THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.

Evening Star, Issue 4042, 9 February 1876, Page 2

THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.

Yesterday and to-day the citizens of Dunedin have had the opportunity, which was largely availed of, of inspecting one of the finest specimens of naval architecture that haa ever c ist anchor iu Otago Ha bor. The descriptions of the City of San Francisco, which have appeared in these columns from rime to time, full as they were, convey after all a very famtulea of the xoagnific nt.ajip ititments of the ship. To use a hackneyed expr sslon; she must pe seen to be appreciated We have to say ■ that our represent ttive received the utmost ittention and courtesy—as indeed does, every visitor—from the officers of tile ship, who spare theme Ives no trouble to the visitors over the ship, and to, explain to them every thing that is novel or wor.hy of explanation. We take the following from the ‘ Southern Cross’ When the gangway is crossed, the visitor has the choice of mounting the hurricane deck or of entermg the saloon. The hurricane deck Is flush fore-ana-aft and -floored with zinc • there is no gear lying about or inconvenience of any.kind ; and a large awning is stretched aft, and forms a cool resting place when the passenger is tired of promenading. The steering apparatus, which' is wroeedin?ly powerful, is situated in the fore part of tho ship, forward of the chart-room. The captain and ms officers’ state-rooms are also on this deck, and , ore beautifully fitted up, that of the captain iu par- . ticulor being fitted up In a manner little abort of gorgeous. The main deck, is devoted to the purposes of the saloon and the sleeping accommodation of the ' pa 8 mgers. Everything here is on the grandest scale. If there is any brass work its brightness dazzles • you; the furniture is highly polished, and of expensive materials; the panels of the doors and sides of the saloon, 11 social hall," and passages ora beautifully and tastefully made of different woods, in which walnut, bird’s-eye maple, and fancy woods arc blended wit.li great taste, the cfl’ect being more to convey the impression of a grandee’s apartincuts than the ordinary accommodation afforded by. the Pacific Mail Company’s s.s. City of San Francisco. On the same deck also space is devoted to the well, it is not a galley kitchen, iu which four colored individuals prepare the . viands for the different • meals, and . near by is to be found a mess-room, the quarters of the stewards, waiters (who ore mostly . Chinese), the butcher, porter, &c., and further forward "is ft goodly array of live stock, including bullocks, sheep, Jigs, and poultry, with the requisite provender for each in his kind. Here also is a very powerful steam winch and machinery for paying out and taking iu the .anchor cables, to say nothing. v>f a signal gun of rather formidable proportions. The 'tween decks are devoted to the quarters of the crew and some of the passengers, but the large .• amount of room taken by the > engines cuts off the vessel as it were in turn direction. We have omitted the lavatorial department which.is iu the main deck with the usual conveniences,which occur at intervals in the long corridors on each' side of the steamer. There is a capital bath-room. Amongst the provisions for combatting with the elements, should misfortune overtake the* vessel, are a couple of llfe-rafts, which Captain Lachlan obligingly exhibited to the visitors yesterday. These rafts are made of gutta-percha cased in oani . vas, and ore known as Perry’s patent. They possess air-tight compartments, into which, the air is pumped in an almost incredibly short space of rime. The rafts are capable when inflated of holding be- . twpen fifty and sixty persona each.and ore fitted with oars, rowlocks, seats, &o. ■ When not in use' they ate reduced to a very small compass. In case of ship- . wreck they ore invaluable. The patentee, we learn,', crossed the Atlantic in one of these rafts, occupying forty-two days on the passage. As a means of saving life at sea, should dire necessity compel, these rafts would be found invaluable. A descent into the engine-room is easily accomplished, and the mind of the spectator, who does not understand, or understands but little about. machinery, is at, once struck with the ponderous parts which complete, the whole. And yet the motive-power is at the mercy of almost a mere tonch. The expression so hackneyed, “ a child could set her going,” savors perhaps a .little too much of the exaggerative, but if this is not the actual case, it is very nearly so. To descend to the bottom of various flights of steps, and observe the massive piston rods, 9in in diameter, rise and fall with Scarcely a. sound, while" the steam escaping in a tiny jet from some little vent, indicates the power that causes the floating.palace to glide safely and securely over the ocean, is eo become filled with wonderment that" the ingenuity of man should have been able to contrive and fit together in the most delicate mn.wm|» the pouderous beams and massive plates, the'huge crank shaft, the—in fact, the wheels within wheels which go to compose what is called the engines.