MARITIME MATTERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5372, 3 September 1904, Page 16

MARITIME MATTERS

(By “Mainsail.”) Tha Carpentaria, which is the first of four now steamships for tho Guif Line, Limited, is of 12,000 toms cubic capacity, 80011 tons dead weight, with a speed of 13 or 14 knots. She was launched by tho firm of Sir Raylton Dixon and Co., Middiebcrough-on-ie-ccs, and will be fitted with refrigerating machinery of tha most modern kind. About one-third or tho steamer’s cargo space is insulated for carriage of meat, butter, iruit, etc. Tho other three vessels which tho directors have purchased aro being built by Messrs Furness. Withy, and Co., at West Hartlepool, and will be sister vessels lo tho Carpentaria. Their names, ns advised, are Fitzroy, Maclciiy, and Bourko. The four steamers will ail be ready iu time for tho ensuing wool season. Tho Carpentaria will leave London .shortly, and the other steamers will fellow at monthly intervals. In addition to tha homeward trade, tho Gull Lina aro instituting a regular servicebetween Sydney, Queensland ports, and Manila, but only tho older and smaller vessels’of the float will ho employed iu this running. In their report for the 12 months ending December 31 last the directors of the Gulf Line, Limited, state that it is essential to have firstclass large up-to-date steamers to profitably continue the carrying on of the Australian trade, and they have made arrangements tor tiro acquisition of tour steamers, each of over 8000 tons deadweight capacity, with largo insulation and refrigerating machinery, capable oi dealing with 300.000 cubic feet of refrigerated space, and to steam about 12 or 13 knots. Tho directors state that when ilia new tonnage is working they confidently anticipate an improvement in the affairs of tho company.

Tho return of tho Japanese mail steamer Yawata Mum to Sydney, after an absence of eight months, wa*s raado the occasion recently for a great demonstration by I lie Japanese residents, Tho. service between Australia and Japan wa4 suspended upon the outbreak of hostilities between Russia and Japan, and since then tbo fleet of the Nippon Vusen Kaisha has been employed on behalf of the Government of Japan in conveying troops to various points. A large gathering of interested Japanese assembled at Messrs Burns, Phiip, and Co.'s wharf, on the eastern side of tho Circular Quay, for some time before tho Yawata Ma.ru put in an appearance, and when she hove in sight after rounding Fort Macquarie Point, tho Japanese greeted Captain Moses and his officer-* and crew with ‘‘banzais.” Tho wharf presented quite a gay appearance. The largo storage sheds were tastefully dressed with flags and bunting, and tho now familiar flag of the rising sun was much in evidence. No sooner had tho gangway fjcou lowered than quite a crowd rushed on board tho fine vessel and heartily congratulated all concerned. Tho passage all the way from Yokohama was a fine-weather one. Tho vessel was not favoured With many passengers, but those who travelled by her declared that tho trip had been a delightful one. There were no, incidents on tho voyage, and the Yawata Maru did not sight any of tho Russian ships. From wiiafc can bo gathered, the Yawata Maru is tho only vessel so far placed on tho Australian service. It is, however, hoped that at an early date tho usual'four weekly service will bo resumed. Tho Nikko Maru, a line steamship, specially designed and built for the peculiar requirements of the Australian trade, wan employed iu transport work immediately sho was completed, and has never visited Australia. . The opinion, however, is expressed that she will be seen at Sydney within a few months.

Admiral Sir V/, J. L. Wharton, K.C.8., F.R.S., hydrogrnpher, has furnished to the “Geographical Journal” a summary of tho survey work done hy tho Admiralty in 1003. Upon this duty eight of his -Majesty's vessels were ongaged with three small hired steam vessels, tho number of officers employed being 78, and of men 703. In Australasia, on tho east coast of North Island, New Zealand, 115 miles of coast lino was surveyed from To Para to East Capo, and soundings were obtained over an area of 1370 square miles in the vicinity of the coast. The cntranoa channel to Port Nicholson was surveyed. The survey of the east coast of North Island, from Cape Runaway to the southward, is now in hand. During the search of a five-fathom shoal, reported by the Star of Bengal situated in the open Pacific, 110 miles N 50 E from Auckland, an extensive submerged ridge, 27 miles long, was found to have depths over it from 300 to 100 fathoms, coral. Tho frequent rips which were seen on this ridge may have given rise to tho reported shoal. Xu Tasmania, Hunter Passage on the north-west coast was surveyed, assistance being obtained from tbo Tasmanian Land . Office. A portion of tho inner route to Tones Straits was surveyed to the southward of Cooktown. between Monk House and Rattlesnake points, including a part of tho passage to the Outer Barrier Reef. Some interesting details about tho Union Steamship Company’s now turbine steamer Loongana, which is to replace the Pateena in the Launceston trade during the coming season, are given in tho “Steamship.” Hitherto the turbine has been confined to river and cross-channel steamers, torpedo-boat destroyers, and yachts. The first-class passengers of tiie Loongana, of whom she has room for 240, will be accommodated amidships and forward of the boilers in state-rooms which are fitted with all modem conveniences. The dining saloon is situated in a steel deckhouse on the upper deck. There is a large open vestibule on the upper deck, where’ passengers embark, from which “T” stairs lead down to the main-deck accommodation, and up to the vestibule and music-room on the deck ajbove. The second-class accommodation, which is situated abaft the turbine, is somewhat similar to the first-class in comfort and convenience, differing only from it in tho plainer finish of tho various apartments. A feature has bean made of the ventilating system, which consists both of natural-draught ventilators and electrically-driven fans. The appliances for working the vessel at Die terminal ports are very powerful, and consist of a windlass forward and warping winch aft. While the vessel is primarily intended for the passenger trade, she will cany a limited amount of cargo, for the rapid handling of which, together with the mails, she is fitted with double derricks and a winch at each hatchway. She has been fitted with three sets of turbines hy Messrs Parsons, the boilers, etc., being supplied by Messrs Denny and Co., Dumbarton. During a fierce storm tho keeper of a lighthouse near Vancouver displayed “distress” signals. A passing vessel brought the news to port, and a cruiser was despatched to tho lighthouse, to find that tho keeper merely wished to get rid of n consignment of fresh eggs for tho local market. The captain of the cruiser bought the eggs.