The New Steamer Manuka.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue II, 9 January 1904, Page 51

The New Steamer Manuka.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 23. The Union Steamship Company’s new steamer Manuka, the latest addition to their extensive fleet, left Plymouth yesterday upon her maiden voyage. She will call at Capetown, for which port she carried. a number of passengers on behalf of Messrs. R. P. Houston and Co., the well-known shipowners, and will then proceed to Australia and New Zealand. The arrangement with regard to carrying passengers to the Cape for the Houston line gave rise in some of the I-ondon papers to a report that Messrs. Houston and Co. were entering with this new steamer into competition with the steamship companies trading to Australia and New Zealand. Needless to say, the report is erroneous, as the Houston line have no interest in the Manuka beyond the arrangement referred to in connection with the present voyage. Nor have they, it is stated, any intention of entering into competition with existing lines in the Australasian trade. The Manuka is intended for the intercolonial running. She is a sister ship to the Moeraki, and is fitted up in similar style; but being a new boat by some twelve months, she embodies in her construction and equipment various improvements evolved since the building of the Moeraki. A description of the, new vessel was published on the occasion of her launching, but a few details may be given here. The Manuka is a vessel of 4410 gross tonnage, her dimensions being 368 ft Bin by 47ft by 33ft. She is a twin screw steamer, with a speed of 16 knots, and is built cf mild steel, under special survey cf the British Corporation, and in accordance with the requirements of the Board of Trade. She has accommodation for 190 first-class passengers, and ample provision is made for the second-class. The dining sale on extends the whole width of the vessel, and seats 82 persons at

table. All the latest improvements in ventilation and sanitation have been brought into requisition. The Manuka was launched from Denny aiul Cu.’l yards at Dumbarton on Septem'>er 8. Captain Phillips, who came Homa to superintend her construction, is taking the verse’ cut to the colonies. Thera are no passengers for New Zealand.