ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7389, 15 February 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

LONDON, January 4. BIG STEAMERS FOR NEW ZEA-

LAND.

The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's new twin-screw steamer Athenic, 12,350 tons and 8,000 horsepower, constructed by Harland and Wolff, will make her maiden voyage to the Antipodes on February 13th. She has accommodation for first and second saloon and ]94 third-class passengers, will be commanded by Captain C. H. Kempson, E.N.R., formerly commander of the lonic, and will be followed by her new sister steamers Corinthic and lonic. \

CENTRAL AFRICAN RAiILWAY.

Another of the iron links of Empire, railroads to wit, has just been completed. On sth August, 1896, platelaying began on the steel track of 572 miles that is to connect the Indian Ocean with the great plateau of the Central African Lakes, more than 3000 feet above sea level. Last week the laying of the rails was completed, the railroad having reached the shore of Lake Victoria Nyanza. The task has been a colossal one, and has cost about five millions. Ranges of 6000 feet had to be crossed, the road had to be hewn out of the rock or exit through dense forests, bridges had to be built over streams, subject to the sudden rise of tropical rains, and the workmen were exposed to the attacks of wild beasts In the jungle and to virulent malarial fever in the lowlands. And " the Briton having tiiumphantlv surmounted all these difficulties, we shall probably find American locomotives drawing- waggon loads of German goods along the track. Ingratitude, thy name is Germany!