NEW MISSION VESSEL

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1932, Page 5

NEW MISSION VESSEL

< MODERN AUXILIARY SHIP. I REPLACING SOUTHERN ACROSS. The twin-screw motor vessel which is ,being built at the Isle of Wight to the order of the Melanesian Mission as a successor to the well-known steamer Southern Cross is scheduled to arrive in Auckland in October. According to. specifications, she is to be of composite construction, with steel framework and wooden planking, and is to be rigged as a fore and aft schooner, with ample sail area for auxiliary purposes. The principal dimensions w.'ll be . as follows: Overall length, 106 ft; beam, outside planking, 24ft; draught when ; loaded, 10ft. Her speed is to be not i less than nine knots. . Ample accommodation for the crew and passengers will be provided and the hold has been designed to carry 50 tons of cargo. A pantry with refrigerator and two bathrooms are included in the deckhouse accommodation. The bottom of the vessel is to be sheathed with copJer to one foot above the load water»e. J The fittings in the cabins will be very feeljr Married ©ut. The main saloon, is

to be panelled in oak of a natural colour and the settees are to be arranged as double sleeping berths if required. The cabins opening into the saloon will have double berths and the furniture will be of mahogany. The cabins for the captain and the bishop will be panelled in a similar manner to the saloon. The propelling machinery of the vessel will consist of two-stroke cold-starting, compression ignition Gardner heavy oil motors, and the main fuel tanks will have a capacity of 15 tons. A condition of the contract is that the makers will undertake the navigation of the vessel from England to Auckland. The official trials 'preceding the trip will occupy three days, one day being devoted to a run under sail only. ,