TRIAL TRIP OF THE KIA ORA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 96, 16 January 1908, Page 8

TRIAL TRIP OF THE KIA ORA.

The new steel; twin-screw- steamer Kia .Ora, built and engined • at- Belfast, for tho Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, Limited, London, proceeded down tho Belfast. Lough for adjustment' of compasses,' and 'undergo speed' -trials last month. The' steamer afterwards left 'for Cardiff for coaling, previous to proceeding, to Glasgow and Livermol. to take in cargo ■ for New Zealand. The .Kia Ora has:been specially designed' and equipped to meet- the ' requirements of the owners increasing: trade between Gt. Britain and New Zealand. Tho vessel, which is;about tG4ft.. in dength, with' a. gross tonn'ago of (560,-' and a deadweight' capacity of over 9000 '.tons, has-, been built and. cngijicd' under special-survey "for the highest" class in Lloyd's Registry of Shipping, besides conforming to all' the requirements of the'Hoiird \of Trade for a'passenger'certiflcate. The'carjjo .space is divided into ifive holds, which, "owing to tho adoption of the fore-and : nft girder principle of. .construction, are practically free of obstructions,' and aro, .therefore, capable of receiving consignments of large dimensions, such as locomotives, boilers, and -motors,. Three of these holds have been specially insulated ;and adapted for the reception of cargoes of frozen mutton. A deckhouse has been erected on the shelter-deck amidships, in which a large and handsomely furnished dining saloon is fitted, together with comfortable state-rooms for tho accommodation of a number of first-class passengers. The captain, officers, and engineers, a;nd the petty officers, and crew are, housed at the foT.iv-anl end of the upper deck. Tim propelling. machinery consists of two sets of tripleiwpansioti engines of the' most improved type, with all tho necessary auxiliaries, steam being supplied ffoni five steel single-ended multitubular toilers, fitted .with- HowderiV system of forced draught. The results of the trial trip proved highly'satisfactory.-. The Ivia. Ora is commanded ■ o.r Captain .Thomas Harry 'Chudley, Ii.X.R.. who has been, in the service of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company I'or u period' of 17 years. She left.- Liverpool on J.aihiary 1, for Auckland direct, and 'is due at Auckland on February 20, and Wellington s auout a week later. •