A PALATIAL VESSEL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2632, 30 November 1915, Page 2

A PALATIAL VESSEL

HOSPITAL SHIP MARAMA

DUE HERE ABOUT THURSDAY

I Three weeks ago the Union Company's | wail steamer Marama ttas handed over la to the company's construction stai? at || Port Chalmers, under military author. I lty, to bo converted into a 'hospital, ship 1n t . sllol ' test s l )acc of tinio possible | Only , those who are mora or loss con- | vorsant with shipbuilding craftsmanship g can form any adequato conception of the vast amount of expert skill alid welldirected energy that has already been embodied m tho vessel, eavs tlm ' Otago Daily Times." Night a 'nd day for three weeks quite a small army of skilled shipwrights, cabinetmakers painters, polishers, upholsterers, electricians, fitters, and engineers have worked like ,Trojans to carry out tho specifications of the clever draughtsmen to convert the Marama into a hospital |i slap within a given space of time. In j a task of such magnitude a rigorous time unit is a healthy stimulus no doubt I but tho utmost care and vigilance are always necessary to ensure a maximum of excellence in the finished product j and it is merely stating the baldest j truth to say that as she lies at her Moorings to-day-the Marama is a credit to | all who have helped to produco this i marine metamorphosis several days j ahead of the prescribed time. Cb'n--3 structiv© experts who have served their | apprenticeships in many of the largest 4 iiritish shipbuilding and engineering jj firms claim, with justifiable prido, that 5 no finer work could be done anywhere jj in such a short space of time. Tho | preliminary task of cleaning out the < bunkers and 'tween decks proved a big ] job, and as soon as that work was comj pleted the whole of the vessel's interior jj underwent a quick change. On the E upper deck most of tlio available spaco { has been devoted to the medical and | surgical equipment, having been fitted a out with a bacteriologioal laboratory, S surgical and ancsthetic wards, X-ray a room and dispensary—all, in close proximity to two electric elovators capable of carrying cot cases from any of the lower decks up to the surgeon's quarters, or for. a sun bath when circumstances permit. A specially interesting'feature of the upper deck outfit is an up-to-date scientific laundry, with all the necessary machinery for sterilising, washing ironing, and otherwise dealing with the ship's linen, each machine being separately driven by an electric motor, Some i idea of this important adjunct may bo j gauged by. tho fact that tho Marama | is being equipped with about 600 bods,i and this number can be increased if j Necessary. In every wardroom a space j of 2ft. tim. hjis been reserved between §j each tow of cote in order to facilitate _ the removal of any patient to any part =j of the vessel. In addition to the 600 beds in the wardrooms, the Marama has been furnished with about 100 deck cots, and this number will bo increased 'as required. Bach .ward lias been fitted out with a separate series of pantries,', filters, sterilisers, and general equipmont, aiil the attendants' and nurses' quarters are spacious and comfortable to a degree, i'he thorough ventilation of the vessel has been- attended to down to the -ut.most detail, and this feature of theMamma's equipment is regarded with pride _by those who have been entrusted with its installation.' ,At tho pre- : sent moment a good deal of- work re-mains-to be <Jsmo inthe way of finishing off and furnishing the-beds, and ■ fitting up the surgical appliances,- but ' - special efforts are: being made to com- j plot© tliis work, •when" tlio'.Marama -will leave Port Chalmers for 'Wellington, aiid h thence to-tlie' scene ofhostilities, < Wherever she goes as-New Zealand's second hospital dim, she'., will.-' reflect' credit upon all who nave been'entrusted ' - with the task of fitting her out for her oversea errand of mercy! Tho Marama. is expected' to reach Wellington about Thursday or Friday next.