UNION STEAM SHIP COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13498, 27 May 1907, Page 5

UNION STEAM SHIP COMPANY.

ADDITIONS TO THE FLEET.

[FROM our; OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

. London, April 19. I am indebted to the courtesy of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand for the information that the company's new cargo steamer, Waihora, 7500 tons capacity, was successfully launched at the beginning of this week at the yard of Messrs. Swan and Hunter, Newcastle-on-Tyne. The christening ceremony was of special interest from the fact that it was performed by Miss Geraldine Mills, the youthful daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Mills. Instead of the conventional "Good luck, Waihora," Mi« 3 Mills, as she broke the tiny bottle against the ship's side, said -." Kia ora, Waihora." The young lady was presented by the builders with a silver trinket-box, with her initials engraved on the top, and the words " Success to Waihora" on the side.

On Wednesday Messrs. Ramage and. Ferguson launched a steel screw steam tug ■which they have built to the- order of the Union S.S. Company of New Zealand. ( The dimensions of this vessel are: Length 120 ft, breadth 20ft 6in, and depth (moulded) 12ft 6in. The propelling machinery consists of a powerful set of triple-expansion engines, supplied with steam from a, large boiler working at high pressure. In addition to the usual tug's outfit there is ..-. fitted a Merry weather boiler and large centrifugal pump • for fire extinguishing and salvage work. ' The equipment is unusually complete for a vessel of this class, and comprises steam steering-gear, steam windlass, steam warping capstan aft, steam winch, and electric light installation. This vessel lias been built to the highest class of the British Corporation, and will have a Board of Trade passenger certificate. - On leaving the ways the tug was named " Terawhiti" by Mrs. A. G. Ramage., of Western Terrace, Murrayfield, Edinburgh.