THE STEAMSHIP AUSTRALIA.

Evening Star, Issue 4129, 22 May 1876, Page 3

THE STEAMSHIP AUSTRALIA.

On Thursday this fine vessel—the latest addition to the Pacific and Australian Company’s fleet—will grace the waters of Port Chalmers, when she is sure to attract no end of visitors. &he is as different in appearance from the American-built boats-the City of San Francisco, City of New York, and City of Sydney—as it is possible to imagine. While the latter have great beam compared with length (43ft to 360 ft) and are very high out of the water, the Scotch-built boats are very long, low, and narrow, their length being 376 ft by 37ft beam. Again, the American boats are heavily barque-rigged, showing a large area of square canvas, while the rig of the Australia is most peculiar, nominally that of a four-masted schooner, but with very light spars, each of the four masts carrying a jib-headed triangular-shaped trysail, running up to the masthead, and a staygail, thus making a continuous chain of small fore and aft sails, extending the entire length of the ship. The jib runs down to the stem, which is straight and without any bowspit. The foremast and mainmast, which are placed forward of the funnel, are larger than the mizen and jigger masts, and carry light square topsails and courses. Each mast is all in one piece, like those of the Arawata. It will be recollected that the Australia on her maiden voyage from London to Melbourne made the quickest passage on record, from anchorage at Plymouth to anchorage at Port Phillip being done in forty-three days nine hours. This included all detentions, which were one day eight hours at St. Vincent, coaling, and ten hours for screwing up and fixing hydraulic gear. The distance run in the time was 12,009 miles, which gives her an average rate of a fraction over twelve knots an hours. We append a full description of the ship:— The Australia was built on the Clyde by the celebrated builders Jno. Elder aud Co., specially for ihe Australian and San Francisco mail service. Ihe passenger accommodation and internal aud met arrangements were designed Mr H. H. Hull The engines wore selected by him, and designed by Mi Jamieson, of Elder and Co. In appearance out* sul3 she at once attracts attention. Her lines appear perfection, aud one can hardly conceive shfn GV ™ cli Pl>» yacht. This noble ship is 376 ft long, oSft beam, and 28ft depth of hold, one is fitted with four masts, being square rk i»ed on the two forward masts. On deck and below many improvements have been carried out comparative to other steamers. A spacious poop, which is gained from the main deck, extends in front of the funnel nearly to the House in which the steering apparatus is placed under cover almost at the bow of the ship. This loruis a splendid promenade. Immediately under this, on each aide of a central corridor, there is a scnca of deck slatcrqoraa, each containing a bod, a couc-i, and tho requisite accommodation for washing and dressing. Being flash with the deck, those will form very comfortable sleeping and sitting apartments. Descending by another staircase to the grand saloon, in is found to be very tastefully and appropriately decorated. The main feature and absolute novelty, however, is the large and lofty cenUal rkyaght, Jnch ascends in a somewhat pyramidal fo. m to a groat height, and which imparts an idea of light and air rarely, if ever, found on board the most luxuriously appointed vessels. Ac*t eb d inspection shows- every where a liberal provision for the wants of paesengt rs. The arrangements for cooking, , aro very complete, and in sanitary matters the bathrooms and lavatories are all that could ho clean-.'tl. Her passenger accommodation is equal to the berthing of 104 in the saloon, from twenty-four , s< ? con cabin, and from eighty-five to 100 in the third cabin or steerage. Considering the enormous power requisite to drive such a vessel through the water, the engine-room does not occupy 80] much space as might be expected, but the machinery, though massive, is compactly arranged, and hence the saving of room. The emrues are compound, of 2,400 horse-power indicated, xiipy ara direct acting*, surface condensing, ana have three cylinders, c,hc high pressure and two low pressure, tho former being 45inand the latter C2iu each, witlpa 4ft Sin stroke, me three cylinders have three holders on the a wll >ch give tho vessel a very easy, smooth, and equable motion. There aro two immense boilers, with six furnaces to each, and the a e ventilated. The screw is fourIkfm? 3, 17 ( c in diameter, with 25ft pitch; number of revolutions at full speed, 55. Steam is great request on board, and there are a dozen or il - engines for various purposes. I J, is o-ine by hydraulitjgear. The steamer 18/unply supplied with boats, &c„ for saving lif-j or I property in caja of accident,| *