NEW VESSEL FOR THE UNION COMPANY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2235, 27 April 1881, Page 3

NEW VESSEL FOR THE UNION COMPANY.

Through the courtesy of Mr James Mills, general manager of the Union Steamship Company, wo were yesterday shown the plans of another splendid steamer to be added to the already fine fleet of steamers this Company possess. The Manipori—for such will be her name, taken from a lake in the interior of the Middle Island—will be a magnificent boat of close on 2000 tons burthen, of the following dimensions : —Length, 285 ft 5 beam, 36fb ; depth of hold, 35ft. The principal feature of this steamer is the reversal of the usual positions of passengers and crews ; indeed, the position of the saloon accommodation in the Manipori is singular to herself. In no other steamer in the colonies that wo know of is the saloon accommodation to be found so to speak—“chock in the eyes of her.” And yet it will be so in the Manipori. The saloon accommodation is abaft the forebatchway. Abaft the latter is the saloon—a grand apartment, occupying the whole beam of the vessel—and forwards of it on each side are sleeping compartments, rooms, and other offices. In connection with the saloon accommodation are a smoking-room and a social hall on deck, the latter abaft the former. In the saloon there are bertha for 150 passengers. Then there will bo private sittingrooms and staterooms and an elaborately fitted up ladies’ cabin. There are two bathrooms for gentlemen and one for ladies. The steerage accommodation is abaft the engine department, and just forward of the quarters for the crew, which are right aft. It will bo far superior to anything of the kind on any colonial steamer afloat. There will bo an open poop aft for the use of steerage passengers. Every care has been taken in the drafting to make this part of the ship as comfortable as possible. The steerage will have berthing room for 240 persons. Besides tho ordinary main cabin compartments for the use of families are to bo built, also two largo and woll ventilatod ladies’ cabins. The Manipori is guaranteed by contract to steam 14 knots on her trial trip. She will have two large double boilers lined with steel; compound engine, with all tho latest improvements, the high pressure cylinder being 40 inches in diameter, and the low - pressure one 70 inches, with a 48 inch stroke. She is being built by Messrs Denny and Co., of the Clyde, upon lines very similar to those of that queen of steamers, the Rotomahana. Tho two vessels will bo, in fact, much of a size, the Manipori having the advantage of about a couple of hundred tons and about a foot in beam. She will be a straight-stem boat, and rigged as a brigantine. We cannot too highly commend the enterprise of the Union Steamship Company in providing such magnificent steamers for tho colonial trade. With the view of pushing trade on tho West Coast of the Middle Island, tho companyaro Laving a steamer, to be named the Kanieri, built also by Messrs Denny and Co. She will be 116 feet long, 14 feet beam, and is to carry 300 tons of coal on a draught of 9 foot. To ensure extra buoyancy, the material of her construction will be tteol. The Kanieri will bo a ten-knot boat, and will bo provided with high-class accommodation for forty passengers in the sa oon and as many in the steerage. She promisee to be just the kind of steamer for tho West Coast trade. Tho company are also having a third steamer, but of much smaller size, built to run in the trade between Taurangn and Opotiki.