UP-TO-DATE LINER

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 118, 12 February 1935, Page 10

UP-TO-DATE LINER

Inspection of Imperial Star LUNCHEON ON BOARD During her stay at Wellington the handsome new motor-liner Imperial Star, the first of the three sister-ships built at Belfast by Harland and Wolff, Ltd., for the Blue Star Line, attracted considerable attention. Distinctive features of the Imperial Star are her raking bow, a single mast and a squat streamlined funnel. Specially designed for the New Zealand trade, the ship is replete with every facility for the handling and carriage of all classes of refrigerated and general cargo and, in addition, she has superb accommodation for 12 passengers.

A visit to the ship was paid yesterday morning by his Excellency ‘the Governor-General who inspected the Imperial Star with particular interest, in view of the fact that a few months ago lie launched her sister-ship, New Zealand Star, at Belfast, by merely pushing a button at Government House, Wellington, thus transmitting an electric impulse round the world. Yesterday afternoon the Blue Star Line (N.Z.), Ltd., and Captain.D. R. Macfarlaue, commander of tlie Imperial Star, entertained at luncheon on board representatives and shipping and exporting interests.

Those .present were the Hon. J. G. Cobbe. Minister of Marine; Mr. J. Findlay, New Zealand representative of the Sh.aw, Savill and Albion Company, Ltd.; Mr. C. M. Turrell, general manager for New Zealand of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Ltd.; Mr. Warwick E. C. Gregory, New Zealand manager of the Commonwealth and Dominion Line; Mr. N. S. Falla, managing-director of, the Union Steam Ship Company; Mr. W. T. Rae, New Zealand manager of the Blue Star Line (N.Z.),'Ltd.; Mr. A. G. Barnett, general manager and secretary of the Wellington Harbour Board; Mr. T. C. Brash, secretary or the Dairy Produce Export Board ; Mr. John Fraser, manager of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board : Mr. W. Benzies. secretary of the New Zealand Fruit Export Control Board; Dr. E. Marsden, secretary of tlie Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; Mr. A. G. Hodder. New Zealand representative of the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Ltd.; Mr. J. B. MacEwan, Mr. T. Woodcock, shipping officer of the Dairy Board; Mr. A. B. Lane, manager of the Press Association; Mr. J. P. Mackay, general manager. of the Gear Meat Company; Messrs. P. Borthwick and A. W. Charleson. of Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Australasia). Ltd.; Mr. B. F. Iles, Blue Star Line (N-Z-l : Mr. Harold Vestey and Captain C. W. Young, marine Superintendent of the Blue Star Line. Follow’ng the luncheon, the guests were conducted through the various departments of the ship by Captain Macfarlane. Mr. S. C. Cramb. chief officer, and Mr. D. Slesser. chief engineer. The loading of chilled beef, of which 1400 quarters are being taken from Wellington and 1200 from Auckland, was watched witli special interest.