THE MURITAI

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 111, 11 May 1923, Page 8

THE MURITAI

ON THE LAST STAGE OF HER

JOURNEY

EXPECTED AT WELLINGTON

NEXT WEEK,

The Eastbourne Borough Council's new ferry steamer Muritai left Sydney for Wellington yesterday afternoon on the last stage of her journey from Montrose, Scotland. The Muritai left Montrose on 23rd February, and has had a iair-weather passage from that port to Sydney, except for a storm experienced at the time of leaving. She called at Malta, Sluez, Aden, Colombo, Sourtabaya (Java), and Sydney en roi»te_ to New Zealand, and has picked up oil iuel at each of these places. The vessel has been travelling at an average speed of 9 knots, though her contracted speed when in actual service as a ferry steamer is 13i knots. She should reach Wellington late on Tuesday afternoon or early on Wednesday morning, providing weather conditions remain favourable. As the vessel is equipped with a temporary set of wireless, Vollington will probaibly receive due notice of _ the Muritai's approach to the Dominion. The vessel will probably enter the ferry service on Ist June, after having undergone a necessary overhaul after her lengthy voyage of approximately 13.500. miles.

Following is tie crew of the Moiritai during the voyage to New Zealand.: — Master, C .ptain J. G. Fullerton; first mate, d H. Otterson; second mate, R. Bninev.; bosun, 'J. Meains; sailors, D. Eobb, W. Jamie, and J. Davidson; cook-6teward, D. C. M'Robbie. Engineroom staff : Chief engineer, J. W. Cullen; second engineer, C. Rose; third engineer, A. Thompson; superintendent, J. F. Ryan (chief engineer of the Eastbourne ferry service); firemen, J. Robb, W. M'Lagan, and J. Stewart. The contract for, the new ferry steamer was arranged through Messrs. CoryWright and Salmon, of Wellington, ant? the vessel was built by the Coaster Construction Company, of Montrose, Scotland. The contract was signed by the Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. F. H. Mather) on behalf of the Borough Council on 22nd July, 1922, and under the contract delivery was to be> .made in nine months. The approximate cost of the vessel is about £32.000. The council does not take delivery of the steamer until she reaches Wellington Harbour and has passed her; trial* here to ths satisfaction of the council.

The Muritai is 165 ft in length, 30ft beam, Bft load draught, and with an indicated horse-power of 900, giving a. service speed of 13j knots. The passenger accommodation is much more up to date than obtains on any of the .existing ferry fleet, and will allow approximately 1500 passengers to be carried. There are three decks. . The top: or shade deck gives commodious seating accommodation for the full length of tho ship. The middle, or main deck, contains a portion of the engine room, comfortable seating space, and up-to-date lavatory accommodation. The lower deck or hold contains two saloons, one aft and the other forward, one of which will be used as a smoking room and the other for ladies. Special attention has been paid to ventilation, and access to all parts of the ship is by means of large easy stairways. Immediately the Muritai takes up her run on the ferry service the Cobar will be taken off and placed on th» slip, where a new propeller is to be fitted with the idea of increasing the vessel's speed. The Cobai' is also to be adapted for cargo carrying. When work on th» Cobai- has been completed, the Duchess will be withdrawn for at least thre» months, and is to be refitted with a new boiler, which is already, on board a steamer at Liverpool. . This boiler was manufactured by Messrs. Vickers, Ltd., at their Barrow works, and the construction was supervised by Messrs. M'Laren and Walsh, on behalf of the Eastbourne Borough Council. . It" has been tested, and fulfils all Brtird of Trade requirements. The installation of the new boiler will not necessitate any great structural alteration to the Duchess, though it has. been suggested that one funnel should be dispensed with. This latter idea has been abandoned for .sentimental reasons.