Luxurious Rangitiki

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 813, 6 November 1929, Page 14

Luxurious Rangitiki

FURNITURE IN LOUNGES

Period Designs Followed

ADVANTAGE lias been taken of the latest designs issued by interior decorating experts and furniture craftsmen in the fitting-up of the R.M.M.V. Rangitiki which arrived at Auckland for the first time last Friday. Period designs have been as faithfully followed as possible and there are few hotels that could offer suites as pleasing- or as comfortable as

those on the New Zealand Shipping Company’s new vessel.

A brief description of tfTe furnishings and fittings of the liner is given by a writer in a recent number of the “Motor Ship.” The first-class lounge is panelled in walnut and gilt, and is of early Georgian style, he states. It has a carved mantelpiece, above which is a picture after AVatteau. Indirect lighting is aranged in a raised dome and the floor is laid with parquetry in the centre for dancing. The carpets are reproduced from Aubusson designs. On the same deck aft is the smoking room—a reproduction of the Elizabethan period with the walls panelled in oak. The fireplace is in stone, carved over in oak. and the motifs are taken from examples of Scottish woodwork of the Elizabethan period. A half-timbered raised roof with modelled plaster is worked in the scheme, and the windows are fitted with leaded glass. Lighting is provided by old bronze lanterns, and the frieze to the cantral raised roof is fitted with soft concealed lighting. The Adam style is followed in the drawing-room, the walls being hard wood and mainly in soft shades. There is a fireplace in statuary marble, inlaid with Sienna marble, and above is a painting. It is intended mainly as a ladies’ room.

The dining-room is adapted from Louis XVI. style, and the walls are panelled in hard wood, painted in soft pastel shades. At the after end is a polished sideboard with a painting above, by Turner, and on the sides of the sideboard are large mirrors, which add to the spaciousness of the room. Table lights are provided in addition to the lighting from the ceiling, which is arranged on the semiconcealed pattern. The verandah cafe is of the garden trellis design and provided with col-

oured cane furniture. The after end is open, giving ample light and air. so desirable on a voyage such as that on which the .Rangitiki engages. All the entrances and staircases have walls in hardwood, painted in light shades. A lift is provided for passengers.

The second-class lounge is panelled in hardwood and painted in light pastel shades. A verandah cafe adjoins, as mentioned above. The sec-ond-class dining saloon? is in hard wood, painted, and has mahogany furniture.

In the third-class dining-room seating accommodation is provided for 234 people, and a piano is included in the equipment. The walls are panelled in oak with painted frieze. The thirdclass smoking-room is in oak with red birch panels, while the ceiling is panelled and painted. It is furnished with small tables and fixed upholstered settees and cane chairs. The lounge is painted and panelled in light buff, and has a panelled and painted ceiling. This also has comfortable settees and chairs, with small tables. A ladies’ room is provided for tbirdclass passengers, as well as a nursery, the former being painted and panelled in a light colour, and the latter panelled in oak with sycamore panels. A notable fact is that all the first, second and third-class rooms have cot bedsteads. Many of the three-berth second-class staterooms are fitted with upper superimposed cot bedsteads which can be removed if desired, leaving the appearance of a two or single-berth cabin. All the first, second and third-class cabins have open-type wash basins with hot and cold fresh water supply in the first and second class. In all first and second-class bathrooms are cold showers.