WANGANELLA ARRIVES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 12, 16 January 1933, Page 8

WANGANELLA ARRIVES

NEW MOTOR LINER

FINE-WEATHER VOYAGE

Excellent weather has so far accompanied the Huddart Parker Company's new intercolonial motor ship Wanganella which arrived at Wellington at 2.10 a.m. to-day from Sydney. Fine weather prevailed throughout her re-cord-breaking trip from to Sydney via the Suez Canal, and the Tasman crossing was described as one of the finest for years. The only blemish, in the weather was the thick mist which hung about the entrance to the harbour during yesterday and part of last night. Had it not been for the mist the Wanganella would probably have anchored in the stream about 9.30 o'clock last night. , ' With Captain G. B. Bates, late of the Westralia, in command, the Wanganella, covered the distance from Belfast to Sydney in 31 days. She left at midnj»t on 29th November, and arrivedairSydney at noon on 31st December, haying made the trip at an average speed of 16 knots. The average speed across the Tasman was also about 16 knots, although 17 knot.s was exceeded at 'times. The ship is not being pressed until her engines have been run in, but it is expected that she will be capable of 18 knots or over.

Although she has not yet had an experience of heavy weather, the Wanganella has impressed her officers very favourably with her sea-going qualities. "She is.a wonderful sea boat," a "Post" reporter was told. ."She is very steady in the water, and there is practically no vibration."

The Wanganella has already been fully described in "The Post," but a noteworthy feature is the complete navigating equipment, which includes a patent helm indicator, an electric echo depth-sounding apparatus, a draft indicator, and other devices intended to facilitate the navigator's work. The ship carried a big list of passengers, many of whom, will be making the round trip, including the excursion to Milford Sound, on which she was scheduled, to leave at 4 p.m. to-day, returning on Friday morning. .