A FLOATING PALACE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17228, 7 April 1930, Page 5

A FLOATING PALACE

RANGITIKI AT GISBORNE MODERN MOTOR VESSEL Dimly outlined on the far horizon, Alahia Peninsula, .presented an insignificent appearance as the New Zealand Shipping Co.’s new motor ship Rangitiki swung a.l her moorings in the Gisborne roadstead tli'is morning. She arrived here at 7.150 a.m. to-day from Auckland to load frozen meat, dairy produce, and general cargo for London, and sails to-morrow night for Napier. The vessel is named after the old sailing ship Rangitiki. which was well known on the New Zealand coast before steam monopolised the trade. The Rangitiiki was built and engined by Messrs. John Brown and Co., Ltd., of Clydebank, to the order of the New Zealand Shipping Co., nnd she is inaugurating the new service of fasr passenger and cargo motor liners developed 'by her owners between Great Britain and New Zealand, via Panama. Her sister ships are the Rangitnta and Rangifnno, both of whiicli were launched towards tin' end of last year.

The appearance of the Rangitiki was not overlooked by the designers ns the great- vessel lay on the stocks. The well-balanced- masts and funnels, to which a good rake has been given, add considerably to the graceful appearance of the ship, while the tiers of superstructure convey an impression of size ami security. The stem is straight, raking slightly forward, while the stern is of the cruiser type. The rudder is semi-balanced, anil the lines of shafting are enclosed right aft to the propellers, the she’ll having been bossed out to effect this. The uppermost continuous deck is surmounted by ia combined poop and bridge, separated by a short well from a forecastle, while large deckhouses are arranged at higher levels above the former in the midship region. The Rangitiki has an overall length of 55:5ft., a beam of 70ft., ami a depth of 43ft. Jin. Her gross tonnage is 17,500 and she carries 100 first-class passengers, 80 second class, and 410 third class. The vessel is notable on account of her propelling machinery, which consists of two sets of BrowiiSulzer single-acting, two-stroke cycle Diesel engines of live cylinders. Her engines are capable of developing 10,000 b.h.p., and give her a service speed of 15 knots. The vessel carries sufficient fuel oil to give her a range of 19,000 miles, enabling her to icome out to Now Zealand and go half-way hack without refuelling. A feature of the machinery equipment is the electro-hydraulic steering gear, which is of the latest fourcylinder design. Each power unit is sufficient to meet all normal steering requirements, and the arrangements are such that the reserve unit may be brought into action instantaneously. Should occasions arise which demand rapid manoeuvring, both units may be operated simultaneously. The equipment of engine, steering, and docking telegraphs is of a particularly complete character, there being no fewer than nine Instruments situated on the two forward bridges. I .UN U RIO US A QUO M MOD AT lON Spacious docks extend on all sides, providing ample room for exercise and games. The public, iroonls for first - class passengers include a lounge, smoking room, and verandah cafe on the boat deck, drawingroom on the promenade deck, diningroom and private diningroom on J> deck, and on trance halls on A, 15, and D decks. Access from the superstructure on A deck to D deck is provided by a main stairway and passenger elevators. The second-class passengers have very good accommodation, with public rooms, lounge, smoking room, and verandah cafe. In view of the importance of the immigrant 'fraflic between the Old Country and New' Zealand, the third-class accommodation is verv satisfactory.

The first-class lounge is of early Georgian type, and ds panelled in fine walnut and gilt. A feature of this room is the handsomely designed and carved mantelpiece, Jit ted with an electric fire and surmounted by n picture after Watteau. The ceiling is in licit modelled plaster, with a raised dome having n soft lighting effect of the indirect type. The floor, which is laid with parquetry in the centre, may be used for dancing, and the ■handmade carpets are reproduced from Auhusson designs. A grand piano, easy chairs, settees, card tallies, and snlaill chairs comprise the furnishings, wlitich tom* with the carpets and curtains.

A delightful view may be gained from tin' verandah cafe, which is situated to give the maximum of light and air. It is comfortably furnished with colored cane chairs and tables. Turning to the drawingroom, the walls are of hardwood and painted in soft shades, while the large open fireplace is in fine statuary mttnble inlaid with sienna warble, and fitted with an electric fire. This is surmounted by a ‘landscape painting bv Richard Wilson. 'The room is carpeted find provided with a grand piano, settees, bookeases, and easy chairs. The style of decoration selected for tin 1 first-class smoking room is of the Elizabethan period, the walls being panelled in oak, with eharaeteristiie doors having wrought iron mouldings. The furnishings tone perfectly with the decorative scheme, which makes this room a feature of the ship’s accommodation.

Seating accommodation for 118 passengers is provided in the first-class dining saloon. Tint scheme of decoration employed is an adaptation of Louis NVI period. There are stateroom's de luxe, including bedroom, bathroom, and sittingroom, panelled in silver oak and walnut, and having u nnlrobes, chest of drtt wets, tallboys, cot beds, and every other appurtenance of an expensive hotel ashore. All the staterooms have hot and rob! water laid on. The remaining rooms in the first-class section of the vessel are painted in soft pastel shades, with oak or mahogany 'furniture. The equipment of the culinary department is complete in every detail. CARGO APPLIANCE'S

The space allotted to cargo contains all the latest improvements for carrying frozen produce, and il will be readily appieiiinled from the earlier portions of this description that apart from her completeness as a passenger Utter, the Rangitiki is intended to cany large quantities of refrigerated and general merchandise. To facilitate the efficiency of the loading and discharging of the ship an elaborate equipment of cargo handling appliances has been provided. The derricks nrd mounted on posts, of 'which there are seven pairs, .and the lifting 'onpaciitv at each hatchway is consider'able. ’No fewer than ‘24 electric \vinehes have been installed for working the derricks, while the electric

motors and control gear are fitted in Aleck houses, and the power is trans'iiulted through shafting passing through the deckhouse. Each winch is capable of lifting loads of six tons a! 100 ft 1 . per minute, If tons at 250 ft. per minute, and lighter loads at correspondingly higher speeds, the light - hook speed being 4.ioft. per minute. I’ortions of the vessel which are available for cargo are almost entirely adapted to I lie carriage of merchandise under special temperature conditions, thi’ excepted spaces being No. 1 hold and ’tween decks. There are live ’tween-deck and six hold compartments which are refrigerated, the total insulated cargo capacity amounting i|o -t(50,000 cubic feet. ’These and many other illustrations of modern ingenuity go to make the Rangitiki the Inst word in ships of her class.