THE S.S. WESTPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 5966, 26 April 1882, Page 3

THE S.S. WESTPORT.

The Westport, owned by Captain Williams, and lately brought out by him from Glasgow, was lying at the Rattrav street wharf this afternoon. She is 265 tons register, but will carry between 400 and 600 tons; when with the latter freight she draws about lift 6in. She is fitted with compound engines of 265 horee-power nominal, and will steam ten knots per hour in ordinary weather with a very low consumption of fuel. Three c»»mns have been supplied—two for the accommodation of passengers and one for the officers. The after-cabin, or saloon, has bunks for twenty-four, the compartments holding in some cases four, in others three, and in other cases two people. The fittings are of crimson velvet and bird's-eye maple, and there seems to be every arrangement likely to reduce to a minimum the discomforts of those who travel by her. Amidships, abutting on the bridge, is the cabin allotted to the occupation of the mincers and officers. It is roomy and light, and handy for call, forward is the steerago passengers* cabin. There are bunks for twenty-four men, and a ladies cabin, which is commodious and clean. Still futher forward, under the top-zallant forecastle, are the sailors' quarters " certified to berth seventeen seamen." The comfort of the "shell-backs" has not been overlooked, their berths being quite as cosy as those of the passengers. Coming on deck wc notico that the vessel is topsail-schooner rigged, and has a plumbstem. On the forecastle-head is a Bteam windlass, very conveniently placed. The hawse-pipes are sufficiently forward to clear the men's quarters, but the chain-locker of course oomes down between the two rows of bunks. The fore hatchway is particularly roomy, and ample heaving power is supplied by a horizontal steam winch which takes up but little room. Standing dunnage is used in the fore hold, the capacity of which is thereby increased. The main hatch is just abaft the mainmast; it is furnished with an ordinary steam winch. The helmsman is stationed on the bridge amidships, and a telegraphio Indicator provides communication with the engine room. In the matter of pantry, store-rooms, boats, and other furnishings the vessel is well supplied. Altogether the Westport seems to be well equipped forj the "trade in {which she is enraged, viz., carrying coal from Westport to Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, and other 'ports. She is, we are assured, an excellent seaboat. Captain Gibb and the other officers speak of her as behaving much better when deep or flying light than most other vessels in similar circumstances. She was built by Messrs Murdoch and Murray, of Port Glasgow, and is partly chartered by the Westport Coal Company.

Shipping Telegrams.

Albany, April 25.—P. and O.'s Carthage with the Brindisi maif Mblbourjib, April 25.—Rotomahana, from the Bluff, London, April 22.—Orari, from Wellington (January 4), and Stracathro, from Auckland (January 17).