THE MONOWAI

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 121, 24 May 1937, Page 11

THE MONOWAI

THOROUGH OVERHAUL

TO RELIEVE AORANGI

After lying idle for nearly a year at Auckland the Union' Steam Ship Company's 11,000-ton liner Monowai will be ready for sea within a fortryght. For some weeks past workmen have been engaged on the task of reconditioning the ship after her long period of inactivity, and on Thursday the vessel "came out of dock, where over 80 tons of marine growth were scraped from her hull, says an Auckland exchange. The Monowai will sail from Auckland on June 4 to take the place of the Aorangi, which is to be withdrawn from the Vancouver mail service for one round trip to enable a damaged crankshaft, to be replaced. As she lay at the Western Wharf on Friday with clean new paintwork gleaming in the sun, the Monowai was quite the smartest vessel in port. Both her exterior and interior appearance have received careful attention to bring it up to the standard expected of a trans-Pacific mail vessel, and, given fine weather, it is expected that the work will be completed within a few days. No part of the ship, from the crew's quarters in the forecastle to the cabin class saloon aft, has been neglected and from bridge to refrigerating chambers well below decks the thorough work of the renovators is evident. THE PAINTERS' TASK. The smell of new paint-fresh in.his nostrils, a visitor to the ship was conducted along the promenade deck where fire hydrants were being tested. Painters were busy putting the finishing touches on ledges arid dobrs with spotless white paint, while" others pro-, vided the required contrast as theytouched up brasswork or applied a dab of red to a fire plug. ■•■•■■■ Below decks gleaming new paint was in evidence everywhere. Every cabin in both cabin and first classes has been reconditioned. In de luxe cabins light' pastel shades \ picked out with gold make a particularly pleasing colour scheme, while, the gilt fittings in every cabin emphasise the thorough nature of the renovators' work. The dining saloons and recreation rooms also present a new and attractive appearance. Panelling and woodwork have been polished, carpets taken up and cleaned, and carved woodwork repainted. Much of the work was carried out by skilled mat who specialise in decorative work of this description and the effect compares more than favourably with the interior of some of the more palatial hotels. Not only the appearance of the ship has been attended to, however. Equipment of all descriptions has been overhauled and tested. The ship's boats have been lowered from the davits, electrical gear has been tested, and the engines are receiving constant.attention. Soon the Monowai will be taken down the harbour for compass adjusting, her crew will be signed on, and the stewards will make the final preparations to the interior accommodaAlready the ship has been rehabilitated, as it were, from the ranks of the unemployed, and to workers returning city-wards across the western viaduct she looks every inch the proud mail vessel.