A MAMMOTH STEAMER.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 398, 24 April 1902, Page 2

A MAMMOTH STEAMER.

THE ATHENIC.

At tiie invitation of the Shaw-Savill md Albion Companv and Messrs Common, Shelton and Co., per Mr F. J. Shelton, a party of ladies and gentlemen yesterday paid a visit io the Athenic, the largest steamer that has yet visited the port of Gisborne. As it fairly heavy sea had been lashed up during the afternoon, some doubt was expressed as to whether the party would lie able to get aboard, hut as it proved that was done without any discomfort, the parly going out by the Waihi (Captain Neal). The commanuvr °f the Athenic, Captain Kempson, K.N.R., had come ashore, and returnwith the’party, among whom were —I he Mayor (Mr J. Townley), County Chairman (Air Jas. Macfarlane), Messrs Shelton, Eliott, Bright, Fyke Syines, Richards, Id. j. chrisp. U\ Chrisp, J. B. Kells, IT. D. Parker, M. Stopford, Clare, Partridge, Lyttieton, and Grant ; Captain Tucker, also Mrs DeLautour, Mrs Syines, Miss U’own!ey, Miss Bright, and other ladies. On ari i\al at the side of the Treat steamer it was soon seen how awkward it would have been to have had anything in the shape of excursions. Captain Kempson informed our representative that lie would have been very pleased if it could have been arranged to give tiie people generally a chance oi visiting the vessel, but the transhipping conditions would have been very inconvenient. Tiie great vessel towers high above the Waihi, and though the facilities are good, embarking and disembarkation are necessarily- slow. Once aboard .the steamer the visitors were taken in hand by Captain Kempson and the other officers, and were shown over tiie vessel. Everyone was naturally delighted, and could well understand how the vessel had been termed a “ floating palace.” The Athenic, which is now on her maiden trip to this colony, is the first of three large twin-screw steamers which are being built by Messrs Harland and Wolff for the service between London and New Zealand. Her dimensions are :-GLength extreme, 520 feet; 8.P,, 500 feet; breadth, 63 ft ; depth, 49’ feet; with gross registered tonnage, 12,234 tons. She has exceptionally comfortable accommodation for about 100 first saloon, 100 second saloon, and nearly 200 third-class passengers, apd should prove a great favorite with the travelling public. The first-class dining saloon is in the fore end of a large deck house on the upper deck, and is tastefully decorated with white and gold panels in satin wood framing. The library, which is immediately above the saloon, is a spacious apartment, about 10 feet high, fitted with comfortable lounges and chairs, and a large bookcase containing a well selected assortment of hooks. .The room is decorated in carved oak, and is surmounted with an ornamental skylight. The floor is laid with parquetry.; The first saloon smoke room is upon the same deck as the library, hut further aft, and is decorated in embossed leather with mahogany furniture. Ample' mechanical ventilation is provided. The flooring is of rubber tiling. In the second class accommodation the dining saloon is a handsome apartment, decorated in polished hard wood. There is also a comfortable library and smoke room. The floor here is also laid with rubber tiling. The third class accommodation is spacious and most comfortably fitted in separate rooins, having two, four, and six berths each. The large dining saloon, situated at the after end, i's furbished with separate revolving chairs. There are also provided third class library and smoke room, tastefully decorated; The* Athenic has large cargo capacity, with ample appljapces of the latest and most approved type. Refrigerating apparatus and chambers have been fitted for' the carrying of about 100,000 carcases of sheep, The ’(ween decks are filso fitted with the necessary arrangements for carrying fruit and dairy produce. The refrigerating plant is on the carbonic acid system, and the cooling effect is transmitted to the holds by menus of brine circulating through coils of pipes. ' Tiie Atjipnic is lighted throughout by electricity. ' The machinery,. which has been constructed in Messrs I-larlapcj and Wolff’s Engine Works, consists of two sets pf quadruple expansion engines, each having cylinders 22-in, 31Ain, -1 Gin, and OGin by 4.Biii. stroke, and is calculated to give an ocean speed exceeding 12 knots an hour, She is fitted with bilge keels to insure increased steadiness at sea. After the tour of inspection of the vessel had been completed the visitors were hospitably entertained by Captain Kempson,

His Worship the Mayor proposed the health ol' Captain Kempson, R.N.R., and his-“ beautiful and majestic vessel, the Athenic.” On former occasions, he said, they had met -together on large vessels that- bad visited the port, each one being greater than the other, and now this vessel eclipsed them all in magnificence, being the largest vessel that had visited New Zealand waters. He (the Mayor) knew that there was a great deal of misapprehension as to the port. When the Penguin had come to make a survet the eaplaill had been under the impression that he would have It? out ftom the bay every night, but*he found that during the-three or four wepks that he was here lie wits able '■ to pursue the work expeditiously, and ! did not lose a day. It was very encouraging to see such a vessel as the Athenic visiting the port. It showed that the district was growing, and be hoped that the vessel would nave quick despatch and a good voyage, and that they would many times have a visit from Captain Kempson and the splendid vessel he commanded. (Applause.) The toast was 1 honored with enthusiasm, and in reply Captain' KeliipSpp thanked the Mayor for his kindly references. From what he had seen lie could say that Poverty Bay was a great ’ deal better than many other ports in New Zealand. The draught of bis vessel made it necessary to lie out some distance, but that only made a matter of five minutes or so in the trips of the lighters. One thing the people should make an effort to do, and that was to give the greatest despatch in the handling of cargo, (The Mayor said that was only a question of a large plant). To him it seemed to be only a question of working a little longer. A wait of a couple of hours made a big difference to such a vessel, and they should try and obviate’any'delay.- He was very pleased at the visit that day, and hoped that he would again call in at the port. (Applause), 011 leaving the vessel hearty cheers were given for Captain Kempson and he officers.

As the Waihi neared the wharf again the Mayor, 011 behalf of those who bad gone out, thanked Mr Shelton for the opportunity afforded to view the splendid ocean liner..

In reply Mr Shelton said that the visit of the Athenic showed that the conditions at the port for the working of sbeepfarmers’ and country cargo were among the best in New Zealand ; it was the cargo from the country and

not so much the cargo of townspeople that they had to concern themselves about. There were unly three places

in the colony that the Athenic could go alongside. At Auckland she could go alongside half-loaded ; at Lyttelton she could only go alongside part load-

ed ; at Wellington she could go alongside fully loaded, but on returning would- lie in the . stream to take in coal. Let them" consider what was the cheapest way to get the .cargo to the steamer, and lie claimed that our port was among tiie best in New Zealand for dealing with the sheeptarmers’ and enuptry cargo, The boats could lie in deep water, and the cargo could be handled with despatch. (Applause). The Athenic leaves for Napier shortly filter noon to-day.