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CRUISING LINER

Otranto at Wellington To-morrow A 20,000-TON STEAMER The Orient liner Otranto, which is making a cruise from Australian ports to New Zealand, was to depart from Auckland at midnight yesterday and is due at Wellington to-morrow morning. The Otranto, which is the second of the Orient Line ships to visit New Zealand this summer, is an oil-burning steamer of 20,000 tons gross register, 658 feet long, with a beam of 75 feet. Specially designed for the Australian mail service, she is planned to carry two classes of passengers only, and will accommodate approximately 500 firstclass and 1000 third class passengers. She is propelled by twin screws driven by two sets of geared turbines, capable of developing 20,000 horse-power. The Otranto has remarkably fine public rooms and luxurious cabin accommodation, but a specially noticeable feature is the vast areas of deck space available for recreation and exercise. Handsome Apartments. The first-class dining saloon is approached from a spacious foyer, designed, en suite with the dining saloon, in a free English classic manner. The lofty centre part of the saloon is carried up the height of two decks and decorated by broad pilasters supporting a deep enriched cornice and ornamented ceiling—the centre panel has a group of sculptured low relief figures representing “The Flight of the Planets.” Below the cornice and between the pilasters in the well are a series of perforated bronze grilles, forming a frieze, with classic figure groups in low relief representing various subjects from Homer’s Iliad. These grilles are the work of the well-known sculptor, Mr. Richard Carbe. Photographs of the panels with their descriptions are hung in the foyer. The dining saloon and foyer are decorated in tones of cream and grey with golden bronze panels and mirror frames. The electric light fittings are very happily inspired in character with the general scheme of the decoration and have been designed by Mr. Walter Gilbert.

The first-class lounge, forming a delightful centre of social life on board ship, is planned at the head of the grand stairway and has access to B deck on both sides. Communication with the dining saloon is by electric lift and by the grand stairway. The lounge is a spacious room, nearly 2000 square feet in area, with bow windows on port and starboard sides. The scheme of decoration here is a free rendering of traditional English chafacter. Sienna marble columns and door architraves are used with charming effect, making a contrast in the general colour scheme of cream and gold. The ornamented plaster ceiling forms a feature of this room. Small painted panels of decorative figure subjects are introduced with happy result, the work of Mr. Paulsen Townsend.

The writing room is a restful room where a note of elegance is struck by the quiet decoration. The walls are wood panelled between the supporting columns and pilasters—blue lacquer panels with Chinese figure decoration are cunningly introduced —the work of English artists. The Chinese feeling is echoed in the carving to the caps of the columns and pilasters and also in the electric light fittings. The furniture and carpets are designed in harmony with the room.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19350208.2.113

Bibliographic details

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 115, 8 February 1935, Page 12

Word Count
525

CRUISING LINER Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 115, 8 February 1935, Page 12

CRUISING LINER Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 115, 8 February 1935, Page 12