WAHINE AS OIL BURNER

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1924, Page 1

WAHINE AS OIL BURNER

DUXKDIX, Oc-tolwr 1. Tlic Union .Steam Ship Company’s ferry steamer Waliine, widely known as one of the fastest and best-appoin-ted vessels trading in Australasian Witters, is now beiiifi eoitverletl into nit oil-hunter aL I’m l ('liit.ltiters. The Waliine, in addition, is reveiviup; an extensive overlinnl. She was withdrawn from the Lyttelton-Wellington servne shortly lcfoto the winter season set in, and during the interval it Imi j'c' number of tradesmen, representino many hraliehes, have henn cnt'itned on the work of renovation. and conversion. It is a hie; luidcrluldiio to. convert it e<lil-htirninj; stieamiir 'inl/o ;tn oilburner, and the fact that the work is home tarried out hy the Port Chalmers Marine lleniiir Works proves that such contracts can he carried out as successfully as in any port in .Vustialnsia. The work of couvertinp; the Waliine is heinjj pushed tot as rapidly as possible so its to eitiihle the ship' to he ready to resume her summer running in tho Jerry service at the appointed time.

As a coaMiunmr the Wahinc Mas noted for her speed, and when on war service in the North Sea. her speed Mas a revelation to many, as she steamed over 20 knots, when engaged on special and dangerous missions. As an oilburner her speed will probably he increased. The Onion Company, recognising the great advantage of oil-burning passenger ships compared M'itli coal-burners, has had seven of its largest steamers converted within tlm past twelve years. Two of these, the Mnunganui and tho Maori, have been converted at Port Chalmers within the past, two years. mbile the Mararoa. the oldest- passenger steamer in (lie licet, was converted at lYcllington. The other three steamers More converted at- Vancouver and San Francisco. Motor-ships are also coming into

prominence, and the company now owns two such vessels.- These are the luxuriously appointed IS.OOO ton liner lA.orangi, -which is to take up the running ill the Sydliey-Aiieklaud-Vaiu Oliver mail service early in March next, ami the cargo carrier Ilauraki. which is employed in the trade between the Pacific Coast of Xom- Zealand and Australian ports. The oil-burning steamers flying tho I'niou Company’s house flag are as follows: R..M.S. Niagara, 13,-Ho tons; R.M.S. Makura, 807-7 tons; R.M.S. Tahiti. 7898 tons; R.M.S. Alaunganui 7.727 tons;'s.s. AYaliine. -1130 tons; «.*. Maori, 3188 tons: s.s. Mararoa 2-798.