THE 'HIMALAYA.'

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1977, 17 November 1863, Page 3

THE ' HIMALAYA.'

The following is another account of this magnificent vessel from the Melbourne Age : — " Her Majesty's steam transport ship ' Himalaya ' arrived in this port on Monday afternoon, en route, with about 819 rank and file of the 50th Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Waddy, for New Zealand. The ' Himalaya ' is by far the largest vessel that has ever visited these waters, and is one of the finest specimens of naval architecture afloat. Her measurement is 3750 town register. She was built at Milhvall, in 1853, for the P. and O. Company, and almost immediately after being launched and finished, was engaged in the transport of troops to the Crimea during the Russian war. At the cxpiration,of about twelve months she was sold to H. M. Government for £124,000. Her original cost was £140,000, but the P. and O. Company realised a profit on her from the large sums they received for her services during the first year. Since then she has been employed in transport service to the Crimea, Canada and the East Indies, &c. Her length from the taffrail to the figure-head is 375 foet, and her breadth on deck 44 feet. The upper deck is flush from stem to stern. The main deck is also flush. The latter is divided into various compartments — the saloon being about 100 feet in length, fitted with a double row of tables, and capable of accommodating a company of 140 at dinner. The officers' cabins avo ranged on each side. These are high and roomy, and fitted up with every accommodation calculated to secure the utmost comfoit that could bo expected at sea. ' They are also ventilated by means of scroll work above and below, and by perpendicular Venetians of maple wood, which at the same time forms an elegant wall for the saloon, This lining is broken up in severalcompartmentswith plate-glass, decorated with carvings of fruit ond flowers. At the fore end of the saloon is a handsome maple wood chefßonniere, surmounted by a mirror extending between the entrance to the staircases leading up on either side. The troop deck, forward from the saloon, is about 150 feet in length, and is fitted up with forty-six mess tables, capable of accommodating sixteen men each. The next division of this deck consists of the hospital on the one side, and the warrant officers' quarters on the other. The fore part of the deck, between fifty and sixty feet long, is appropriated to the seamen, numbering about 140. The lower troop deck, which is capable of accommodating 300 soldiers, is set apart for the accommodation of the wives and children of the soldiers, who number about 120 bouls. To secure good order, there are sentries placed at the stairs leading to this part of the ship. Proceeding aft, on the second deck, the next division is given up to the wives and children of the sergeants, about forty in number. The engine room occupies the next division, and of itself is large enough to stow away some ordinary steamers. A visit to this part of the vessel is highly interesting, as afibrdiug an opportunity of witnessing the extent and perfection to which naval engineering has been carried. The engines, which are nominally 700 horse power, are constructed by Peun, on what is called the trunk principle. The fore part of the lower saloon is occupied as a general store, in which are stow ed away reg mental baggage and dry stores, &c, to the extent of about 143 tons. Below this arc the water tanks, which run in a double row fore and aft amidships. The space on cither side of these are occupied by salt provisions. A contiguous compartment is fitted up with Enfield rifles, ambulances, and general field equipments, Portions of the lower saloon are also set apart for the issue of provisions, an engineer's mess room, steward's oflice, warrant officers' mess room. &c. Leading aft from these, by a passage lined with rifles, arc the military officers' cabins. The ' Himalaya ' is furnished for the purposes of defence with six 32-poundcrs, each weighing 25cwt. Her crew numbers altogether 213 souls, including officers. The diameter of her screw is 28 feet, and the weight of her bow anchors 57 and 62 cwt. respectively. In order to provide against a scarcity of water, she is fitted with two condensers, capable of supplying 20 tons of fresh water per diem. The bunkers are capable of containing 1,000 tons of coal, winch, under ordinary circumstances, is a sufficient supply for a voyage of 5,000 miles. Since the loth of February last she has sailed upwards of 32,000 miles, and conveyed six regiments at au average of 1,000 each, her passages being from the Cape of Good Ilopo to the Mauritius, thence again to the Cape, England, Colombo (Ceylon), and Hobson's Bay."