THE UNION COMPANY’S NEW STEAMER OMAFERE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1152, 20 September 1882, Page 2

THE UNION COMPANY’S NEW STEAMER OMAFERE.

The U.S.S. Co.’s Omapere, which is expected to arrjve here on the 26th instant, is thus described by the “Otago Daily Times”:— The Omapere is built of Siemen’s patent steel, has a straight stem and elliptic stern, and is rigged as a schooner. She is intended for tho West Coast coal trade, for which she is extremely suitable, being able to carry 650 tons of dead-weight cargo on a draught of 11 feet of water, She is a shapely vessel, and a considerable deal larger than the Mahinapua. her dimensions being—dength, 180 ft 3|n ; breadth of beam, 20ft 2in j and depth of hold, 14ft 4in. She is fitted with compound direct-acting inverted-cylinder engines, placed in an engine-room 31ft in length. The diameter of the cylinders is 24in and 42in respectively, the length of stroke being 2ft Gin, steam being generated in one boiler, which is tested to 1401 b and weighted to 731 b, and there are three furnaces. Her maximum speed is 9'53 knots, with a pressure of 001 b, the revolutions being 89 a minute, while in order to maintain thia speed her consumption of coal averages from 8| to BJf tons per day. She was built at the Dumbarton shipbuilding yards of Messrs Denny and Co., by whom the engines were also constructed. She is flush-decked, and has a hurricane-deck amidships, underneath which is the engine-room : while on either side are the officers’ quarters, galley, meat-room, and other offices. The captain’s state-room is on the forepart of the bridge, and although small, is extremely comfortable. In front of it is the ateering* gear, while communication with the engiroroom h kept up by means of a patent telegraph. The saloon, although small, is extremely comfortable, and will accommodate about 20 passengers. It is fitted up in enamelled painted pine, with mouldings of the same wood decorated with gold stencillings ; there is a handsome ami sufficiently lofty skylight, while the roof is painted white and gold, anil the transoms are very tastefully decorated. At the foot of the companion-way on the right side is a cabin specially devoted to ladies, while on the other is one for gentlemen, with the steward’s pantry and offices. The accommodation provided for second‘id piuweiigem fa excellent

and contains berths for 36 passengers, a special cabin being set apart for ladies. The whole of the fore-cabin is lofty, and is well lighted and ventilated. The quarters of the seamen and firemen arc forward of this compartment. On the quarter-deck there is a neat smoking-room; while there are a number of excellent seats about the deck for passengers. She carries four good boats, and is without doubt one of the most per-fectly-equipped boats of her class we have yet seen. Her appliances for receiving and 1 discharging cargo arc perfect: the hatches are large, and fitted with patent doubleaction steam winches ; and from all we have seen of her, we can only point out one defect—that of her starting gear,—which, however, will be remedied immediately on the arrival of the Wairarapa, which brings out patent steam starting gear for her. The Omapere comes under the command of Capt. Orkney, late deputy-harbormaster, who superintended her fitting-out, and whom we cordially congratulate on his return to Dunedin with his family. Her officers are :— Mr M‘Coll, chief; Mr Craig, second ; Mr . Mathieson, chief engineer; Mr Milne, ■ second; and Mr Neilson, third. Captain ’ , Orkney speaks most favorably of the sea- , 1 going qualities of the Omapere.