THE NEW GUINEA SERVICE.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7272, 4 February 1889, Page 4

THE NEW GUINEA SERVICE.

The Merrie England is the name of the ete&m yacht which has been purchased by the Home authorities for the New Guinea Government, as reported by cable. She is an iron yacht, five years old, built and engjned at Leith. In size she is •* trifle larger than H.M.S. Dart. Her lexact dimensions are:—Length, 147 f t; beam, 25ft 2m; depth of hold, 13/t4in. Her power is about the same as that of the gunboat just mentioned. Her engines are surface condensing, Sβ h.p. nominal; her high and low pressure cylinders, 21 in and 42n diameter respectively, stroke 22in. From this it will be seen that the New Guinea yacht should prove well adapted for the service on the eoaat there, and will doubtless be much appreciated by those who have experienced the disappointments, delays and shortcomings of the existing means of w«er eommanieation at New Guinea. The yacht contains a moat commodious saloon, and is reported to be furnished in. first-cias* style. She was to make a start for Torres Straits, via the Canal, some day of the past month. .

MOVEMENTS OP THE UNION STEAMSHIP COMPANY'S STEAMBRS. Monday (This Day)—The Mahinapua leaves at 2 p.m. for Wellington, Nelson, and WeotQort. The Graf ton arrives early irom Wellington andWestport,andle«*eß

at 6 p.m. for Timaru and Dunedin. The Wanaka arrives early from Manukau, Taranaki, and Wellington, returning at 9 p.m. to thesamenottsr"" Tuesday—The Ringarooma arrives about 7 a.m. from Wellington, at 3 p. m. for Port Chalmers, Bluff, Hobart, and Melbourne.