NEW MAIL STEAMER NIAGARA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1739, 2 May 1913, Page 9

NEW MAIL STEAMER NIAGARA.

A MAGNIFICENT LINER. OIL-BURNING STEAMER. I'l a remit dopcriiition of the R..M.S. Niagara, tho latest addition to the "red" funnel fleet, (lie Sydney "Telegraph" said: Interest attaches to the arrival of the Niagara from tho fact that she is the largest steamer of the mercantile marine to visit tho port, her gross register being 1.1,500 tons. Socially designed for the Canadian-Australian Mail Line, the Niagara is described as a handsome liner,, with a remarkably fme turn of speed. In the planning of the mammoth vessel neither money '• r effort seems to have been spared to 'm.nu' her in all respects equal to anything in her class afloat.

I'he Niagara was built by Messrs. John Brown, Limited, Clydebank, and can-its tho highest class at Lloyd's. She lias a length overall of aloft.; beam moulded, of Gtift.; and depth to upper deck, .'l7ft. Gin.; and depth to boat deck, 65ft. ■Accommodation for 271 first-class passengers is 'prodded amidships, on the main, upper, shelter, and promenade decks, tho state rooms being fitted for one, two, three, or four passengers, while several groups of cabins have been arranged for family parties. On the shelter and promenade decks there are a number of one and two-berth cabins fitted with bedsteads instead of the ordinary ship's berths. Two cabines do luxe—in every way worthy of the name—are situated on, tho shelter deck close to tha main vestibule. In one of theso the style adopted for decoration is Adams, with woodwork and furniture painted white, while the metal is electro-plated. The other is decorated in Louis XIV style, the furniture being of walnut. Each of these state, rooms h-is a separate bath and lavatory.,

The first-class dining saloon—a spacious apartment, with dining accommodation for 190 passengers—is decorated in Louis XVI style, and tho ceiling and walls are painted white.' It is situated on the upper deck amidships, convenient to the main entrance, and has a Inrge well overhead. A feature of the saloon is that the tables are all arranged for small parties. In tho first-class loungs the style adopted is also I.ouis XVI. It is 011 the promenade deck, two decks above the dining saloon, and is arranged in small -bays and cosy corners.' The open well over the dining saloon rises through tho centre of the lounge, and is lighted by a largo dome on the boat deck. The walls and ceilings are painted white, relieved in gold. Tho library and writing room is situated at tho foro end of the first-class accommodation on the shelter dcck, aud is specially designed for the comfort of passengers who desire to pass tho time quietly with reading or writing, small tables being arranged well apart from each other. This room is finished in grey and walnut, with mouldings ot white and gilt. The style is Louis XVI. The music room, situated on the forward end of the promenade deck, is in Adaras style, with white panellings and mahogany furniture. A larso dome overhead adds to thu splendid appearance of this spacious apartment. The smoke room is also on the promenade deck. Tho style adopted hero is Georgian, and the panelling is of polished hardwood. The arrangements of this room are according to the most up-to-date ideas.

Second-class accommodation for 210 passengers is arranged aft, with dining saloon on the upper deck. This apartment, in which dining accommodation for 188 •persons has been provided, is decorated in the Georgian style, the furniture being of mahogany, and the walls and ceiling painted white. The style adopted for the music and smoking rooms, which are situated above, is Louis XVI, the former being furnished in mahogany, and hero again tho walls and ceiling are \vhite, while the smoking room is entirely of -oak.

Acoonimodotion for' 17G third-class passengers is situated forward, and good public rooms have also been provided. Visitors to tho ship will be struck by tho large amount of promenado space allotted to the various classes of passengers. There is a complete system of wireless telegraphy, so that the steamer can be in touch with the outside world for practically the whole of the journey. The propelling machinery, a combination of reciprocating engines with a Parsons low-pressure turbine, is one of tho latest examples .of * progress in marine engineering, and has been constructed by the builders. Tho superior economy of tho system is due to tho fact that increased power is obtained with the same steam consumption by' expanding the steam in the low-pressure turbine beyond tho limits possible with the reciprocating engine. Steam is supplied by ten cylindrical boilers, each fitted with four furnaces, and working under Howden's system of forced draught,-the boiler pressure being 2201b;

A new feature # is that this is tho first vessel burning oil-fuel to have a British Board of Trade certificate for carrying passengers. For the purpose of carrying this fuel, the ship Ims specially-construct-ed bunkers of amplo capacity to carry sufficient oil for tho return journey, and also to carry coal should this be found necessary. The whole of the bunkers, Nos. 2 and 3 holds, have been jnado air and oil tight up to the main dcck. Heavy fore and aft bulkheads are fitted throughout, adding strength to the ship and ensuring safety. Four electric engines are fitted to copo with tho exceptionally complete system of lighting, etc., and to render it unlikely that any hitch will'result in .a breakdown. An emergency plant for light lias also been arranged on the boat deck, so that in oase of accident light will always be maintained.

Altogether there are over ' 2000 lights throughout the ship, while an electric fan is fitted in each stateroom. The hydraulic engino installed in tho engine-room is capable of putting the whole of tho ten hoists through a complete cycle within the space of one minute. From this feat alone it may be gathered how powerful tho installation is; the engine, in .fact, is one of the largest and most powerful ever put into a ship for cargo-discharging purposes. Tho steering gear is of tho hydraulic type, embodying all the latest improvements. Captain John Gibb, the- commodore of the Union Company's fleet, is in command. -