TOURIST ACCOMMODATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23109, 8 February 1937, Page 16

TOURIST ACCOMMODATION

ARAWA SETS NEW STANDARD FIRST TRIP TO DOMINION (From Our Own Corresponduni') (By Air Mail) LONDON, Jan. 13. The tourist class R.M.S. Arawa (14,500 tons) sets out from Southampton on January 22 on her first trip to New Zealand for her new owners, Messrs Shaw, Savill and Albion Company. Captain T. V. Roberts will be in command. ‘Formerly the Esperance Bay, and a popular vessel on the London-Suez-Australia run, her passenger accommodation has been completely remodelled. So thoroughly has this alteration been effected that the Arawa now establishes a new standard for tourist class vessels, and, until a new ship is launched for this class of traffic or the company’s example is followed and existing vessels are remodelled, it is safe to say that she will continue to set the new standard for all routes. Passengers are naturally most interested in the type of cabin provided for them. There are 139 cabin;; on the Arawa, and each has been rebuilt. Practically every one has a porthole, and every one has hot and cold running water, a wash basin, a long dressing mirror, a reading light, an electric bell and an electric fan. This may sound like a cabin inventory, but it is such conveniences as these that provide additional comfort and make all the difference on a five weeks’ run. Clothes often become a nuisance during a long trip, and a habit of “living in suitcases ” is not easily acquired, The Arawa’s passengers will be pleased to find that every cabin is fitted with a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. A writing table is also provided, and the majority of cabins have bedside cabinets.

THE LOUNGES Next on the list as ranking importantly in the passenger’s eyes are a ship’s lounges. Cabins may perhaps come first in his estimation, but a ship’s reputation may be won or marred by its lounges. Cabins can be escaped from (though nobody will wish to do that on the Arawa), but not lounges, which are the centres of shipboard social life. The Arawa’s cabins should please her passengers; her lounges and rooms should delight them. She has a main lounge, a smoke room, a veranda cafe, an entrance lounge, and a writing room. The euphuists might glibly and airily describe these sections of the vessel by using the term (rapidly becoming a cliche, if it has not already arrived) “ floating hotel.” That is not altogether true of the Arama. She has something additional—she is homely —and she is a home that has been furnished with the acme of taste and thoughtfulness. Take the main lounge. It is designed on simple lines. It has a large fireplace recess with a striking mirror treatment which contrasts attractively with the surrounding polished V/oods. The walls are panelled and' painted in shades to harmonise with the decorative scheme, and there are comfortable settees, restful armchairs, and card tables. Nobody need be ashamed of becoming a “ lizard.” There may even be some competitors! Then there is the veranda cafe—and this will be one of the most popular places in the tropics. It extends across the whole width of the promenade deck. It has a designed balustrate, the floor has been laid especially for dancing, and the walls are not just painted steel, but are decorated so that they appear to be soft stonework. The veranda is studded with wicker chairs and tables, and a cocktail bar has been thoughtfully provided. TAPESTRY IN SMOKE ROOM The smoke room is panelled with polished hardwood. It has a fireplace with a square quarry stone effect overhung by a large decora-

tive panel of woven tapestry. The ceiling is beamed, the furniture upholstered in leather. The entrance lounge and the writing room are equally inviting, and there is a useful library. The dining room has a pleasing feature—the long impersonal tables have been replaced by small ones, and there is also a special dining room for children, who arc provided with a well-fitted nursery. There are ample opportunities for recreation—a gymnasium where you can be massaged, race cycles, punch balls, and work a rowing machine. The deck is, of course, sprinkled with tennis and quoit pitches. Evening entertainment will include “talkies.” and for dancing there is a panatrope. Radio programmes and news will be picked up whenever the Arawa is in touch with a broadcasting station. On her first outward trip to New Zealand the Arawa will leave Southampton with just over 100 passengers. some of whom are going as far as Jamaica. On her relurn she will he Oiled to capacity with New Zealanders coming Home for the Coronation. New Zealand’s cricketers will also be on board, and, it is believed, so will the Ministerial deputation which, with the High Commissioner and the Finance Minister, will represent the Dominion during the Coronation celebrations. Among those who attended a luncheon on board, on January 11, were Mr Basil Sanderson and Mr I. C. Geddes (chairman of the Orient Line). Captain T. V. Roberts presided. THE REPLANNED ARAWA The shipping correspondent of The Times comments: “The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, with the assistance of Captain R. J. Noal. the marine superintendent, are earning a reputation for taking a vessel which has proved herself a good ship during some years of a service, replanning the passenger accommodation, and so in-

Taradale soil has a reputation lor producing numerous outstanding prodigies in the way of vegetables, fruit and other developments of natural growth, and in this respect the present season has proved a particularly good one for potatoes, some prolific crops of the tuber being in evidence. An instance of especially fine results is that of one planting, which has shown particularly fine and uniform development. These have given tubers weighing up to nearly 21b apiece, every potato being of uniform size for each root dug, carrying six to eight apiece.