The S.S. Matatua

Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 102, 2 May 1890, Page 3

The S.S. Matatua

The s.s Matatna, the second of the cargo steamers built for the Shaw, Savill & Albion Company, is expeoted here on Sunday from Napier. She was lannohed in Ootober last from the yards of Mossrß. Itobort Stophenßon and Co., at Hebburn, Newcastle-on-Tyne, her tonnage being 3321 gross and 2190 register. She iB Bobooner-rigged, has two docks, and her hull is fitted with six watertight bulkheads. She has a top-gallant forecastle, and a poop, and with the oxception of the plankings on theso two decks and the bridge decks, the whole of the decking is of broad steel plates. She is fitted with triple expansion engines of the latest typo. The cylinders are each 25in, 40in, and 68in, having a stroke of 42 in, working a single screw, whioh propels the vessel at a rate of 10^ knots per hour on a consumption of 24 tons of coal per day. Her indioatod horße-power is 1700, and her nominal horse-power 300. No accommodation is provided for carrying passengers. Especial care has been taken in the the fitting of her up for the safe carriage of frozen produce from this colony to tho Home markets, and sho has space for some '10,000 caroases of mutton and 230 tons of oheese, her oapaoity for wool being for 3000 bales. Three of Haslam'a latest improved refrigerating machines are fitted in the 'tween decks. Thore are four large steam winches on deck for working oargo, as sho is supplied with steam steering gear. She is ballasted with water, and has tanks to hold about 400 tons. In appearance tho Matatua resembles the Mamari, but her carrying capacity iB slightly less. Captain M'Dougall, formorly of the ship Auokland, is in command ; Mr. Clarko, chief officer ; Mr. Lowden, second ; and Mr. Ward, third. Tho engineering department is presided over by Mr. Allan, who is assisted by Mr. M'Caul, second engineor ; Mr. Stonobank, third ; and Mr. Pringle, fourth. Tho refrigerating engineors are Mr. Andrew M'lntyro, first ; Mr. Gillespie, eecond ; and Mr. Smart, third.