THE UNION COMPANY'S NBW STEAMBOATS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 73, 13 May 1881, Page 2

THE UNION COMPANY'S NBW STEAMBOATS.

The Union S.S. Company hare sold the 8.8. Wellington to an Auckland shipowner, who purposes patting her in the Bay of Islands trade, where the Company guarantees not to oppose the purchaser of the old favourite. The Company aro about to add three more vessels to their fleet. One, the Manipori, is to be of 2000 tons burthen (200 tons larger than the Rotomahana), of the following dimensions : — Length, 285ffc., beam 36ft; depth of hold, 35ft. The principal feature of this steamer is the reversal of the usual positons of passengers and crew; indeed the position of the saloon accommodation in the Manipori is singular to herself. Probably, in no ctLer steamer in the colonies is the saloon accomodatioH to be found so to speak, "chock in the eyes of her." And yet< dt< ' will be so in the Manipori. The saloon accommodation is abaft' the fdrehatohway. Abaft the 1 latter is the saloon — a grand apartment — occupying the whole beam of the vessel, and forward 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 the deck, the la^er abaft the former. In the saloon there are berths for 160 passengers. Theq there will be private sitting rooms and state rooms and an elaborately-fitted-up ladies' cabin. There ate two bath rooms for gentlemen and one for ladies. The steerage accommodation is abaft the engine department, jnst forward of the quarters for the crew,' which are right aft. This, it is said, will bo far superior to anything of the kind on any colonial steamer afloat. There will be open poop aft for the use of steerage passengers. Every care has been taken in the draughting to make this part of the ship as comfortable as possible. The steerage will have berthing room for 240 persons. Besides the ordinary main cabin, conmtiapfpttfof theuse-of families are to be Duilt, and also two large and well-ventil-ated ladies' cabins. The Manipori is guarteed by contract to steam 14 knots on her trial' trip. She will have two large boilers lined, with fltqelr compound engine, and all the^lateatiinprovements, the high pressure; cylinder being 40 inches in. diameter, and the low presaure^one 70 inohes, with a 48 inch stroke. She is being built by Messrs Benney and Coi, of the Clyde, upon lires. very similar to those of the Rotomahana She will be a straight stem boat, and rigged a* 4 brigantine. The second bo^V^theKknieri— intended for the West Coast trade, mil be 116 feet long, 14 feat .bdHßttad 19 to o»rry $QO tons of coal on a draught of nine feet. To ensure ertya-yhjaoyancy, the material of her construction wiU be.steeL The Kanieri will be a ten-knot' boat, and wiU be provided wi#i bfgl) clafS 1 , aocommodation for some 40 v paajsagera in .the saloon and as many in the steerage. The Company is also having a third steamer, but of much smaller size. . hxntk to ran in' the trade between Tattranga and OpotikL *