UP-TO-DATE STEAMERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18357, 24 March 1923, Page 13

UP-TO-DATE STEAMERS.

ROTORUA AND PORT HARDY.

[from our own cokkespondent.] LONDON, Feb. 1. Work on the New Zealand Shipping Company's vessel, the Rotorua (originally the Shropshire) is proceeding favourably, and she will* be ready to sail for the Dominion at the end of Maroh. She is being fitted up as a first-class vessel. There will be no second class, but'very fine third-class accommodation will bo provided. This will be the second oil-fuel steamer to reach the Dominion, the first being the Remuera, which recently arrived in Now Zealand waters. v The Commonwealth and Dominion Line's new vessel, the Port Hardy, is now finished at Messrs. Hawthorne and Leslie's works at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and will undergo her trial runs next week. The vessel has been built to carry immigrants, but as no immigrants are available for this company in the meantime, the deck houses for galleys and wash-houses will not be fitted out. Of a gross register of 8705 tons, the steamer is 581 ft. in length by 624 ft. in breadth. She will load for Australian ports and sail on March 7 next. A new berth for discharging and loading has been taken over by the Commonwealth and Dominion Line in King George V. Dock. The company now haß two berths in this dock, which they share with the Cunard Line, besides a discharging berth in Victoria Dock and a loading berth in Albert basin.