SHIPPING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1373, 25 October 1883, Page 2

SHIPPING.

ARRIVALS, October. 24—Southern Cross, from Auckland. Paa* len/ers—Miss Martin. DEPARTURES. October. 24—Southern Cross, for S)uth. Passenge s—Miss Dawson, Mr Johnston, and several others. The U.S.S. Southern Cross, arrived in the Bay about 8 o’clock yesterday morning from Auckland, and sailed in the afternoon of the same day at 4 o’clock for Napier and Wellington. The latest addition to the fleet of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand is a fine steamer named the Takapuna. From published accounts she must be a very fine vessel, indeed she is said to be the most elaborately fitted steamship afloat. Of course belonging to this company she is intended for the intercolonial passenger trade, and fitted a'oordingly. The Edision system of electric lighting has been adopted throughout. This Vessel has been both built and engined at j-arrow on-Furness, and was officially tried on the Clyde on the 4th August. Her tonnage is 870 register, engines 2500 h.p. indicated, length 220 ft by 32ft beam, and 18ft 6in deep. It is to be hoped this addition to the many good passenger ships runuing between this country and the Antipodes will lead to increased travelling. Speaking of this subject, however, compels us to say that a vast deal of unnecessary money spent on decoration and fitting would have been much better laid out in comfortable arrangements for the passenger*. How is it, for example, that so few single berth-d cabins are to be found ? It is very disagreeable even for men to have to share a room with a perfect stranger, and much more so for ladies. A good deal of complaing has been made about this of late, and it may lead, I trust, to some alteration. Comfort, not luxury, is what is needed on a long voyage.