WORLD'S 'LARGEST STEAMER.

North Otago Times, 5 December 1910, Page 1

WORLD'S 'LARGEST STEAMER.

The new White Star liner Olympic, the largest vessel, in the world, was launched at Belfast in' October., ( Her sister ship, the Titanic, will probably be launched in January. The ; •exact dimensions, etc., have not, yet been officially "announced tsay's the ■ Standard), kt the following figures are approximately correct: Length'over'a'ir" ... ..'.'... B>loft, Beam •.. • ■. ...i. -... 92ft. Depth -'(moulded!) from keel • 'to main deck rail' .„• €2ft, Steel 'decks .'.'. ,'., ..." -.9Accommodation fori passengers— First class ..'. .„ ,;.- ... COO - • -Second class ,;. ... ... 1200,- . | Steerage .„ .;.• „; ... ..." 3200 | Crew •..., <... ~- ... «00 Tonnage ..." 40,000 Horse power ... .... 148,000 .to 50,000 Cost ~..-, '..,,.. ~.,£1,500,000 The Olympic, when'completed and ' ready for her maiden voyage between' '•• Southanpton, .Cherbourg, Queenstown, • and New. York,-labout 11th July .next year,; will differ somewhat in appearance from ~ the other liners of the White' Star fleet in the; New York, Mediterranean, and 'Australian' service, inasmuch as she will have four funnels and two steel pole masts: She- will.be; a . triplescrewb'oat, . tiieltwo.piitside ■ jtro-' pellers being.piston-driveii, by .high; pressure quadruple-expansion reciprocating engines, while the central propeller; will be actuated by a lowpressure 'turbine engine,-- a. plan .which has, given the utmost satisfaction in the. case of the/Laiirentic. These .combined 'engines v. will' be- of from! J'48,000 to 50,000 horse-power ,indicatr | led;. as against 'the - Mauretania's 70,000, tlve speed aimed;at being.';,'a :i trifle: over 21 knots. I. "The equipment of the Olympic is ' unprecedented. There .will be a - l" aT .Be hall,, a 'spacious'-'. dMng-ropm-, sinok-- . tag.: room, 'library,; .woman's,parlor, ; 'griili. and- lounging, rooms, all «la;feately furnished.: 'One.of the..upper decksMs to- be, Completely enolos-, i red;' to'serve; al.K'tjalfcoJßjn, ,wlhich! 'can also ;be. used as.-'a, skating; rink

or theatre. ■;. By rday this enclosure! the 'windows, af '.'■■ which;, constructed . oh. the. trailway: carriage.principle; 'are ■fitted with; jalousies;, may-'hi; used.

as a -Sin-parlor and promenade. It will.be large, enough;;'-to Accommodate several hundred passengers; As to the cabins, not; only will there; be suites of rooms, but also 'complete Hats,' ;,' Theses will',:.,'comprise.: bedrooms,' sitting, rooms, or parlor, private baths, and even a private library, all en route, The Parlors will be furnished.' with tables suitable .for serving„meals. . The Olympic will he) the first steamer to offer; cabins with private shower baths attached. In addition there will;*' a- great Bwimming bath aboard large ienough to permit of living; A gymnasium, the largest and -most completely equipped,afloat will: be found, on each of the new boats; There-will be" inore or. less . formal meals served daily aboard the new ships, ana, what is unusual, even ■■.in these days of luxury afloat, there will, be • a choice' of diningrooms.. : .

The main- dining, saloon,-whichwill seat'more than GOO-passengers, will be the • largest,, single apartment of the ship. The most striking, departure will be the : verandah cafe. • It will be built on one of the upper decks far astern, looking out over the sea, awd about; fifty .feet 'above the water.; The decorations and general management'will carry out'the idea of the open air cafes af Sou-thern-Europe. The meals will be served' at small tables, with movable .'chairs. The cafe will be erected with exposed rafters entwined with vines, while the sides will' be latticed, . •

Flower and palm gardens and conservatories, containing seasonable flowers and plants the whole .year round, and & fish pond will also be among the liner's , equipment, while a carefully selected orchestra •on] a grand concert) scale will at intervals discourse the latest operatic and other music, and a grand organ, presided at by a skilled" organist, will lend variety and charm ■ to the entertainments on board. Other features are children's nurseries, a/high class tailor's shop, modistes'* parlor and- jewellery store for the convenience of first'.,,'and second class' passengers.