LINER ROTORUA SUNK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3038, 27 March 1917, Page 6

LINER ROTORUA SUNK

TORPEDOED IN THE CHANNEL .—_ i /' PASSENGERS LANDED AT PLYMOUTH i OFFICERS AND CREW SAFE

Following closely on the announcement of the sinking of the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Otaki c'omes the news that the same company's liner Rotorua has teen torpedoed in the English. Channel. The manager of, tho New Zealand Shipping Company at Christchurch (Mr. Bennett) has. received a cablegram stating that the Botorua had landed her passengers at Plymouth and was proceeding up the' English Channel when she was torpedoed. Captain Sutcliffe and all the crew were saved with the exception of one man —a steward named Williams, who signed on at Wellington. In the case of the Otaki the position was not' in a way so fortunate, as all the crew were reported to be prisoners of war in Germany. i Liner Described. The Botorua's . gross tonnage was 11,500, length 484 ft., breadth 62ft., and depth 35ft. She was only seten years old, and was completed in Denny's yards, Dumbarton, in 1910. A very creditable performance was put up by the vessel,' both in her trial speeds and on. her maiden voyage to New Zealand. In the' former she managed nearly 16. knots, and in the run from London to Wellington 13.7 knots. Tho run from Hobart to New Zealand was done at an average of 14 knots. Her engines were of the combination reci-procating-turbine type, developod 8000 horse-power, and she had five single-ended iboiftrs. The liner, of course,, bad a very fine wireless equipment. ' Her cargo-carrying space was estimated at 100,000 carcasses of mutton. A special feature was the double set of refrigerating machinery, each of which was capable of dealing with the whole of the insulated capacity of the ship if required.

' In comparison with the Ruahine, the Rotorila's iir.Q'j3cr s ssoiu the Rotgrua had many advantages. Among the innovations was a children's room, with' its own set of -baths and lavatories in : connection with .tho first saloon, and also a bath for the use of passengers >on the-promenade deck. Owing to her large beam. (62 feet), all the piiblio rooms, such.as tKe social rooms, smoke rooms, and""saloon 'lounges, were very spacious, and were also very lavishly furnished. A special feature on the upper deck wore .the single-berth cabins (16 in number), with spray baths in The first saloon was a magj> nificently furnished apartment, having |' six round tables capaible of seating five persons',at each, besides two long tables Seating fifteen passengers at i; • r In- tho second class most of the inner pabins were fitted on the Bibby plan, which ensrures- a porthole to each, and also makes /them very much _ larger. This class also provided extensively for the comfort of passengers, there being ample,,two-berth accommodation and a beautifully furnished saloon, louuge, and smoke room. The third-class passengers were well provided for, having a smoke roora, v lounge, and bar, in addition to comfortable berthing accommodation. ' / ' The Rotorua arrived here on her first visit on December 11, 1910. It is_ interesting to note that on her previous trip the Right Hon. W. F. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward were amongst her passengers. v. The New Zealand Cargo. The following is the .complete list of cargo shipped , from New Zealand ports:—B994 bales wool, 36,677 crates cheese, 27,356 cases butter, 647 sacks casein, 26,127 carcasses mutton, 36,371 carcasses lamb, 4849 quarters beef, 1611 frozen pigs, 159 pieces beef, 179 bags scheelite, 300 cases sugar of milk, 524 tins glaxo, 95 cases'.shell, 48 boxes of calf veils. • '

The Rotorua's Officers.. ; Captain J. A. Sutcliffe, formerly of the ill-fated'Tongariro, and an esteemed and well-known master of the company, was in command of the Rotorua, and left Wellington with the following offioers:—-Chief, Mr. S. W. SoinorsVine; second, Mr. J. P. Haines; third, Mr. M f ,o. Williams ; fourth, Mr. C. H. Biddlecombe; wireless operators, Messrs. J. E. K. Bowling and AMV. Forbes: surgeon, Mr. Milson B. Rhodes; Chief engineer, Mr. A. H. Parker; second, Mr. A; Johnston ; third, Mr. W. Edwards; fourth, Mr. G. Hill; fifth, Mr. W. Norman; sixth, Mr. G. F. Smith; seventh, 'Mr.- R. J..,Lingley; first refrigeratin'g engineer, Mr. H. M. Dixon; second, Mr. J. M'Leoil; electrician, Mr/R: HameL The Liner's Passenger Hat.

The passengers who'left, Wellington on the liner's last trip were as follow: First'saloon: From Wellington—Mrs., D. M. Allen, Miss M. L. Buskin, Mrß.. J. Elder, Miss U. Elder, Miss M.- Johnstone, G.' Gi Johnston, Mrs. G. Mawley, Mrs. A'. M., Voitch, Mr. W. Young. From Auckland—Hamilton, W. R.'Holmes, Mrs. L. E. Holmes, Miss K. A. Holmeß, Miss TJ. M. Holmes, ; Mrs. M. L. Hopkins, Miss E. M. Hopkins, Miss M. 0. Hopkins, 0. F. Minnit, Airs. K., Ralph, Miss M. Ralph. From Christchurch—Mrs. ■F. Anderson, Miss P. E. Anderson, Mrs. E. A. M..' Luxford, Miss G: V. Luxford, Mrs. to. A. T. Rarikine,' Mrs. R. M. -Wheeled and 2 children. From Dunedin—R. C. Brian, Mrs. C. F. Herbert, Miss E. Herbert, F. R. Manning, Miss H. E. Manning, Sir James Mills. ;

Secimd saloon: From .'Christchvirch —Miss 6. M. Arido.rson, Miss H. B. i Brown; Alrs.,Al. M. Corldll, Mrs. M. V. ITepwnrt!.' and 2 children, Misses M. and E. E. Maude. Mrs. A. , E. Piper, Miss D. B.- Reynolds. From Auckland—Miss E. B. Brookfielcl, Mrs. E: 11. K. -Brooks, Mrs. C. M. Glasson. Sirs. H. Hall, 'Mrs. Dr. N. P. Keller, Miss E. Keller, Mrs. H. H. Mitchell, Miss 'M. H. Moses, Miss TT.'M. Moses, Airs. \E. L. Moses, Mrs. D. L. Mulcan, Sirs. E. M. Raborne. Miss B. Robertson. Mrs. A. M. Sharland, Miss .T. G. Wvnward, R. Young. From Nelson —Miss C. G- Coshcy, Mis's R. Palmer.' From Napier—Master T. Prestou, Mrs. if. Tavlor. Miss E. D. Taylor. W. Wrench. From Gisbprne,— Jfiss L. E. Speedv. Mrs.- E. M, and Misses N. G and jr. Twisflcton. F'-vi Dunedin—Geo. Whiffon. Emm ,W"1liiiirton —Miss, G. Atkinson, Afiss ?f. Brennan. Mrs. B. R Browiv Mrs. C. 0. Butt, P.. Bvarcl. Mrs. By'ird. Mnstpr Byard. Miss Bvard. Mrs. R. De Berlin, Mrs. L. W. Dendv. Miss N. Dir.nj;. Mvs. E. Fnrreli: Miss E. Gash, Miss M. V. Oiitlnridcro. Mrs. AT., A. Hart, Air'. V. E. Herbert,.Mrs. A. 0. •Tones. Mrs. M. Master A. T.en. Afrs. E. Afarsdep, ?/Irs. M. Afarsden. 'Miss E, M. Madden. Mrs: P. Marshall. Miss H. M. Marshal!, Miss S. G. Marshall, Miss R. Mnrshnll. Mrs. A. Afasefieltl. Alios M.yMucWj. Afrs. ■A. R. B. M'KensiV Airs. T. A. Af'Kibbin, Afrs. E Parkin. W." P. Petty. ATiss P. Smith. Rev. E: .T. Sola. Afrs. Snl:i, Afnstcr H.'S. Sola.. AFaster F Solo.. Master N. G,' Sola, Mir. E. Sfoeker, Af'ss If. Stoeker. Mir-!< F. Twcedie, Afrs. A. TTpfipld, Gen, Whif- ; fen, Woi. 'White, Mrs. E. White! Alas-,

ter S. White, Miss I. White, A.' 11.I 1 . •Wood.

Third. Class.—From Auckland—Miss M. Atherton, Mrs. F. E.'Davis and child, Mrs. E. Evans and child, Mfesdarnes K. 11. and E.- and Misses D. and J. Daunt, Miss M. E. Hanlon, Mrs. A. E. Holland, Miss F. M. Price, Miss 8.. Quisted, 11. Tobiasson, Mrs. D.' "Williamson. From Palmerston North —Mrs. A. F. Copeland. From New Plymouth—Miss L. Fisher, Misses F. and E. Tate. From Dunedin —Mrs. F. J. Cotton, and three children, J. W. Cotton, Miss M. H. M. Davidson, Mrs. E. Matliewson. From Christchurch — T. Fulford, J. M'Gibbon, Miss E. Beid, Miss A. and Mrs. H. .Reid, Miss A. and Mrs. H: Ileid. From Gisbornc —Mrs. E. Dye. From Napier—Miss P. Jones. From Westport—Mrs. S. Mathieson, Miss E. Maihieson. , From AVanganui —Airs. S. A. and Miss K. Ileid. From Wellington—Miss M. Allen, E. T. Austin, T. Barnes, Mrs. E. H. S. Barrow-, man, J. Barrowman, Miss A. G. Barrowman, B-. Barton, Jas. Bell, Mrs. M. Bell and child, Miss J. S. Benton, Bryden, Mrs. M. Bryden, Mfss B. Bryden, Mrs. M. J. Carnell, Miss M. E. Carr,' T. Chalmers, Miss Chalmers, S. J. Chatton, Miss A. Coffoy, Mrs. M. Cook, Mrs. E. Costigan, Miss Costigan, Mrs. E. G. Cunningham, C. Dawson, W. H. Dees, W. J. Douglas, Mrs. M, Ferris and child,.A. Fieldsend, Miss Gartland, Miss M. Gartland, Mrs. M. Godolphin, J. F. Guinnane, Mrs. W. Guinnane, G. H. Cupwell, Mrs. T. Cupwell, Mrs. E. Hill and three children, Mrs. F. Hyde, Mrs. K. F. Hands, T. C. Hewitt, Mrs. Hewitt, T. Hewitt, G. Hewitt, A. Hinton, Mrs. M. Holmes, Mrs. M. Holmes, Mrs. D. Johnson, C. H. Knight, Mrs. Knight, Miss L. Knight, Mrs. M. B. Long, W. A. Maitland, Mrs. A. M. Maitland, D. Matheson, Mrs. L. Medhurst, Mrs. E. Morgan and child, Miss P. Morgan, P. C. Mortimer and child; Mrs. Mortimer, Miss M. Mullens, Mrs. E. M'Glone and child, Miss A. Noble, B. Noble, Paterson, Mrs. C. Paterson, Mi's. 12. Phillips and- thre_e ohildren, Mrs. J. F. Poulter and two children, G. Bouy, Mrs. E. F. Bouy and five children, Master E. Sanger, Master A. Sanger, Mre. J. G. Scutts and five children, Mrs. C. L. M. Shuttle," Miss C. M. P. Shuttle, Miss G. P.'W. Shuttle, Miss M. Smith, Mrs... C. C. Thompson, Mrs. M. Horn, Mrs.A. Wakefield,_ Master F. Ware, Mrs. F. A. Ware, Miss L. Ware, Mrs. Wedgewood, Mrs.'D. Weeks, Miss Weeks.

THE TORPEDOED OTAKI SHIP'S OFFICERS WHO ARE NOW PRISONERS. By Telegraph—Pres3 Association. ChristoHureh, March 26. The New Zealand Shipping Company supplies the following. list of the Otaii's officers, who are now prisoners of war in Germany:— Commander, Captain L. G. Silba; chief officer, P.* Si. M'Leod; second, L..H. Woods; third, E. F.-Pattenden; fourth, R. Angell. Chief engineer, G. W. Wilson; second, W. A. Thomson; third, A. H. Little; fourth, 11. Somerville; fifth, J. Clyne; sixth, L. Smart. Refrigerating ■ engineer, W. Legall;' second refrigerating engineer, C. S. Lancaster. Chief steward, F. J. Wills; Midshipman, B. L. Kilner. - '