“IONIC” TO BE REPLACED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 13 June 1936, Page 8

“IONIC” TO BE REPLACED

IMPROVEMENT IN PASSENGER SERVICE

Mr E. V. Bevan, acting New Zealand representative of the Shaw Savill and Albion Company Limited, has received cabled advice from his London principals that the lonic scheduled to sail from New Zealand during March 1937 will be replaced by the Arawa, formerly the Esperance Bay, which has been acquired by the Shaw Savill and Albion Company Ltd. This vessel has proved popular in the Australian trade and to meet New Zealand requirements extensive remodelling of the passenger accommodation is being made, and her carrying capacity limited to 320, as against over 600 in the Australian trade. A striking feature is the installation of many single berth rooms, and the largest cabin has been limited to four berths only. The Arawa has large public rooms, and the dining room could accommodate all passengers at the one sitting A special playroom has been provided for children. On the main passenger deck special accommodation will be made for additional bathrooms. Other extensive alterations will be rpade for the comfort of passengers, and the route will be the more interesting as Kingston as well as Curacao will be included in this vessel’s itinerary, rendering her one of the most attractive units in the New Zealand trade as a tourist class vessel. ; The new Arawa, 'a vessel of over 14,000 tons, will leave New Zealand on the 27th March,' arriving at Southampton on the 2nd May, an ideal time for arrival in view of the Coronation (Ceremonies taking place on the 12th May, a voyage of 36 days including

ports of call. The lonic is scheduled to sail from London on the 4th September and-is to leave New Zealand on the 11th November, and this will be her last voyage to New Zealand, after which she will be sold, thereby concluding a very long and honourable service in the trade between the Dominion , and the United Kingdom.