The Union Company's Fleet.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7663, 25 June 1896, Page 4

The Union Company's Fleet.

I IMPORTANT ADDITIONS. , The Wollington correspondent; of the Auckland Herald writes :— As the result « of tho visit of the managing director of ; the Union Company to the Old Country, i some very important additions are Bhortly i to bo made to the Union Company's fleet', i I had an interview with the Hon. Geo. > Mac Lean, chairman of the company, and i he very kindly placed the following particulars at my disposal. > Shortly after Mr Mills' arrival in Eng- ; land he purchased, on behalf of the i company, a fine cargo steamer, which had i just been launched at Newcastle-on-Tyne. ; Mr Mills was just in time to secure the i vessel off the stocks, and to arrange for . sundiy improvements which will make I her more suitable for the company's trade. [ This vessel is now on her way out, and ; will be employed in the Fiji coal ana I sugar trade for a time. Later on she will i make a trip to Calcutta, and subsequently be employed in the general cargo trade. ; She is a speedy ship of her class, having i done a good ten and a-half knot! on trial , in the open sea under anything but favorconditions. Her builders are the well- [ known firm of Doxford and Sons, of I Newcastle-on-Tyne. She is engined by ; the North Eastern Marine Works Co., who turn oub good work. The company ' have als.o contracted for another cargo i boat to carry 2500 tons dead weight, and i to ste.\m 10 knots fully loaded. The i builders of this vessel are Mr.cMillan's, of [ Dumbarton. She will be employed for i cargo work on the New Zealand coast, and will make occasional trips to Australia i when wanted. Her dimensions are 260 i by 30 feet, by 24ft. She is flush decked, i will carry a full cargo of 2500 tons, and ■ will steam about eleven knots loaded. It will also be good newß for the colony ; to know that the company has contracted for a splendid new steamer for the San : Francisco service, to replace the Monowai, so that the latter may re-enter the inter-colonial trade. This vessel will be 350 feet by 44 feet by 34, and is to steam 16 knots on trial. She will be fitted with i hydraulic gear, electric light, and all the most modern improvements. She will have superior accommodation for 250 > saloon and 150 steerage passengers, and her gross tonnage will be 4700 tons. She is to be built by the famous firm of Denny Bros., Dumbarton. In addition to these vessels, tenders have been called for a steamer 310 feet by 41 feet by 32 feet, to steam 15 knots. This vessel will act as a consort to tho Mararoa and Monowai in the intercolonial trade. She will carry 270 saloon and 130 steerage, and her gross tonnage will be 3,000 tons. She will be fitted up in the style for which the company's steamers are celebrated. The company is also getting out plans and specifications with a view to calling for tenders for a passenger boat for the West Coast trade. In both the San Francisco and intercolonial vessels several new arrangements and inventions will be provided, with a view to adding to the comfort of passengers. An important innovation hi connection with tho ventilation is also to be introduced, electric motors being provided in various parts of the vessels for the purpose of exhausting the foul air. It will be seen that the Union Company is determined not to be behind the times, and these important additions to an important fleet will go far to place New Zealand in the frout rank of the maritime colonies of the British Empire.