LAUNCH OF A WHITE STAR LINER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3646, 20 March 1883, Page 4

LAUNCH OF A WHITE STAR LINER.

The folloAving description of tho lonic, one of the steamers chartered by the Noav Zealand Shipping Company for the direct steam service, is taken from the Belfast AVeekly News. The lonic -will follow the British Queen, sailing from London in April:—The lonic was successfully launched from the shipbuilding yard of Messrs Harland and AVoltf, Queen's Island, on the 13th January, 1883. The new steamer is the first of an order for new vessels Avhich the extensive firm of shipbuilders have on bauds, as the Doric will leave the stocks in the coming month. The general appearance of the lonic embraces all the symmetrical characteristics of the avcll known vessels of the line ; having a graceful, yacht-like hull, Avith ample beam, four masts, square-rigged on three, thus providing effective sail power, in the event of any breakdown of the machinery, fully equal to thai of it firstclass sailing ship. Like her sisters, the Britannic aud Germanic, she lias turtle backs both forward and aft, Avhich form an excellent shelter in wet and stormy weather for the steerage passengers. The captain's cabin is immediately adjoining the wheelhouse and bridge, so that he is, practically speaking, always at his post of duty. The officers are quartered by themselves in a deck-house on the upper deck forward, convenient to their work aud quite apart from the passengers, so that thcrcis nothing to interfere Avith their needful rest or the efficient execution of their responsible duties. The steerage accommodation is in three sections, approached by separate entrances, and provided with separate lavalories, with, an ample water supply, kept in constant circulation by a pulsoiucter pump. The single men are all quartered in flic inaiu ;i.iid lower docks forward, and between them and flic married people there is the saloon accommodation and engine.' .space. The single women arc still further aft, and have, their quarters entirely to themselves, ancl as they -will be iv charge of experienced matrons, and a fully qualified surgeon, they will be thoroughly well -iircel for iv every respect. An hospital replete with every requirement is provided for each section, and two on deck for infectious cases. The; steerage is provided ivith a. pantry, from Avhich the passengers can be supplied Avith tea aud coffee made on the same principle as in the saloon ; and for the Avomen who prefer to make their own tea there is an ample supply of teapots aud hot Avater: nor will the invalid and seasick passengers be lost sight of, the rule of the company being to provide them freely with beef tea, chicken broth ancl arrowroot. The whole upper eleck, fore and aft, forms a splendid promenade for the steerage passengers, the saloon passengers having a i-peciid separate deck above this again. The accommodation for saloon passengers will be of the; most unique and perfect description. If is situated amidships, immediately forward of the engines and boilers, hi the epiietest aud best part of the ship. The saloon, or dining-room, is approached by a very handsome entrance hall from the upper dock, panelled Avith Avalnut and maple, and from it there is access to the silicon deck, already alluded to, by an easy double staircase, Avith bronze and mahogany balustradiiig. The saloon is beautifully and artistically decorated, aud will form a most charming apartment. AVhen complete, the panelling will have tho appearance of embossed leather. and the relievos will be delicately and banuoniously coluuvod, so as to give- a most novel i.ji'd pha.sinrr impression. The sofa-; :>t the iiiij.-. i'-dl bo uphul-1e.e.l iii ;l , H 1»1.,i.d shade of rid' velvet, h>.A"vio'>;J}- ':o!..lW|. il b!c. The ladies' cabin and the smoking-room arc on the saloon deck, and will be models of Artistic, decoratiuu aud i'mnishinj;. [The

sleeping cabins -will be on the main deck— large, airy, perfectly ventilated, ancl lightly and elegantly furnished. Four bath-rooms and lavatories beautifully tiled aud arranged, Avill be provided for the convenience of saloon passengers, and in this respect the lonic will fairly claim to be unequalled either on land or sea. The ship is intended to be illuminated throughout by ii system of electric lighting. Improvements'iu this respect have been effected so that the light will be exceedingly soft and steady. The lonic is divided into eight Avatertight compartments, any of winch may be penetrated Avithout seriously imperilling tho vessel's safety, and it may be truly said no vessel afloat Avill excel her in efficienoy and perfection of arrangement in this respect. The bulkhead Avater-tight doors are so nine]) approved of that they are being adopted in Her Majesty's navy as something infinitely superior to the old system of bulkhead openings. The provisions against fire tiro most.complete, and an outbreak m any section of the ship can at once be brought into subjection through the agency of both steam and Avater. The life-saving appliances are also of the most approved order. Two largo life rafts are stowed on Hie deck houses forward, ready for immediate use, and ei_-ht large lifeboats hang in their davits, Avith fittings complete and ready for service on the shortest notice. The lonic is built of mild steel, the cluctle qualities of AA-hich insures the maximum of strength and durability. Her dimensions are---Length. 11 Oft. breadth, 41ft.; depth, and the gross register tonnage, 4700 tons. She hiis two double cylinderedengines of 500 horse power, also built by Messrs Harland and AVolff, the steam for Avhich is supplied from three elliptical boilers, Avorking at an initial pressure of OOlhs to the square inch, but tested by the Board of Trade to double that pressure, and capable of bearinpr even much greater pressure than, the maximum official requirement. The crank shafts are of steel, and so constructed that the risk of a breakdown is rendered a remote contingency, the more so as the en-rines are two * distinct -and complete machines, capable of being disconnected and worked separately at a reduced sliced. She is steered amidships by steam, and has in addition to the approved ordinary compasses and sounding appliances. -Sir AVilliam Thompson's patent compasses and sounding machine. Special precautions have been taken for an effective look-out, a bridge forward being provided for the men engaged in that important duty. Ahighly satisfactly feature avus noticeable in connection Avith the launch. The fittings Avere in a much more advanced condition than is usual when vessels are first floated. The deck accordingly did not present the appearance of bareness Avliich it docs inordinary instances, and proof was afforded of the fact that the firm can hoav entirely construct aud complete every department of a vessel of a large size. Thc'scrcAV Avas fitted, nnd the furnishings -•enorallv were far advanced towards completion. ' A. short time after the launch the lonic Avas towed into the Abcrcorn Basin.