NEW FERRY STEAMER.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12966, 20 November 1907, Page 8

NEW FERRY STEAMER.

THE MAORI ARRIVES AT LYTTELTON. A SPLENDID VESSEL. Tlie arrival at Lyttelton yesterday .r.orniisg of the Union Companys magnificent new turbine steamer Maori .uarks an important step in the de.eJopment of tne ferry passenger service between Lyttelton and Wellington . It is no exaggeration to say _ that the Maori is the "-last word" of the passenger steamer builder, that her luxurious accommodation for the •travelling public surpasses that of the o. st-appointed hotel ashore, and that no expense has been spared by the I'niou Company in providing what can truthfully tie de.-cribed as one of the iine.st "ferry" steamers afloat. The Maori was built by Messrs Denny Bros. and Co., Dumbarton, builders of tho majority of the Union Company's steamers. .She is 3.50 feet in length, 47 teet iii breadth, and '2o feet in depth; her gro**> tonnage is ,W.f.) ton.-, and h«r net tonnage Liii'J. tous. I'lie turbine is oOU tons larger and 30 l.*ot longer than the Mararoa, winch ve*t>el sho is ropltioing in the ferry (service. In outward appearance tiie Maori, with her twin tunnels and spacious decks, is very similar to the .Uaheiiio, altiiougli she is smaller than that vessel. Tin* new tiin'hine flyer is without doubt one of the finest mode.* t.nat have ever been seen on the coast, and her beautiful yodit-liko lines excited the aumutation oi all who saw her yesterday. She has been built for speed, and the razor-like bow and tho extreme nneuiess of the lines of her hull give on** tiie i'mprvssiou that th* vessel will <io ail that is required other in that lespect. Tho Maori had five decks, numbered A, li, C, D and E, and these are respectively tho boat deck, shade deck, upper de<.*k, main dock and lower deck. On the lx>a,t deck are ten large lifeboats, capable oi' carrying the entire 6>hipt> complement. At the forward on(i of this deck is tilie wheel house, and immediately behind are the quarters of the captain and tho navigattumg officers, whose cabins are spacious and airy, and furnibJied in a very tasteful manner. In the sarnie house are the officers' baths and laratories. Above the boat deck is the navigating bridge, which is fitted with every nikxiern appliance for handling the vessel at sea or in port. In addition to ttho telegraphs connecting with tho engineroom, thero is a "docking telegraph for transmit'td'ng orders to the second ollioer at the stern of >the vessel when sahe is coining alongside or leaving the wharf. Another telegraph, for use in case of a breakdown in the steering gear, is installed to tir-auismit orders to the man at the wheel in the wheelhouse right alt. The vessel is fiiDted witih Browns patent telemeter steering gear, working a powerful steam tiller tin the alter wheel-house. On the bridge is also a telephone with which, by means of a awitcih, verbal orders can be transmitted to the chief officer in the t>ow of the vessel, tine second officer right alt, ar tho engineroom below. A rovel feature is tho rudder in tho bow of the vessel, for use in manoeuvring her in port. This is controlled by a brass wheel on the bridge, and 13 worked by a powerful engine, and tho i udder when not required can tie locked by a powerful screw on the shade deck. Almost the entire available space is devoted to passenger accommodation, which is provided on four deckß, B, C, D and E. Tlie cabins are built to accommodate cne, two, three, four or six persons, and are furnished in the moat tasteful and luxurious style. Without exception, all the cabins are roomy, comfortable, well ventilated, and well lighted, and those on the upper decks are fitted with small windows instead of the usual round portholes. The se-cond-class passenger accommodation differs from the saloon passengers' quarters only in style, and in every respect is equal to, if not better than, tho saloon accommodation of most of the older boats of the Company. The first-class dining saloon and the music room or the Maori are both magnificent compartments, roomy and well and decorated with beautiful eff<*ct m white and gold. A magnificent horizontal "grand-" piano by Bechstein is to lie found in the music room. Another notable feature of the passenger accommodation is the numerous lavatories and bathrooms placed in various parte of tho ship, and furnished with every modern convenience. Tho first-class smoke-room, on the shado deck, is a most luxurious apartment, and is superbly furnished and fitted. In no^ other vessel in the large fleet of the Union Company have the wants and requirements of the travelling public been so well provided for as in this, latent product of the modern shipbuilder, and the passenger who will find fault with the accommodation of the Maori must lie one whom it will be impossible to satisfy.

The propelling machinery *of the Maori consists of five sets of Parsons' ■ innrino steam turbines, tlrroo for driving her nhead and two for going astern. Her enjrines are of 5(100 horse-power. The Maori, which was designed and built solely for the Lyttelron-Wellington ferry service, is a remarkably handy vessel to work ill port, and can ho turned right round in her own length. She is fitted with two rudders —one in the stern and the other in the bow. Coming alongside the.wharf yesterday morning. Captain Matthew Livingstone slewed his splendid ship round and backed her in to her berth without using a rope.

Tho Maori has already given proof of her steaming capabilities. Leaving Port Chalmers ot 7.40 p.m. on Mondny and clearing Otigo Heeds at 8.20 p.m., the vessel sued up the coast "going well within herself." to use a sporting phrase. She was not opened out at all. and her engines were capable of at least another 45 revolutions per minute. She avernged IS knots an hour ;md made the run to Lyttelton Heads in 10 hours lo minutes, and to the breakwater in llhrs oniin. From Akaroa Heads to Lvttelton Heads the ves<d jvns slightly under two hours. Th.. chief engineer. Mr MacDowall. who is fu.l of enthusiasm regarding the capabilities of his new charge ' wos confident tint the Maori on her run -North list night would easily lower the present record.