The S.S. Rotomahana.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 920, 13 October 1879, Page 2

The S.S. Rotomahana.

♦ — (off the port.) We paid a visit to the Rotomahana on [ Saturday afternoon. The steam launch Noko, with about seventy people on its deck conveyed us alongside. If comparisons were not odious, as they are said to be, the two steamers as they laid stem and stern alongside of each other offered a fair opportunity for making a comparison. It has been related— by an American of course — that when all created things were entering Noah's Ark, a little mite of an ant who was slightly in advance of the elephant turned round and said, " Now then, old 'un, where are you a shoving to ?" Well, the difference between the ant and the elephant would be about the same in bulk and proportions as between the Noko and Rotomahana. We should like to feel able to describe this leviathan of the deep ; but not being strictly nautical, or indeed strictly anything else, it exceeds our powers. We have in a previous issue, given her length and breadth and depth, and steam power. We have described her as she was described by her builder ; but all this gives no idea of the exquisite beauty of this fine piece of marine architecture. The Rotomahana may be said to be as regards her interior a floating family mansion, elegantly fitted and furnished and found from end to end. A saloon cushioned and velveted and carpeted in the finest taste ; got up, in short, quite regardless of expense. Mirrors, polished panel work, decorations designed and executed with artistic skill and completeness of finish ; couches, chairs turning on pivots to face any side to suit the convenience and comfort of sitters ; cut glass, frosted glass : lamps made to give a soft glow of subdued light ; all that can please the eye and the most fastidious taste is in the saloon, which accommodates comfortably at the tables from eighty to a hundred passengers. From the saloon we enter a spacious boudoir sacred to the ladies. More costly furnishings, more* tasteful conveniences, more elegancies. Maids in waiting to attend upon the lady passengers ; stewards in uniform, ready, quick and attentive to supply the wants of arrogant and exacting man. Sleeping cabins with every conceivable convenience ready at hand. The upholstery abundant ; handsome coverlets ; sheets of snowy whiteness ; blankets of finest texture ; abundance of light and ventilation and ample room to dress or undress, to sit or 101l or meditate ; nothing that could be wished for which is not there. But what a dread contemplation to think that even in such a ship so complete in all its parts, the horrors of sea-sickness cannot be disposed of, causing men to become pale and call upon stewards to fetch them brandy and soda, and women to claim the attention of the maids in waiting. "In the midst of life we are in death." In the midst of all that is so elegant in an ocean steamer, we hear the voice of the mourner saying piteously, "No thank you, steward, I can't go to the table. I am— oh, do please get me some brandy, and shall we be long before we land ? How she does roll." And the steward will say that the sea is just the least bit lumpy ; and it does look as if it was coming on to blow a trifle. But he says it all quite unconcernedly, while one has a feeling that it would be a kindness done him to be thrown overboard. But the steward pours . the brandy from a decanter with as steady a hand as if he was standing on a grass plot, while looking on at a game of lawn tennis. We go up fcb the galoon stairs on to a world of deck — acres of it almost — having seats and lounging accommodation everywhere. Here is a room windowed and panelled all round. Pianoforte, books, pictures, sofas, table, carpets all of the best each of its kind. Further aft a smoking-room for the men. Above the main deck another deck amidships ; another more forward, another quite forward. There is a large, roomy, wellventilated, handsomely-fitted fore cabin forsecond-class passengers ; more elegant, certainly more lofty and better lighted, than many first-class steamer saloons we have travelled in. There is the Captain's cabin, quite a gem of purest ray serene in its way ; curtains, hangings, carpeting, polished mahogany carved work ; such a room as the best hotel in New Zealand could not supply. " How brave should be that Captain of such a bonny barque. " Then the other cabins on both sides of the ship for the officers and those doing service on the boat. How many shall we say? First engineer's cabin, second engineer's ditto, third engineer's ditto, chief officer's, second officer's, purser's, boatswain's, carpenter's, steward's, cook's and ever so many others — thirty perhaps in all— perhaps more. Six cooks, all hard at it, over fires at roasts and boils, with a savory smell coming from what we may call a deck kitchen. But behold the engine-room, and the machinery that sends this floating castle through the water at the rate of fifteen miles an hour ! It is quite calculated to create a feeling of profound awe to one who has not been on board such a ship. There are depths below depths, and there are still lower depths. Huge cylinders, and cranks, and shafts, and enormous joints, some working horizontally, some vertically, and others with eccentric motions. Why, the engineroom with its many contrivances to save Bpace in order to give space, and the machinery in all its polish of bright steel and glowing brass, and barmished copper, is worth a long journey if only to look at it, and wonder at man's vast ingenuity and inventiveness. As we have previously mentioned we are quite unable to describe this ship as it deserves. Everything in its place and a place for everything. Officers and sailors in their places. Steam up and ready for the, start. Machinery that will draw the anchor up in a few short minutes ; more machinery for hoisting out or taking in cargo. The little Noko has been taking goods out of the Rotomahana. The work is finished, the Noko's whistle shrieks. The Rotomahana first snorts and then issues a sound as coming from a ten-horse high pressure trombone. We are clear of the big ship and are heaped up on the deck of the launch. The sun has set, and the gloom of evening is darkening into night. The big steamer being stem on shows to us her red and green lights at the sides, and her white one aloft and ainidsliips. Her anchor is up. Her head moves slowly round. She is off, and her visitors aro once more ashore.

Everyone who has seen the Rotomahana says she's a beauty, and that is just about our idea, taking her any way one likes, externally or internally. She must have cost a heap of money, and her owners have a right to expect aheap of money to come from her.