steel decks and the space on board is equal to 400 eight-roomed houses. She has over 1200 rooms and has living accommodation for 5000 people. The dining saloon has an area of 10,000 square feet; the swimming bath covers 820 square feet and there is a library of 4000 books.

The ship 3 are wonderfully designed; they resemble nothing so much as floating palaces or giant modern hotels. The organisation for the comfort, safety and amusement of the passengers is nothing short of marvellous. Games and sports of all kinds are held on the huge promenade decks; swimming carnivals and fancy dress balls, children's parties and talking pictures—all these help to make life on shipboard a novel and wonderful holiday. Surely those who say that the romance of shipping has departed with the passing of sails, cannot understand that romance can never die where sea craft is concerned, and that the miracle of the ocean liner is a ceaseless marvel in this age when marvels never cease.