NEW VESSEL FOR THE UNION COMPANY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 948, 1 June 1881, Page 2

NEW VESSEL FOR THE UNION COMPANY.

Through the courtesy of Mr. J. Mills, general manager of the Union Steamship Company, we 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 ; beam, 36ft : depth of hold, 35ft. The principal feature of the 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 we 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 fore hatchway. 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 berths for 150 passengers. Then there will be private sitting-rooms and state-rooms and an elaborately fitted up ladies’ cabin. There are two bath-rooms 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 be far superior to anything of the kind on any colonial steamer afloat. There will be an open poop aft for the use of steerage passengers. Every care has been taken in drafting 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 apartments for the use of families are to be built, also two large and well-ventilated 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 the latest improvements, the high pressure cylinder being 40 inches in diameter, and the low-pres-sure 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. Thhe two vessels will be, 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.—Exchange.