THE UNION S.S. COMPANY’S NEW FLEET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 648, 29 May 1882, Page 2

THE UNION S.S. COMPANY’S NEW FLEET.

[by telegraph. J Dunedin, To-day.

The Union Steamship Company have on the way out, or under construction, ten new vessels, five being intended for the intercolonial and five for the costal (rade. They are all of the same dimensions, viz ; —2Bsft. in length ; 36ft. in width ; and 25ft. in depth, or a triile larger than the Rotomahana. The first of them, the Manipouro, is now due at Melbourne, to be followed by the Wairarapa, Hauroto, Waihora, and Tararua. The Manipouri will replace the Albion, and the Wairarapa the Rotorua, which are to be employed exclusively on the Coast. The Waihora and Tararua will the rephce Ringarooma, which with the Arawera, are to bo utilised a? extra boats during the summer, and as relieving boats in the winter. The Hauroto, which has a carrying capacity of 2,000 tons, is to be employed in the Sydney trade. The smaller boats are to be used on the coast for general cargo purposes. One of the new steamers will be called the “ Express ” boat. She will be employed on the run from Lyttelton to Wellington, Taranaki, Onehunga, and back, performing the round trip once a week. She is to be similar in size to the Hawea, and will steam fifteen knots, and have accommodation for 100 saloon passengers. She is expected to make the trip each way in thirty-four hours’ steaming. The Hero wrl at once replace the Taiaroa in the Fiji trade, for which a spcial steamer is building.