A PLEASURE TRIP ON THE MANAPOURI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11399, 17 April 1899, Page 4

A PLEASURE TRIP ON THE MANAPOURI.

Few vessels of the Union Steam Ship Com-

pany's woll-kiiown fleet have maintained a

bettor record than has the Manapouri, which has been thoroughly reconstructed, and takes up her running on Wednesday in the trade between Auckland, Sydney, and the South Sea Islands. Since she has been under the hands of the company's artisans at Port Chalmers the old boilers and a great deal of tho original machinery have boen removed, and the old bunkers and Bloke holds completely gutted out. Her hull was thoroughly chipped, O'leaned, anol painted, the floors of her old stoke hold have been completely renewed, tho engine room has been stiffened and a new top fitted to it, the hull has also been stiffened with.new webb frames to the height of tho main deck, and several strong beams fitted right across the ship. Two new boilers, made by Messrs Denny and Co., of Dumbarton, to work at a pressure of 2001b to the square inch, have been fitted into the ship. Each of these boilers is about lift in diameter by 12ft long, and has three -furnaces fitted with Howden's forced draught: the fan for this purpose is about 7ft in diameter, and is placed on the upper deck. A part of the old machinery has been utilised, and the engines converted from compound to quadruple expansion, the diameters of the new cylinders being respectively 20£ in, 30in, Mill and 60in, with a length of stroke of 48in. Tlio passenger accommodation has been entirely rearranged, and is admirably suited lo the new trade in which she will be engaged— viz., between Auckland, Sydney, and the Pacific Islands. The original dining saloon and all the state cabins on that deck (with the exception of a few forward) haVe been removed, and the space utilised for cargo. The new dining saloon and cabins are all on the upper or weather deck, and most excellent accommodation for the commander anol his officers is provided on tho bridge and poop decks, while quarters for the stewards, as, usual, are provided in the forecastle.. .The crew's quarters have been entirely renovated and fitted with baths, lavatories, etc. On the bridge deck there is a charmingly arranged social hall, a smoking room, and two special cabins. The furnishing and decorations of these compartments, with those of the oliuing saloon, are chastely elegant, leaving nothing to be desired; while m itself the bridge deck affords a promenade of 132 ft in length.. The Manapouri has now accommodation for 107 saloon and 27 second cabin passengers (for whose comfort nothing has been left undone), whilo in the dining saloon are sittings for 55 passengers.

Tho vessel is fitted throughout with the electric light, and there are two powerful ventilating fans driven by an'electro motor, one on the poop, and one in the forecastle, which will be used to ventilate the holds, whilo. specially large vontilators have been provided in all the holds on account of the large quantity of fruit to be carried.

The whole of the deckß have been caulked, the deck work, bulwarks, etc., repainted, grained, .and varnished. All tho boats have been thoroughly overhauled, and each fitted with Captain Cameron's patent boat releasing gear. The -cargo-carrying capacity has been doubled, this being ■ effected principally through the romoval of the passenger accommodation to the upper, deck, rendering it at the.same time more suitable to the requirements of a hot climate, such as she will trade

to. The boilers have been placed convenient to the engines, with the stoke hold in the fore part, thus allowing a large coal bunker, With a carrying capacity of 283 tons. There, is a tunnel through this bunker into the main hold, which allows coal from that hold to be taken, into the stoke hold without bringing it up to the main deck. This is intended for the outward voyage, so that the main hold iyill be clear for cargo on the.return trip. ■ A new freezing chamber has boen fitted on the Lindo principle, one portion of it capable of holding about 20 ton 3, being available for cargo, and the remaining holding eight tons for the ship's- stores. The whole of the work of reconstructing the engines, etc., has been carried on under the direct supervision of Mr J. Cook, the company's superintending engineer, and it is needless to say when that gentleman is satisfied, the work must be perfect ■in all its parts. The various artisans who have been engaged on the work are all deserving a meed of praise for the excellent manner in which they have carried out their respective parts.

It ivas decided to make a trial of the engines ion Saturday, and, with their usual liberality, I the company issued a number of invitations for the event, and, as a matter of course, .the good ship was well filled. The representatives of the engineering trade were largely in evidence; amongst others being Messrs Morgan, Cable, Gardiner, Morrison, and Matherhill; MrE. G. Allen, M.H.R,, J. Mill (mayor of Port Chalmers), Captains Watson and Paton, Messrs Murray,-Sutton, J. Watson, and numerous others. The ship was in charge of Captain Crawshaw, while Captain Cameron (the company's marine superintenclan!) courteously received and entertained all and sundry. _ A start was made from the George street pier shortly after 1 p.m., and steaming down the harbour she stood out to sea and headed for Moeraki, on reaching, which headland she slewed and headed back for the Port, maintaining a speed on the outward run of 14| knots, and on the return back of 14- knots, which was a remarkably good result On returning up the harbour a number of tho guests assembled in the'saloon to compliment Captain Cameron on the success of the trip, and Mr E. G. Allen, M.H.R. for the district, said it was most satisfactory to. all present to to havo marked the progress and development of the Union S.S. Co. Looking at the Manapouri that day, it must be admitted she was a specially fine vessel, and in every way .suiled for the trade in which the company intended to placo her. It showed that the. company were eior keenly desirous of coping with the new branches of trade ever presenting themselves, and it spoke volumes for the liberality and /brcthouyht of the company that they should do so much work at Port Chalmers.—(Applause.) He desired, through Captain Cameron,'to thank the company for tho very agreeable trip they had enjoyed. Captain Cameron was indebted to Mr Allen for the manner in which he'spoke of the Union Company, -ils , progress, and efforts lo advance the port. The Manapouri had been 15 years here; and had done good service in that lime, and the company, finding it necessary to extend its island traffic, had determined to utilise the Manapouri for that purpose, with what effect they all saw. The work of her reconstruction was mo.t satisfactory to all concerned, and the ship would enter on hei new' career under the. brightest of conditions. He thanked them heartily for the compliments they had paid. On arrival at Port Chalmers the passengers gave three hearty cheers for the Union Company and Captain Cameron, and landed well pleased with their outing.