THE LINER AKAROA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21377, 29 December 1932, Page 8

THE LINER AKAROA

DEPARTURE FROM LONDON DIIRECT NEW ZEALAND SERVICE A departure from London to-day and Southampton to-morrow for New Zealand will be the Shaw, Savill and Albion linsr Akaroa, formerly the Aberdeen White Star liner Euripides. She is a steel triple-screw steamer of 14,947 tons, and since she was built at Belfast in 1914 has been constantly employed in the England-Australia passenger service. In July last she was taken over by the Shaw, Savill and Albion Line for the Now Zealand service. During the past five months the vessel has undergone extensive alterations to suit her for her new trade. She has been converted from coal to oil. burning and has been provided with a permanent tiled swimming bath and also a large gymnasium. The promenade deck has been extended and the improvements include a large open-air dancing floor, a verandah cafe, a cocktail bar and a children's nursery and dining room. The Akaroa will be the largest liner in the direct service to New "Zealand and w: 11 carry cabin class passengers only, the old third class accommodation being given over to cargo and the whole deck space being made available for all passengers. Tiere is accommodation on board for about 200. The speed of the Akaroa will bi, the same as that of the company's liters Mataroa and Tamaroa, which make the journey to New Zealand in about 33 duys. The Tamaroa and Mataroa are both ck-Aberdeen White Star liners and were formerly named Sophocles and Diogenes respectively. They were transferred to the New Zealand service in 1926. Captain W. 11. Hartman, formerly master of the Pakeha, Tainui and Tamaroa, will be in command of the Akaroa. Curing the war, from February, 1915, to March, 1918, Captain Hartman served ai lieutenant and navigating officer in K.M.S. Whitley Abbey, later commanding H'.M. yacht Catania.. During the Gallipoli landing in April, 1915, he was frequently under fire, and at subsequent dates, when his ship was on special duty in tlie Dardanelles, he took part in the embarkation of wounded from the beach I) Morto Bay in ship's boats under fire, lie also saw service on the Bulgarian and Turkish coasts. His association with the Gallipoli campaign makes his new appointment in the New Zealand service 1 larticuhtfly appropriate..