ARRIVAL OF THE S.S. WAKATUIPU.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 232, 21 September 1876, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE S.S. WAKATUIPU.

[Melbourne Argus, September 9.] The presence of this large new steamer in these waters is a notable instance of the enterprise of her owners, the Union Steamship Company of ]S T ew Zealand. .The Wakatipu, like other steamers of the company's fleet, the .Taupo, Hawea, &c, is named after a New Zealaud lake, and for the present she will possess this distinction— that she is the largest steam vessel iu the intercolonial trade. The Wakatipu is essentially an iron vessel— hull, masts, decks, and deckhouses being all of iron; aud, like most modern steamers she is straight stemmed. She lias very fine lines, and although not absolutely "a thing of beauty," it con scarcely be denied that she is very nicely modelled. She has a clipper entrance, aud a clean delivery, ancl the result of the voyage out shows that she eau travel. The builders ave Messrs William Denny and Brothers, of Dumbarton, from whoseyard she was launched in May last, and her dimensions are as follows:—Length over all, 305ffc ; length of keel, 29uft; beam, 33ft; and depth of hold, 25ft, giving her a gross measurement of 1,796 tons, or without engine space, of 1,127---tons. In her internal accommodation the Wakatipu resembles in many respects the steamers Australia and Zealandia, but of course on a reduced scale. The saloon is forward, and the cabin for steerage passengers is aft, and this arrangement it is believed will answer admirably. The dining saloon is fche full width of the vessel, the sleeping accommodation being separate, after the style of the St. Osyth and Whampoa, and no expense has been spared with regard to the . fitting up. Plenty of light and ventilation are also secured by a large cupola over the saloon. On deck there are many conveniences for the comfort of passengers, including a reading-room or lounge at the spacious companion leading to the saloon, and also a smoking-room. Ample provision has been made for the berthing of forty-two passengers, and the ladies' saloon is very elegantly lilted up and furnished. The steerage is arranged for the berthing of fifty-two passengers, and the apartment certainly is so well laid out, that it ought to prove attractive to voyagers between the colonies who travel second-class. The steamer is steered from the bridge, and she is said to he very easily handled. Ample promenade space for passengers is provided over the houses on deck, in which are the captain's and officers' quarters. j,There is a sufficiency of boats on board in case of emergency, and all are provided with Douglas's patent lowering apparaI tus, by which all danger of upsetting is avoided. The Wakatipu is propelled by compound engines, possessing all the latest improvements, and made at Denny Brothers' establishment. They are 256 horse power nominal, but can work up to 1500, the indicated force, They have worked smoothly and well on the way out, and Mr Dick, who is in charge of the engine-room, states that duriug the last few days prior to her arrival a better speed has been attained than on the trial trip. The maxium speed is said to be 13 knots, on a consumption of fuel averaging about 20 tons per day, but on the voyage out she was restricted to 10-knot speed, and the result has been highly creditable. The Wakatipu is intended to be worked economically, and for this purpose she is fitted with ballast tanks capable of containing 300 tons of water, and the pumping engines can discharge this in two hours. This is wheu there is no cargo offering. By means of her many steam appliances the Wakatipu can discharge cargo over both sides from three hatches, there being two powerful steam winches at each hatchway, with a separate derrick. There is also a steam-windlass. The Wakatipu has brought out a number of passengers for this port and Sydney, and a portion of her cargo is also for the latter port.