THE NORTHERN S.S. COMPANY'S ROTOMAHANA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8640, 8 August 1891, Page 4

THE NORTHERN S.S. COMPANY'S ROTOMAHANA.

Since her launch by Messrs. George Fraser and Sons in 1876 this steamer has been a prime favourite with the Thames people, to whose town she has continually traded, and under her present owners she has maintained her reputation. Fifteen years' hard wear have, however, made their impression on her, and during the past week she has been receiving a thorough overhaul in the Auckland Dock. On examination it was found that lier i bottom was in excellent condition, and it was not imperative to replace any of her plates, though several new ones are being put in. . When her repairs are completed the Roto will be practically a new vessel, and is expected to be greatlv improved both in speed and comfort. She has had her old boiler taken out and replaced by a steel one, which will carry a working pressure of lOOlbs and save coal. The boiler was made by Messrs. Seagar and Sons, and is a faithful piece of workmanship. It is being rolled to the breastwork near the Railway Wharf, where it is to be shipped. The vessel has also had her stern frame cut out and replaced by a new one, made to carry a larger propeller than the old one. The frame, which comprises in one piece the propeller frame, sternpoat, and a section of the keel, is one of the largest pieces of forging work done in Auckland, being forged from scrap iron by Messrs. Fraser and Sons. In order to lighten the draught of the vessel her boiler is being shifted six feet further forward, while its bed is also being relaid. The engines have been all overhauled, and two new compound cylinders are to be fitted one high and one low pressure. In connection with these alterations new bunkers and a new bulkhead will also be put in. The deck plan of the boiler-casing and also of the cabins will be remodelled, and an additional smoking. cabin built.. Other minor improvement are also under weigh, and altogether in and out the steamer everything is being overhauled, cleaned, or repaired. It has also been decided to alter the vessel's rigfrom three to two masts. The repairs to the vessel will occupy a week or two yet, but when they are finished she will probably do the trip to the Thames in four hours, a consummation which will be gladly hailed by her friends at Quartzopolis and here.

H.M. TROOPSHIP HIMALAYA.

A REMARKABLE HISTORY.

H.M. troopship Himalaya, which arrived ■ at Port Jackson on July 24, with relief crews for the Australian squadron, is a ship with : a history worth telling. The chairman of the P. and O. Company, in moving the adoption of the half-yearly report at London last month, called tno attention of - the shareholders to the fact that two new steamers contracted for were intended to be finer and larger than any the company had previously built. Those ships were the Himalaya and the Australia. The speaker then referred to the fact that the old Himalaya, built for and owned by the company in 1853, was still afloat ana doing good service. It is this ship that has just left Sydney harbour. The old transport was, until the lauaoh of the Great Eastern in 1858, the largest ship afloat, and remained high up in the list of big ships for many years after that date. A distinguished company assembled to witness the launch of what the papers then called " the leviathan screw steamship." The launch took place on Queen's Birthday, 1853. The ceremony of naming the ship was performed by Lady Matbeson, wife of the then chairman of the P. and O. Co., and the launch, which was - effected from the yard of her builders at Blackwall, London, went off without a hitch. A newspaper of the time had the following description of her :—"The Himalaya was designed and built under the inspection of Mr. F. Waternan, junior, at Messrs. Mare's establishment, at Blackwall. The vessel was commenced in November, 1851, and her length between perpendiculars is ,340 feet, breadth 40 feet two inches, depth of hold 31 feet nine inches. She is 3050 tons burden, with engines of 700 horse-power, by John Penn and Sons. She was originally intended to have paddle wheels, with engines of 1200 horse-power, but subsequently, and before she was too far advanced, it was decided that she should be fitted with a screw propeller, and engines of 700 horse-power on the most approved principle." , Thus . will her efficiency for ocean s teaming be proportionately increased. She is intended to carry some 1200 tons of fuel, with accommodation for 400 cabin passengers, 500 tons of measurement goods, besides mail space; etc. In regard to the strength and build and form for speed, the Himalaya is without rival. She has six watertight bulkheads, and otherwise she is fitted with every appliance for her safety.' " . Soon after the Himalaya was launched, she was hired by the Government to convey troops to the Crimea; and Henry Kingsley, in his novel " Ravenahoe," has well described life on board of her 011 one of these trips. ,A passenger on her wrote from Malta, on February 7, 1854:— On her outward passage she performed the run from Gibraltar to Malta, a distance of over 1000 miles, in 74 J hours—the quickest run 011 record ; wh'le from Malta to Alexandria, a distance of S3O miles, she accomplished in 61£ hours, beating the quickest run before made by 75 hours. Her best run in 24 hours was 350 miles, with plain sail set, her speed being for some hours 16 knots, or over 18i English miles." The old ship made several trips under the P. and O flag aa a hired transport, after which she was purchased by the Government, who have employed her aa a troopship down to the present day. She was also used to bring out to this colony the Imperial regiments engaged in the Maori wwa of the sixties, and her bulky hull hits graced the waters of the Waitemata. Several improvements have been effected in the steamer, since she was purchased by the Government. For instancy, her engines have been replaced by machinery of the latest pattern, and she is now rated as " The Himalaya, 2 guns, screw troopship, 4690 tons, 2588 horse-power."

BY TELEGRAPH. KAIPARA. August 7.—Arrived : The barque Rebecca, from Melbourne; Eillan Donan, from Sydney. WELLINGTON. August 7.—Sailed : S.a. Tarawera, for Auckland via East Coast. Passengers Misses Woods and White (2), Mrs. Bourke and child, Captain Cooper, Judge Wilson, Messrs. Kernot, Smallbone, Stevenson, Young, Mitchell, Woodhead, and Arthur. Sailed: S.s. Takapuna, for Onehunga via Tarana ki. PORT CHALMERS. August Arrived : Rangatira, from London, via North. Sailed : Isabella Anderson, for Auckland; Omapere and Herald, for West Coast. SYDNEY. August 7.—Arrived : S.s. Te Kapo, from Wellington. -