THE ROTORUA.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15182, 29 March 1917, Page 3

THE ROTORUA.

. The Rotorua, which, wae torpedoed in the English Channel, wae one of the newest and finest vessels in the New Zealand Shipping Company's fleet, and was as well known in the passenger as in the cargo trade. She wae a triplescrew vessel of, 11,130 tons, built in 1910 by W. Denny and Bros., Dumbarton, and wae 484 ft in length, with a beam of 62ft. Her engines consisted of twin triple-expansion sets, and one lowpressure steam turbine, and she was also fitted with a large/refrigerating plant. Her sea speed was 14 knots. She cleared Wellington on February 3 for Plymouth and London with a full cargo of frozen and other produce from various southern ports, and a number of passengers. She had called at Auckland on January 8, leaving the following day, but took no cargo aboard from that port. So far as the Auckland office of the New Zealand Shipping Company is concerned, the Rotorua’s list of passengers is confidential, owing to the stringent rules imposed by the Imperial Government. The Rotorua’s commander was Captain/I. A. Sutcliffe, who had been in charge of her from the time when she was first commissioned. Information was received at the end of last week that the Rotorua had arrived safely at Plymouth, corroborating the statement that all her passengers had been landed. IN DANGER FROM A RAIDER. TRIBUTES TO SHIP’S OFFICERS. CHRISTCHURCH, March 27. The first experience of the Rotorua in the dangers due to war conditions was described by a Christchurch resident) who was on the steamer when the war' broke out. The Rotorua wae then Homeward bound, and within three .days’ sail of Teneriffe. Great excitement prevailed among the passengers and the, crew, for wild stories of • naval battles were received by wireless. It was not until Santa Cruz roadstead was reached that any reliable information was communicated to those on board. The Eotorua was delayed at Teneriffe three days, owing to the proximity of a German raider. Then she continued her voyage to Plymouth, where most of the passengers were disembarked. Next day the Eotorua sailed for London. Soon afterwards came the news that the Kadpara had been sunk by the raider which the Rotorua had avoided. All the passengers of that and subsequent voyages have had much to say about the way the officers and the crew of the steamer comported themselves and carried their ship and her passengers through the perils that beset them !