LAUNCH OF P.P. MOERAKT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12432, 15 August 1902, Page 6

LAUNCH OF P.P. MOERAKT.

MR SEDDON'S SPEECH.

(From Our Ow.v CoRBEsroxnEXT.) LONDOX, July 12. On Wednesday in tills week the launch took place from the Leven Shipyard, Dumbarton, of the new twin-screw steamer Moej raki,' just added to the fleet of the Union i |3team Ship Company of New Zealand. The christening' ceremony was performed by Miss Seddon, and subsequently refreshments were served in the model hall of the yard, Mr James Denny presiding. Among those present beside Mr and Mrs Seddon were: Lord and My Overtouii,-MvH. J. Gibbs, Captain Cameron (of the Uniofi Company), Mr and Mrs Peter Denny, Mr and Mrs A. Denny. j Mr Seddon, who was received with cheers ; on boing called upou to, speak, referred to the conference with the colonial Premiers, awl'said one of the subjects to be discussed was of moment: to the shipbuilders of the . Mother Country. He quoted extracts from ! speeches in the American Senate to tho c-ffeefc that the Shipping Subsidy Bill introduced tliore would be bad for Great Britain and Continental nations and good for the ■ United States, and went on to say that this question of. subsidising steamers, of conj serving the trade and commorce of their | country, and ensuring that the carriage of their goods an'd products should bo kept . with vessels flying their flag, was essential ■ to the well-being of their Empire. The I trad? Si these countries having subsidised steamers was growing rapidly. For the last . live, years the trade of the Mother Country had been at a standstill, while the trade , of tho United States and Germany with' ' New Zealand had gone up in six yejns from a quarter of a million to one and a-quartcr millions sterling. And when, on analysing these imports, he told them that the greater amount could and ought to have been got from Great Britain, they would understand ; what their manufacturers and workmen were contending against. If they ' could only ■ cause tlio people to think and inquire. Their colonios did not wish to trade outeide tho Empire. They wished to keep within the Empire, and'if the Empire would only take an interest in and give them what they ; required, and when they required it, both ' Parliament and people were quite prepared 1 to give preference and assistance. The colonies did not ask anything from a sordid standpoint; they did it bccause they loved 1 the Mother Country, hecauso they were ' undoi' the same flag, in tho same great Empire and one people. They desired to be traded with and dealt with in that spirit, 1 and by such assistance the Empire would bo strengthened. What was doing harm to Empire and eountiy was the self-suffi-ciency ,' and self-complacency of tho nation. It was inborn and inbred: they took things quietly, they only moved when they were forced to move: reverses come, anil- then the dogged determination of their race became paramount, and they overcame thoso difficulties just as they overcame the reverses in South Africa. 1 Sometimes they allowed things to drift until it' was a little too late, and so it was better to warn the country against tho drifting. He tojd them they were drifting, and, in tho language of the Prince of Wales, i. hp,'simply said—" Wake up!" On the question of the defence of the colonies, Mr Seddon remarked that ho must not go too far, but be would simply say that tho colonies, with the claims upon them for improvements and developments, though they had the spirit, had not at present tho wherewithal to do more than they were doing. Some there were wiio said tiie colonies soemod to /hesitate to join in defraying some portion of tho expenses connected with the army. His answer to that was that there was no agreement; there was no necessity for them to accept the grave responsibility they did when • tho recent crisis arose, and they neither spared men nor money. What hail been done would be done again,' and what wits done he thought was well done. He therefore said leave aside for the present this question of agreement; as time went on, and as they met oftener, and an interchange of confidence was given, tho result must be that both questions would be settled satisfactorily to the. people in Great Britain and to the people in the colonies.—(Loud anplftuse.) Subsequently Lord Overtoun proposed the toast of "The Colonies," and Mr Seddon , replied. He spoke of those Littlo Engenders of the past who used to say that when the colonies became strong they would take tho first opportunity to cut tho painter, and asked if history had proved this to be the case. Ilad what had been done recently shown there was any desire to cut the i painter? No; it had proved this: tiust to s your pwn flesh and blood! Reason and I affection had been allowed to sway, and the ■ result had been the greater the freedom the . greater the love and tho firmer the union.— " (Applause,) ' Tho twin-screw steamer Mocraki is ini tended to eope with the vapid extension of • the passenger trade between tho British colo- > lues in New Zealand and Australia. The > vessel is built of mild, steel, under special 1 survey of the British Corporation, and to i. tho requirements of tho Bond of Trado. s Accommodation is provided for 190- first ; class passengers, many of tho state rooms being situated on the weather deck, and all J being-very well - ventilated, both naturally and by the assistance of eleetrie fans, which enable the vessel to bo kent cool even in hot weather. The main dining saloon, which ; is situated at tho foro end of the midship - deckhouse, is a largo apartment, capablc of 5 flining 112 people at once. The framing is.' in waxed oak, riclilv carved, the filling j being of anaglyuta, decorated in ivory , and wild. The ceiling is panelled • to mutch. Tho j, upholstery is in E sylvimo.relief velvets Tho swinging doors r are filled with loaded glass panels, the wint (low boxing is of a " wheel" design, which 3 is somewhat unusual iu ships, and this 1 feature, is maintained throughout the work, t tho' mirrors, etc., being all circular. Above r the dining saloon is the music room, which

'i'l-' 11 nlah °l? al, y- ''""shod in ivory enarnol, lhis room is exceptionally high, which enab.es the ceilings to be covered in. Tho panels tho filled with views of New Zealand, and tho upholstery is :'ji rose relief velvet. A feature of this apartment is tho (loin.o skylight, which consists of an outer "Wight of teak glazed with plat-cglase and an inner dome of steel and etaincd jjlass. iMectnc lights are fitted ■ between the inner and outer casings, so that tho rioli dfccfc ot the coloured glass is obtained both by day and night. Tlie 6moking-room ie panelled in a classic, design of polished mahogany,'with panols of embossed leather and upholstery of green buffalo hido. The staterooms for first class passengers aro fitted 111 the most complete and modern manner. The beds, which have spring wiro mattrwses, are arranged to fold up out of tho way during* tho daytime, so as to increase the available lloor spaee. The folding lavatories havo numerous drawers for the stowago of passengers' small belongings, while a large loeker is provided .for more bulky articles. All the first class accommodation « fitted in the middle of the vessel, where tho motion and vibration are at a minimum. Hie lavatory arrangements are very complete, comprising plunge, shower, sitz, and double baths, as well as tho ordinary sanitary appliances. The second class passEJh gors aro accommodated in largo rooms at the alter end of tho vessel The dining saloon extendi? from side to side of the vessel, and is capable of dining 82 persons at once. The culinary department is necessarily very extensive, owing to the large number o persons the vessel can aceommodate, and is fitted with all modern convemonces, including range, baker's oven, grill, steam stock pots, boilers, etc. The main pantries are fitted with hot presses and steam boilers for watet, coffce. milk o—*s etc. The provisions are kep_t in good condition in a large refrigerating chawbor, Which id kopt cool I'by ammonia ro ingorating machine, \lhich is also capable of making a supply of ice and keeping tho cargo chamber at a temperature low enough for the safe carriage .of perishable goods. t i ra Vl f at^I l g a PP' ,ancM consist of a powerful Olarko-Chapman windlass, situated on the forecastle deck, a steam tiller controlled irom the flying bridge by means of Brown's potent telemotor gear, and a warping winch for handling the vessel in dock. The cargo gear consists of hydraulic hoists and derricks supplied by Mosrs Brown Bros., Ldinburgh. _ The propelling machinery, which is being supplied by Messrs Denny antl Lo., is of sufficient power to drive the draught' a SPeNI ° f M k " ots ' lt ller load Captain Chatfiekl. who arrived in ]Wland recently, will command this new steamer on bnr maiden voyage to tho co.ony; It is expected that she will leave about the middle of September. Her tonnago is about 4500 gross measurement.