A NEW STEAMER FOR THE UNION COMPANY.

Evening Star, Issue 7337, 8 October 1887, Page 4

A NEW STEAMER FOR THE UNION COMPANY.

The steamer Pukaki, the latest addition to the fleet of the U.S.S. Company, arrived off Taiaroa Heads and anchored at 7.45 p.m. on Fiiday. She crossed the bar at 5.30 a.m. to-day in charge of Mr Pilot Paton, and steamed direct to Dunedin wharf. She was met in the cross channel by the Government stpamer Gordon, on board which were Dr Drysdale (the Health Officer) and Mr It. T. Macdonnell (Surveyor of Customs) and, upon being satisfied as to the health of all on board, Dr Drygdale passed her, while she waß promptly cleared in by the Surveyor of Customs. The Pukaki 13 commanded by Captain Duder, who was formerly chief officer of the s.s. Rotomahana. He brings with him as officen—Mr M'Donald (late of the Taupo), chief; Mr Kerr, second ; Mr Wilson (late of the Triamph), third. The chief engineer is Mr Hay; Mr Williamson is second, Mr M'Lean third, and Mr Dunlop fourth. Mr Dickson, formerly of the s.s. Hauroto, is chief steward. The Pukaki is rigged as a brigantine, and is different in her construction to any other of the Company's steamers, having been specially toailt by Messrs Denny Bros., at Dumbarton, for the coal trade which the Union Company are about to open up between the West Coast and Australia. She is 280 ft long, 36tt in width, and has a depth of hold of 18ft 9in; her registered tonnage is 850 net and 1,400 gross. She has been engined by Messrs Denny Bros., and is fitted with quadruple surface condensing engines of 700 horse-power indicated, the diameter of her cylinders being respectively 16in, 24in, 35in, and 47in, with a length of stroke of 36in. She has multitubular steel boilers, loaded to a pressure of 1701b to the square foot, while her three furnaces are Foxe's patent corrugated of the latest make. She has a patent evaporator and distiller for making fresh water for boiler consumption, and is also fitted with Weir's patent pumps for feeding her boilers. There are three cargo hatches, each fitted with patent steam winches, and generally she is fitted with all the recent labor-saving appliances. There is a large bridge deck amidships, on which is the wheel-house, chartroom, and captain's cabin. Underneath this, on the main deck, is the saloon—a very tastefully fitted-up place, capable of accommodating twenty passengers. It is panelled in ornamental woods, and has crimson velvet Beats, a cheffoaier, mirror, and clook. The sleeping cabins are most comfortable; and there is a special oompartment for ladies. The officers and engineers have comfortable rooms on either Bide of the alley-way, under the bridge deck; and directly under the forward part is the galley, which has been fitted with every modern improvement. The second cabin, which is in the after part of the vessel, u one of the best we have yet seen; it is flush with the main deck, is lofty and well ventilated, and is fitted up in very neat style. The sleeping cabins are very comfortable, and on the whole this part of the ship exceeds what is usually provided for this class of accommodation. Captain Duder informs us that he left Glasgow at 3 p.m. of August 2; had light winds to latitude lOdeg N., and then fresh S.W. winds until she crossed the Equator on August 20 in longitude lldeg W.; the S.E. trade was picked np on that day; it was fresh, and held by her until she passed latitude 40deg S., longitude 7deg E. The meridian of the Cape of Good Hope was crossed on September 7, and afterwards she had N. and N.N.E. winds, which went round to W.N.W. across the Indian Ocean; passed the meridian of Cape Leeuwin on September 26; met light winds from E. to N.E. for nine days, and sighted the South-west Cape of New Zealand at noon of the 6th October; had moderate to fresh N. and N.E. winds, and arrived as above. Captain Duder reports passing a ship and a barque off the Island of Tasmania steering for New Zealand, and sighted a barque on Thursday evening in Foveaux Strait.