THE S.S. ATRATO.

Evening Star, Issue 3523, 8 June 1874, Page 2

THE S.S. ATRATO.

The long-expected steamer A.trato arrived at the Heads this morning, and, with no better luck than the other Plymouth ships, had the signal flying for measles on board. Her passage occupied sixty-three days. The Health and Custom Officers proceeded down ia the p.s. Peninsula, the representatives of the Press being kindly invited to accompany them The Atrato was brought up under the charge of Pilot Kelly and anchored in the Quarantine Grouud. Her report is as follows : -Left Plymouth on the sth of April • experienced variable winds till off Fuuchal Koa.is. Madeira ; requested to be reported, and left the island on the 10th ; pas-ed Santa Cruz on the following day; from thence to the equator, which was oro3aed on the 19th in long. 9 49 W., had a fine run ; at noon on the 4th of May anchored in Table Bay.aftera pleasant run of twenty-nine days ; she put in there for coal, but could not get as many aa required by 200 tons ; took in water and left agaia on the afternoon of the 9th ; experienced strong gales, with heavy weather, the greater part of the trip; not having enough coal to steam the whole way, took advantage of the fair wind and disconnected the engines ; arrived at the Heads at 10 a.m. to-day, and steamed up as above. We ascertained that there were now five or six cases of measles on board, all which were v--ry mild. There had been a great many cases during the voyage, but not one of them proved fatal, "and no case* lasted over five or six days. The invalids were separated at first, but on account of there being so many cases, this was found impossible. There were thirty-three deaths on the vayage—six from convulsions from teething, nine from consumption, one from erysipelas, and seventeen infants from croup and congestion of the lungs. There were two other cases of erysipelas, but they are both recovered. The clothes and bedding have been fumigated. The Atrato brings 762 souls, 289 of whom are for 0:ago, and the remainder for Canterbury. The immigrants are uuder the charge of Dr lilliu. There are no invalids among the passengers for Otago, and probably they will be landeil soon. The vessel has been placed in quaran tine, pending the decision of the B>ard of Health.' The Atrato, some years ago, was reckoned one of the finest and fastest vessels in the Royal Mail Company's fleet of West India steamships, and in so far as model and machinery are concerned, she leaves very little to be desired. From the circumstance of jher possessing beautiful lines, quite adapting her for speed under steam or canvas, and moreover, from the fact that she had been recently fitted by Messrs Boulton and Watt with compound engines of the newest and most atiprovedjdesign, it was anticipated that she would accomplish an unusually rapid passage. The Atrato has an imposing appearance, and some idea ©f her size may be formed from the fact that she is larger than the largest of the P. and 0. Company's steamers going to Melbourne. She is a Clyde-built vessel, barque rigged, and ranks in the highest classification at Lloyd'B, and her dimensions are as follows:—Length, 335 ft 9in ; beam, 42ft 4in; and depth ot hold, 34ft Gin. She is fitted with compound engines, of 350 horse-power nominal, but capable, of course, of going to a much higher figure. Her boilers are three in number, with four furnaces in each, fed at both ends, and the consumption of coal is from 22 tons to 25 tons daily. The diameter of her cylinders is 90in and 57in respectively, and her screw is somewhat formidable iu size. The engine-room, which evidently has not been sacrificed for want of space, is nearly 60ft iu length, and is in beautiful order. The \ trato is essentially a passenger ship, and her accommodation is of the highest order. ['he saloon is the width of the vessel, something similar to that of the ss. Royal Standard, and with this disposition Bhe can comfortably seat 100 passengers at the halfdozen tables which traverse the apartment. Her 'tween decks are lofty and well ventilated, and the discernment of the authorities i:i selecting-her as a vessel for the conveyance of immigrants is at once apparent on aexamination of her berthing accommodation. The .a trato is owned by Messrs John Morrison and Co., of London, and is commanded by Captain J. B. Husband.