THE SYDNEY SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18294, 10 January 1923, Page 9

THE SYDNEY SERVICE.

MARAMA AT AUCKLAND.

LARGEST ON THE RUN.

INTERESTING WAR RECORD

After an absence from . Auckland of three and a-half years the Union Company's liner Marama arrived from Sydney yesterday. When the vessel was last here in July, 1919, she was a hospital ship and was making her last voyage in that capacity. The Marama was commissioned as a hospital ship in December, 1915, and during three and a-half years' employment in that work she made eight trips to New Zealand with invalided soldiers from Europe, in additi6n to a large number of trips between England and France and the East. As a hospital ship she travelled 229,000 miles and carried over 20,000 wounded soldiers, besides thousands of German prisoners of war. She visited over 30 ports in England, France, Egypt, the Balkan Peninsula, South Africa, America, and Malay States, in the Mediterranean, Australia and New Zealand. After landing the last of her wounded at Wellington she was sent to Port Chalmers to be reconverted into a passenger liner. -This necessitated tho interior being practically remodelled and, new cabins built. The work occupied a year, and as regards her passenger accommodation the Marama was" practically a new vessel when she left Port Chalmers in July, 1920, as a mail steamer for the Sydney-Wellington-Sari Francisco service. She remained in that service for two years until she was relieved by the Maunganui, which had been fitted out as an oilburner. The Marama was then laid up at Wellington until she was recommissioned for her present service. The Maiama is the largest of the lour, steamers at present engaged in tho intercolonial passenger trade. She is 6497 tons and is 420 ft. long. The Moeraki is 4421 tons and 368 ft. long, the Manuka 4534 tons and 368 ft. long, the Ulimaroa 5777 tons and 4Coft. long. . When in the San Francisco service the Marama carried three classes of passengers—first, second, and third, but in the intercolonial service only her first and second-class accommodation will be utilised. She has accommodation for about 400 passengers, including 250 first-class and 150 second-class. Like the Moeraki, the Marama will make alternate trips between Sydney and Wellington and Sydney and Auckland. She is timed to sail for Sydney at 11 a.m. on Friday! Captain C. Cliff is in command, and has with him the following officers:— Mr. W. W. Fish; second, Mr. T. McNicol; third, Mr. J. Dawson; fourth, Mr. S. Angus; chief engineer, Mr. H. Burt; second; Mr. R. Graham; third, Mr. A. W. R. Smith; fourth, Mr. W. T. Bryant; fifth, Mr. T. Maxwell; sixth, Mr. H. W. Insley; electrician, Mr. E. Worrall; chief steward, Mr. E. Puckles.