A FAVOURITE 'FRISCO MAIL STEAMER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 41, 8 October 1892, Page 996

A FAVOURITE 'FRISCO MAIL STEAMER.

RMS. MONOWAI. - N~T"EW ZEALAND may well be proud of her mail j steamers. There may be vessels of larger ton. nage on other lines, but for comfort and good service they are not to be easily beaten. Perhaps the most popular of the great ocean going craft which brings us mails, maidens, and mashers from England and 'Frisco, and which keep us in touch with Europe is the Royal Mail Steamer Monowai, belonging to the Union Company, and while this is being written fast drawing near Auckland on

the trip from Frisco. The Monowai is not a pretty boat. What impresses the observer most is her massiveness of proportion, and her evident immense carrying capacity. She is a great cargo - steamer, but, at the same time, she has splendid passenger accommodation. This vessel is indeed an embodiment in steel of the latest and most ingenious contrivances and improvements in marine architecture, fittings, and machinery, and is well worthy inspection. The steamer's register is 3,500 tons gross, and she resembles the Tarawera more, perhaps, than any other boat known in these waters. There are four decks in all—spar deck, main deck, 'tween deck, and shade deck, which last runs right aft to the Hying bridge, forward of the funnel, only broken at the necessary places to allow of cargo being worked. Under this passengers are absolutely independent of the weather. The fine steamer is very well appointed in every department, and is fitted up with most modern improvements. She has accommodation aft and amidships for 133 first-class passengers, and forward for 100 steerage, in the fore part of the main deck. THE SALOON. The saloon, which is on the main deck, is approached by a very handsome double staircase from the music saloon, and is very tastefully decorated throughout. Dining-ta'des areplaced alongthecentieand sides. The couches and revolvingchairs are upholstered in amber colour plush ; one featuie

in the chairs being that the seats are reversible, so that cane bottoms can be used in hot climates. At the fore end of the saloon is a magnificent sideboard, which was exhibited by Messrs Denny Brothers at the Glasgow Exhibition. On each side of the stairs is a very handsome bookcase. At the fore end of the saloon, but not entered directly from it, is the bar and a large pantry. Passing through the doors at either end of the saloon, access is given to the state rooms, which are arranged in the centre and sides of the vessel—the side rooms being of larger dimensions than those in the centre —and all fitted up in Are same manner with crimson velvet cushions. Each room is provided with lifebelts. There are five bathrooms, four of which are solid marble tepid baths, and one shower bath, the room being tiled all over. The wash basins are also set in solid marble slabs ; in fact, nothing has been left undone which would conduce to the comfort of passengers. The ladies’ cabin adjoins the main saloon, and is a very handsome apartment, finished in terracotta, and communicating with it are dressing-rooms and two baths of solid marble, the washstands being also of marble, with hot and cold water. Every provision has been made in the event of fire, there being a hose and patent fire extinguisher placed in various parts of the main deck. MUSIC SALOON. The music saloon, which is situated on the spar deck, is a splendidly fitted up apartment, rivalling quite similar saloons on the finest European steamers trading to Australia, or even tbe magnificent Atlantic liners. It was exhibited by the builders at the centre avenue of the Glasgow International Exhibition. About Bft. of the height of tbe walls are finished in magnificent satin wood panels, above which is coloured glass, which has a splendid effect. At the fore end of this apartment stands one of Brinsmead’s pianos, while at the after end is a very large handsome mirror, on each side of which is a special state room, containing two berths each. There are six other similar state rooms in the after deck house, where there is also the smoking room, most tastefully finished in sycamore, satin wood, walnut, and marqueterie, the walls being of polished woods of various colours. The floor is laid with encaustic tilling, sofas covered with buffalo hide, and divisioned off

into single seats, with five marble top tables, glass racks, and electric bells. The second saloon, which is also on the main deck, and approached from the spar deck, is a very roomy apartment, the upholstering being of buffalo hide. There are several enclosed state rooms, bath, with lava-

tories, etc. The galley, butcher's shop, bakery, etc., are on tbe main deck. The captain s room, purser’s i ffice, and first and second officers are quartered on the spar deck, the other officers on the main deck, while the engineer s quarters are in the engine room, the crew being in comfortable quarters on the torecastle. Her engines are on the triple expansion principle, her cylinders being 25in, 41in, and 58in, steam being supplied by two double ended boilers working at a pressure of 1701 b per square inch. The engine room is nrost extensively provided for, all manner of auxiliary machinery being supplied—two Weir’s pumps for boiler feed, three Worthington pumps, centrifugal circulating pumps, Brown s patent combined steam and hydraulic starting gear, Weir’s patent feed-heater and distiller, etc. The vessel is fitted throughout with electric light supplied by the builders, there being double sets of dynamos and engines. Captain Carey is so well known to almost all New Zealanders and Australians that there is little need to publish his biography. He is assuredly one of the most popular, and most deservedly popular, captains afloat. Sailors are always favourites, but Captain Carey has exceptional claims on the public regard and respect. For over a quarter of a century he has been known as one of the nrost genial and trustworthy of mariners treading the decks of our intercolonial steanrers. At one time in his career Capt. Carey tried fainting, but soon found that he would rather plough the seas than the unproductive soil of the Chatham Islands. With that exception the captain has been at sea ail his life, for he shipped first at the age of thirteen on an American whaler. Undoubtedly Captain Carey has much to do with the favour with which the Monowai is regarded by all classes of passengers.