THE MONGOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1161, 28 February 1874, Page 14

THE MONGOL.

Eavl7 on Thursday, 19th, the Mongol was admitted to nratinue, aud in the course of the dvy reeelvrd many visitors. She is a tine steamer, no doubt, and ÜberW provided with appliances for economising and expediting work. Commencing at the fore part "the steamer : The wtadlnn there is a pattern of ingenuity, strength, and handiness, and is one o' the fatest pitonts <.f Me&srs Ilarfie'd and Co.. of Glasgow. It is worked without a messenger by a pair of 8-inch crlinder direct acting engines, which drive two dou"lo coz wheel purchases that net upon two co,' ffrwd .ho* body of the wind ass Ihe action is sure and rapid, but la the i event of the ateam-aear going wronj?, the windlass is fitted with the ordinary lund-mecbanism, t.e , handles workini? athwart-ships, and the c-mmon parcel gearing The stoamor is built with three decks, tho UDOer one flush, and comparatively unencumbered, thero being only two permanent houses on it, one of wbici-just forward of the smoke st*ck- -comprises «vi Captain's cabin, chart-room, and wheel-ljouse, lick connected with tfae other, provision being tlnifl made tor instant communication beiween the captain Sndtue fcelßWinin. The other hou o comprises the Soon comSalOT and a ladies' cabin. The five C and a sfc*W launch of la-ge size, with which the steamef U provided are of course Juried on skids on <h» upper deck, and then there is also a temporal house bu.lt for a hosuital whou the steamer vim, urejjared for the SsScrs she has brought out. Beside the«toer hijr ««.«• li Ttho wheel-house, the steamer is provided with SrttMTV steering gear aft, which, however. 1s .seldom «ed ofHcer.' accommodation, and since tor euii'wM are situated in the tween or middle rtdoTto the lades' cabin, bath-room, &0., and on the port side, opposite the pantry, store and uerooms, stewards' berth and other oltk-cs. Immediately forward of the saloon is tho mizon hatchway, where tiEwcommodatlon for omiicrmts commences. Oil the tiorUW* lived the single women, and ou the starboird M,e two Lnx by a fore mid oft b« . k-hoad) Hovoral famiitaortf murled people were berthed. Joi - warn U thew tnw* wrfijprtmonte is tho ma, con traent. This wiis doyo^tj fo tlio married fnlM. ana s intored from tho imdn-liatehway, whilst beyond thia oimin about tho foio-hatch, i* 4fos "IVtco that was aoTOted to tl» single men. Tlw mm™™*™* were, bare of everything exeoptliw the fitUngii, and w«re exceodlnriv clean, and pervaded, by the odour ?f ejKlwllQ add, $p fteijr conttttoh vq "«*«

ship arrived we had no me mis of ascertaining, but we noticed that the married people were promiscuously herded in tho manner against which we have so_ often raised our voice in connection with other immigrant vessels that have arrived here lately. The crew, firemen, and petty officers are berthed in the eyes of the ship, and have very commodious and comfortable quarters. The engine, which is a model of strength, simplicity, and admirable workmanship, is situated amidships, and occupies a space 24 feet long by 21 feet wide. That is in fact the dimensions of the engine-room, and the full height from the skin of the vessel to the 'tween decks, the hatchway of course passing through to the upper deck. About this hatchway, on the 'tween decks, are the officers quarters, including mess-room for the men and inferior officers. The engine is remarkable for its masslvenesa and. high finish. It is on the compound principle, the larger, or low-pressure, cylinder being 90 inches diameter ; and the smaller, or hiKh-presaure, 48 inches. The length of stroke is 4 feet, and tho piston rods are 8} inches diameter.whilst the main shaft is 15 inches diameter. They were built by Howdon and Co., of Gla'gow, and are fitted with an exceedingly simple and unique starting apparatus, so arranged as to almost obviate the possibility of any breakage occurring. The apparatus is on its first trial, and is one of the inventions of the makers of the engines. Another peculiarity of the engines is the absence of a receiver between the cylinders, and the steam passes direct from the one to the other. Also the cranks of the main shaft are nearly in a line instead of, as is usual, at right angles to each other. The cngino is of 400 horse-power nominal, but capable of producing 1000 horse-power. It takes steam from three boilers, each 17 feet by 10J feet, and with two furnaces in each— one at each end, and each furnace having two fire places. Each boiler has a steam receiver attached to it. The condenser of the low pressure engine is on a new principle, for vhich a patent has been applied by Messrs Howden. The propeller—a screw— of the steamer, is of 16ft diameter, and 25ft pitch. It has four blades, which screw into the boss, and can be shipped and unshipped with the greatest case. The riir of tho Mongol is that of a threemasted schooner, and she therefore does not spread much canva.s. She is on her first voyage, ami nas, we should imagine, fulfilled all that was expected of her from her owners. She is 300 ft long, and is thus over SOft shorter than the Mikado, but is a deeper vessel, her draft being 25ft, and depth of hold 31ft. Oin., sft Oin. deeper than the Mikado. Her beam is 35ft., the same as the Mikado's. Her crew numbers 46 all told, classified as follows :— Captain Flsmank, Mr Bryan, chief officer ; 3 mates, Mr Laurie, first engineer ; and 3 assistants, 1 boiler maker, 12 firemen, 1 carpenter, boatswain, and lamptrimmer, and 0 in the steward's departm ent, besides a stewardess. Hie also carries a medical man in the person of Dr. Davison. The Mongol is not a fire eater by any means, her daily consumption of fuel being only 24 tons. She has stowage room for 1000 tons of coal, including the bunkers, the limited capacity of which amounts to 760 tons.