LUXURY AFLOAT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 72, 28 March 1929, Page 10

LUXURY AFLOAT

THE NEW RANGITIKI

SPLENDID APPOINTMENTS

Showing a brilliant mass of electric light, tho now 17,500-ton motor-ship Eaugi'tiki, built in England for tho New Zealand Shipping Company, arrived at Wellington at half-past 10 o'clock last night from London and Southampton, vai tho Panama Canal. Been through the heavy showers of rain last night from the waterfront and the surrounding hills, a remarkable impression of the ship's great size was obtained. The most spectacular vantage point, however, was, at tho foot of Point Jorningham, whei-e the liangitilci appeared as a towering castle of 'light and warmth through the wet and miserable gloom.

Owing to the late hour of the vessel 's arrival at Wellington, it was impossible'to berth her yesterday. Shortly before eight O'clock this morning the Harbourmaster (Captain J. F. Dawson) boarded the Hangitiki, and immediately she was cleared by the health and customs authorities she commenced to move up to her berth at Pipitea Wharf, where a large crowd of interested spectators had gathered to witness the arrival of New Zealand's largest and most up-to-date passenger vessel in the Home trade. -

On boarding the liner this morning, one was immediately impressed with tho vast amount of deck space available for games and- dancing. A feature in this respect was the entire absence of hatch combings aft of the captain's bridge. Dummy hatches have been fitted on a level with the deck, so that several games of deck tennis can be played at the same time..

The interior of the Kangitiki is decorated on a lavish scalo, and some of the bedroom suites, which are panelled with polished and carved oak, have cost well over £1000 to fit up. Polished mahogany is in evidence in many of the public rooms, which are all tastefully decorated.

An innovation to the New Zealand passenger trade is the adoption of liaiidpropelled lifeboats, which are worked by levers instead of oars. Each boat is equipped with 10 levers, five on oither side, and is built to hold 80 persons. The obvious advantage of such a lifeboat is that no knowledge of rowing is necessary. Small hand-brakes are used to lower the boats, and electric motors, fitted with numerous safety devices, are employed to lift them from the water.

Good weather was experienced during the greater part of the Kangitiki's uneventful voyage from Southampton. Passengers in the first, second, and third classes were 'very favourably impressed with excellent accommodation of the new motor-liner.