THE GOTHIC.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 16, 17 February 1894, Page 9

THE GOTHIC.

The arrival of the big White Star Liner, the Gothic, in New Zealand has caused considerable excitement in local as well as shipping circles. The vessel is the largest that has ever visited the colony, and ever since her arrival she has been the subject of wondering admiration. Her officers, her crew, her appointments have all come in for a share of attention, and ever since she came alongside the wharf, she has been crowded with visitors on such occasions as visitors were admitted. Her appointments can only be described by one word —luxurious —and the universal desire of the average visitor after inspect, ing her, was “ Oh for a trip Home on board the Gothic ? ” It has been stated that the Gothic is the largest, steamship afloat next to the Great Eastern ; this is a mistake, as she is quite a long way down on the list of the great floating palaces engaged in the passenger traffic of the world. Her tonnage is 7720, and her length is 490 feet, while the “ Teutonic ” and “ Majestic ” of the same line have a tonnage of 10,000, and a length of 582 feet. These two are the largest of the White Star fleet, but they ate smaller than some of the vessels on the other great Atlantic lines. The “ American Line ” now possesses two steamers (the Paris and the New York) running between New York and Liverpool that have a tonnage of over 10,000, while the Cunard Line have two vessels, the Leucannia and the

Campagnia, with a tonnage of 12,000. Probably the largest pas* senger steamer afloat is La Touraino which has a tonnage of over 12,000 and belongs to the French Trans-Atlantique Lino running between New York and Havre; the companies whose vobsols come next in size to those already mentioned are the Hamburg* American Lino and the North Gernmn-Lloyd. All of their boats come under the 10,000, tho avorage being between 8 and 9,000. The Gothio was built by Harland and Wolff, and is the largest vessel next to tho Great Eastern taat ever entered the port of London. This latter statement has. undoubtedly given rise to the rumour that she was one of tho largest vessels afloat. She can accommodate 110 saloon passengers, and over 100 steerage passengers; tho apartments of eaoh oabin, from the most expensive to the least, having been arranged with a view to the comfort of the passengers, and affording every pos* sible convenience. Great attention has been paid to tho decora, tions. more especially in the library, which is panelled with linen-fold oak panels and carved figures at intervals. As a carrier the new steamer is the largest in tho Australasian trade. In addition to the ordinary coal and cargo space, she has an insulated capacity in tho refrigerating chambers capablo of stowing some 75,000 carcases of sheep; spocial provision has also been mado for tho conveyance of dairy produce, tho export of which has lately bccomo a great fcaturo in New Zealand commerce. Tho Gothic was to havo made a few preliminary trips across tho Atlantic before coming to Australasia but hor completion was bo delayed by strikes and other unforeseen circumstancos that hor trial trip was confined to a coastal cruiso, and hor actual maidon voyage is her present one to Now Zealand. She was intendod for the colonial trade and will run botwoen London and Now Zealand, coming out via tho Capo of Good Hope and returning around Cape Horn. Her first trip speaks well for her speed, the voyage having been performed in thirty-nine days and nino minutes. From that must be deducted an eight hours detention owing to fog. There is little doubt that hud it not boon for this detention she would have made tho quickest run on record. The Gothic‘has introduced a system in passenger traffic which, although it has been for somo timo in vogue with the Atlantic liners, has never been tried before on tho great passengor boats plying between here and the Old Country, namely, tho division of the travelling public into two classes only, saloon and steerage passengers. On the P. and O. and Orient linos there are Ist, 2nd, Brd, and steerage passengers, the different grades dining at different tables. On the Gothic this is all done away with, tho vessel being conducted on the same principle as a Continental or American hotel. All saloon passengers dine at the same table and enjoy the same privileges, and the scale of prices is fixed according to the location of the state room. This arrangement is more equitable than the old one and gives general satisfaction. A man going “ Home ” alone can experience every advantage that a trip by the Gothic affords a first-class passengor while he pays a considerable less sum than his more opulent f riend on a honeymoon trip, who secures a bridal chamber with its luxurious appointments, and before finishing with' tho ship we must make particular allusion to the bridal chambers. They are fitted up with all the modem improvements and furnished

so elegantly that hardly a fault can be found. The cabins are spacious and artistically ornamented and apart from their cosy and comfortable appearance as bedrooms make inviting boudoirs and sitting rooms. The promenade on the decks is wide and pleasantly situated and the library and social hall are everything that could be wished in an English country house. One thing we were most pleased to note and that was the quarters provided for the officers. Ocean steamers as a rule are to a very great extent similar to theatres and newspaper offices in this respect, that as long as the Captain or Manager are comfortably situated it makes very little difference how his officers and surbordinates are housed. On the Gothic space of course is econimised but both officers and men are well looked after in their accommodation. The cabins are exceptionally comfortable, nay, even luxurious, and the quarters of the men are clean and roomy. One particular that opens up large future possibilities on ocean steamers is the introduction on board the Gothic of a printing press and composing room. All the menus, cards of invitation, programmes, &c., necessary while the steamer is at Bea are printed on board. We have before us as we write several cards got up in a really artistic manner; as a matter of fact no printing office would be ashamed to turn out work equally as good as that done on board when the ship was in mid ocean. If this idea which is at present only in its infancy, is carried out to its natural logical conclusion we will soon have daily papers published on board every homeward bound steamer and the ocean editor will become as familar an object as the shore variety of that species. In fact, in future, we may expect to see instead of the stereotyped.—“ Unfortunately, the leader for this issue has been crowded out on account of lack of space,’’ a sentence in a prominent part of the paper somewhat as follows:—“ On account of the hurricane last night the editor is still somewhat indisposed and our views on the political question will be held over until next issue,’ or ‘ We regret to chronicle the death of one of our comps., who was pitched overboard last night by an irate contributor whose poetry he had mangled considerably in setting it up and we take this opportunity of correcting a slight error which occurred in yesterday’s issue.—‘ He kicked her under the cellar stairs,' should have read ‘ He kissed her under the silent stars.’ ” But joking aside the introduction of the' printing press as one of the features of an ocean steamer is a splendid idea and its possibilities are limitless. The officers on board the Gothic are mostly gentlemen who have been in the service of the White Star Line for many years. Captain Jennings, the commander, was born in Dublin, and has been for many years in the service of the Company. He may be almost called the Commodore Captain of the White Star Line. He was one of their captains before steamers were run by them and commanded several of their sailing ships running in the China trade years ago, when the opposition lines used to race one another “ home.” After that he was for eleven years in the Atlantic trade, and for a long while captained the Adriatic, during the last ten years he has been in command of vessels running between England and the Colonies. His experience as a mariner and commander is as great if not greater than any of the captains in the service of the Company with which he is now connected, as he has piloted their vessels into almost every known commercial port of any prominence in the world. Personally, our visitor, Captain Jennings is an affable and agreeable conversationalist with just sufficient of the autocracy of a sea captain about him to lend a fitting dignity to his ordinary hospitable conduct. During

his stay here he has had verry little time that he could call his own, as when he has not been accepting the numerous invitations that have been showered upon him by friends and acquaintances, he has been entertaining visitors on board his splendid vessel. The first officer, Mr. Souden, has been with the Company many years and is deservedly popular both with them and with the passengers, who have had the pleasure of sailing in the vessel upon which he has been engaged. He is a thorough seaman and unites the bluff frank demeanour of an old sea-dog with the pleasant address of a courteous gentleman. The purser, Mr. Augustus Kane, is a New Zealander by birth. He has been with the White Star Company for some years and has served on several of their steamers. On our last visit to the Gothic we were most hospitably received by this gentleman, who furnished us with all information in his power. It will be some time before we forget the pleasant time passed in his cosy little cabin, the walls of which were decorated with photographs presented to him by musical and dramatic celebrities. With his permission we will mention a few that we at once recognised. On one side was a fine large photograph of Patti bearing the legend “ with the best wishes of your friend, Mme. Patti Nicolini,” whilo across from it was a frame enclosing the picture of Hen>’y Irving, and several other well-know Old World artists bearing similar inscriptions. Amongst many familiar faces we noticed Florence St. John, Madame Yalda, Madame Nordica, Marquis Mayer, Marie Roze, and best of all Sara Bernhardt with a prettily worded greeting “to her friend Augustus Kane.” A very pleasant chat followed the inspection of the photographs over what was probabaly the best cocktail that has been made in a New Zealand port for many years, The Gothic leaves on Saturday, but will return in about a fortnight and stay here a few days before departing for England.