NEW STEAMER FOR NORTHERN S.S. COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13049, 14 December 1905, Page 6

NEW STEAMER FOR NORTHERN S.S. COMPANY.

"■■» «»s>» ARRIVES TO-DAY. The Northern Company's new steamer Aupouri, from Glasgow and way ports to Auckland, passed Cape Maria Van Diemea at half-past seven a.m. * yesterday, and is expected to arrive about noon to-day. The Aupouri was launched in August last from the shipbuilding yards of Messrs. D. J. Dunlop and Co., Port Glasgow, and left the Clyde on September 19 last, coming out by the Suez route, and left Fremantle for Auckland 1 .on November 24. The Aupouri is a twin-screw steel vessel of the following dimensions:—Length between perpendiculars, ] 52ft; breadth, moulded, 27ft; depth, moulded to main deck, lift. Grass tonnage about 460 tons. The rig is that of a, two-masted fare-and-aft schooner, the masts being of steel. A shade deck, ■ open at the sides, extends from the stern to the fore hatch. Underneath this deck, steel deckhouses are built, enclosing the first-class accommodation aft, with hardwood saloons • and sleeping berths for over 50 passengers, and smokingroom, also; in hardwood. Passenger accommodation is also provided forward for about 14 pereoiis. abaft forecastle, which latter contains the quarters for crew and firemen. A steel-' i house is built s on fore part of shade deck as a captain's cabin, charthouse, etc. The Aupouri has been specially' fitted up for passenger and cargo service,and arranged generally to meet the owners' requirements for the New Zealand : coasting. and river trade, the ventilation to all parts of the vessel, having been carefully and fully provided for. As light draught, consistent with structural efficiency, is of the .greatest importance, the vessel lias been designed and built specially to secure this. The propelling machinery, supplied by the builders, consists of two sets of. triple expansion engines, the combined power of' which is about 500 i.h.p. Electric. light . has been provided throughout, and the deck machinery includes steam windlass, two steam winches, steam steering gear amidships, and screw hand gear aft.