RAZMAK TO MONOWAI

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 114, 11 November 1930, Page 11

RAZMAK TO MONOWAI

CONVERTING P. AND O. LINER

THREE WEEKS' WORK

The P. and 0. liner Eazniak, en route from Colombo to "Wellington, where she is to "be converted into the"Union Company's now Monowai before entering the Sydney-San Francisco Boyal Mail service, has reported by wireless that she" expects to arrive off the Heads at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. After being inspected by the Health Officer she will berth at about midday and will commence the discharge of her cargo, of which she has about 500 tons, consisting mainly of tea and dates. The B'azmak should complete discharge to-morrow, and she will then be taken over by the Union Company and berthed at the- Clyde Quay Wharf, where the alterations are to bo carried out. The Eazmak will arrive painted black,, with . \yhite. superstructure. In accordance with the practice followed by the Union Company for passenger ships, she will be given a green hull, with a gold band, white, superstructure, and a red funnel with a black lop. ... INCREASED ACCOMMODATION. The principal work in connection with the" conversion of the vessel" will bo alterations to the passenger accommodation. As mentioned in "The Post" last •week, the Eazmak is a two-class ship, but as the Monowai she will provide for three classes as is usual on the Union Company's mail steamers. The Eazmak has accommodation for 142 passengers in each of the two classes; as tli© Monowai, she is to carry 225 in the first class, 100 in the second class, and 100 in the third-class —an increase of 141 in the total accommodation. Consequently, an increased number of berths and of cabin fittings will be required, and many of these are being obtained from former passenger steamers which flew the company's flag. ' The fittings on the old ships were remarkable- for their durability, and as an indication of the progress made in the provision made for the comfort of passengers on modern ships as compared with those of the past, the compactums and other fittings taken from the MaraToa, which was berthed at the Clyde Quay Wharf this morning from the stream to bo stripped of anything that will be suitable for use on the Monowai, will mostly be used in the third class instead of in the first class. A number of bunks were brought over from Sydney by the Marama on her last trip; and 'other fittings that may be required have been collected from different New Zealand ports. The conversion of the Eazmak is to bo completed in time for her to sail from hero on 2nd December for San Francisco, via Eartonga and Papeete.