SHIPS AND THE SEA

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 110, 10 May 1913, Page 12

SHIPS AND THE SEA

WRECK OF THE OCEANA. An interesting function took place at the Trinity House on 17th February, when Captain H. Acton Blake, the l>eputy Master, in the presence of the members of the board, handed over to Mr. George Lee a handsome piece of plate in the form of a silver stvlver suit' ably inscribed, and to Mr. P. T. A. Yeates a gold watch, these presentations being made on. behalf of the underwriters interested in the metals recoverd from the wreck of the P. and O. steamer Oceana. Mr. Lee, who is the district superintendent for the Trinity House at East Cowes, rendered exceptional services in connection with the arrangements for marking and lighting the wreck and in getting it cut down and dispersed on the conclusion of the salvage operations, while Mr. Yeates was in charge of the Trinity House steamer Warden, and took a very "active part throughout the operations. The assistance and the facilities given by the officials of the Trinity House were very highly appreciated by the under* j writers concerned, and it is greatly to the credit of the Elder Brethren and their staff that the difficult work of cutting down and dispersing the wreck should have been carried through so successfully, and at a cost -which compares very favourably with the prices quoted by independent contractors. THE NIAGARA. With reference to the Union Company's hew liner Niagara, due at Auckland from Sydney on Friday next, the 9th May, tho Sydney Morning Herald says:— An inspection of the vessel revealed a liher replete with all the modern improvements devised to make sea travelling comfortable and attractive. Previous particulars announced regarding the lavish fitting _ and furnishing of ehiokerooms, libraries, music, dining, and sitting rooms were tnoi-e than justified. Sir James Mills, managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd., who had come across from the head office in Dunedin to meet the boat at Melbourne, came on from the southern, capital by her. g "This, of course, is the largest vessel to come here," said Sir James Mills, on being interviewed after tho steamer's arrival. Her tonnage is 13,500, and she is somewhat larger than tho mail steamers engaged in the service via the Sue!! L-anal. I am very much pleased with ncr, as it is perfectly evident that she is up to date in every respect. The Niagara has many interesting features, 6he of which is that she will burn oil fuel. She is at present burning coal, but on her arrival at Vancouver her furnaces will be converted into oil-burners. Her tahks are capable of holding something like oUUO tons of oil, and she will take in enough at Vancouver to make the voyage to Sydney and back. She is also fitted with the .Thermo tank system of ventilation, which forces fresh air throughout the whole, of the accommodation during warm weather, to be replaced by warm air when the .vessel is in colder latitudes. This system is in use oh the big Trans- ! fttlam \ lc ,, hners, and has proved very sueI cessful." KARAMEA-MARIE OARTZ COLLISION. In the Admiralty Division recently, Mr> Justice Bargrave De&he, sitting with Irinity Masters, gave judgment in on action arising out of a collision in Bugsby s Reach, river Thames, between the Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Katamea and the German steamship Mario Gartz. The casualty occurred on tho afternoon of 30th August last, in fine, plear weather, when the Karamea was* being removed from Green's Dry Dock, Blackwall, to the Royal Albert Dock, and the Marie Gartz was bouhd from Danzig to Church Hole Tier with a cargo of wood. The Marie Gartz sustained bo much damage that she had to be beached. Tho Court, accepting the evidence of the plaintiffs, pronounced thd Marie Garta alone to blame for .proceed} ing up on the south Bide of midriver, and then porting her helm and going full speed across the bows of the Karamea. Tho Karamea, is at present /bound from St. John to jVellington, via way ports,, and ia due here about the* 25th May. ANOTHER BIG LINER-BEN ALL A LEAVES LONDON. The new P. and O. branch service liner Benalla, which left London on her maiden voyage on the 17th April, is another big addition to the tonnage at present engaged in the Australian trade. 1 The Benalla is a vessel of 11,120 tohs, and is a sister ship to the Ballarat and Beltana,, two steamers which are at present favourably known and well patronised. Her principal dimensions are:— Length 600 ft, breadth 62ft, and depth 41ft. She wbb built by Messrs. Caird and Co., Greenock. She is fitted with all the most modern impro\«jment», including wireless, telegraphy. The promenade decks are exceptionally spacious, while the ladies' lounge, on the promenade deck, and the smoking-room on the bridge deck, are well appointed, comfortable, and commodious. Another important feature is the large and airy cabins, all situated oh the upper ahd promenade decks, most of which are fitted with square windows ihsted of round ports. Like her sister chips, the Benalla will carry one class of passengers only, and Uhe company has introduced aft entirely new idea, as far as one-class steamers are concerned, in having- a verandah lounge and cafe situated on the bridge d^ck, and outside the smoke-room. The Benalla carries about 300 passengers, and one of the special features of the new ship is the diningroom, which has ( seating accommodation more than sufficient for a full complement of passengers. Hot and Cold water have been laid on in the plunge baths and the special shower baths. It is expected that the Benalla will sail from Sydney for London, via Melbourne, Adelaide, Durban, and Capetown, about 21st June next.