ARRIVAL OF THE AORANGI FROM LONDON.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 48, 24 January 1884, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE AORANGI FROM LONDON.

(Times, Jan. 18.) The magnificent steamship Aorangi, 4,200 tons, Captain Turpin, the second of the vessels specially built for the New Zealand Shipping Company's direct steam service between New Zealand and Great Britain, was signalled about 4.30 p.m. yesterday, and by 5.30 p.m. anchored half way between the Queen’s Wharf and Oriental Bay, having come in without a pilot, although Captain Turpin is a stranger not only to the port but to New Zealand. She was immediately boarded by Captain Holliday, Harbormaster, and Health Officer, Dr. Johnston, and Captain Rose, the local manager of the company, and there being not the slightest difficulty in granting her a certificate, she rteamed up to the Queen’s Wharf, and was hauled into No. 3 berth, which was kept vacant for her. Her arrival was the signal for a tremendous rush down the wharf, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that those who had business aboard could make their way through the throng. For a time the approach to the T was kept clear by a posse of constables, but when the vessel had been made fast the restriction was removed, and even the gangway was not guarded with that degree of vigor which has hitherto been observed on the arrival of the direct steamers. An inspection of the ship at dusk, could not, as a matter of course, prove so searching as one that was carried out in broad daylight, yet

sufficient could be Been to show that everything has been fitted in the most modern style and that nothing that could be devised by the most skUfuJ naval atohtetM IkK’fi ovarIppkeJ, The Aorangi is barque rigged, her masts and yards being of steel. Seen at a distance, her masts seem somewhat short, but the impression is completely removed when she is viewed at close quarters. Her hull has a graceful end yacht-like appearance, the :j.odel being exceedingly handsome. The general effect is no doubt added to by her cutwaters, stem, and figurehead. She is divided into eight water-tight compartments, and five divisions aie carried up between the main and upper decks, each of these being fitted with watertight fireproof doors, giving access from one part of the ship to another, The danger of fire spreading, should it arise in any part of the ship is thus obviated, and greater safety ensured by being able to isolate any one compartment in case of damage to the hull, and the compartment being Hooded. Special care has been taken in providing for the safety of the ship and the persons on board, and this entitles her to rank as a transport vessel of the highest class. As such she has been entered on the Admiralty list. She lias been constructed under special survey to the requirements of Lloyd’s highest class both as regards hull and machinery, The two upper decks are of steel, the upper being covered with teak, and the lower with pine. Her dimensions are: Length between perpendiculars, 380 ft.; length over all, 410 ft. ; breadth of beam, 46ft,; and depth of hold, 33ft. 4in. Her gross tonnage is 4,200. She has three decks, with a large top-gallant forecastle for the petty officers and seamen, storerooms, and other conveniences. A large bridge deckhouse, some 160 ft. in length, is fitted amidships and encloses the engines and boiler-casings, besides containing (quarters for the executive officers, engineers, galleys, bakeries, and sculleries. She has a short turtle poop, below which are the card and smoking rooms, bath rooms, barber’s shopj lavatories, wheel-house, and servant’s quarters. Forward of the poop is a shade deck 115 ft. long, and extending from side to side of the ship. This affords a splendid promenade for saloon passengers, who may not always desire to use the bridge deck. The chart and wheel-houses are placed forward on the bridge deckt and above* them is the hurricane bridge; She is fitted with light-house towers on the forecastle, afid in this respect resembles the Union Company’s Wait ora and Tarawera, tjhe has accommodation on her main deck for 80 first-class, 80 second-class, and about 250 steerage passengers. The main saloon, which is amidships, is a spacious compartment, 42ft. by 32ft. Over the centre of the saloon is a large well, lit by a skylight from the hurricane-deck, which affords ample light and ventilation, and makes the total height of the saloon fully 17ft., while there are also numerous lights on either side of the compartment. The saloon is superbly fitted up in polished hardwoods—teak, oak, and walnut being prominent, and forming a very tasteful combination, The couches and settees are covered in crimson morocco leather, and the whole compartment is handsomely carpeted. It has an American organ at one end, and two elaborately-carved book-cases, filled with suitable literature, at the other. Leading from the saloon are corridors on either side containing the staterooms for the first-class passengers. These are very commodious, and handsomely fitted. The corridors are superb suites of bath-rooms and lavatories, the baths being formed of polished marble. Above the saloon is the social-hall, which is a very elegant apartment, pannelled in ornamental wood, handsomely carpeted, and fitted witn lounges upholstered in old gold and crimson plush. It contains a piano. The second-class passengers have most comfortable quarters forward from the saloon, nothing having been overlooked in providing for their comfort. The steerage extends almost to the bow of the ship, and has the appearance of affording every comfort. The berths are enclosed in cabins, and passengers who patronise this part of the ship therefore enjov a degree of privacy which has hitherto been unknown in vessels trading between Great Britain and this Colony. Here, as in the second saloon, there is a large trunk well, which gives ample ventilation and light in daytime. Every portion of the ship is illuminated at night by means of Edison’s incandescent electric light. The ventilation appears to be a special feature, for in no portion of the vessel does the visitor notice anything in the least degree stuffy, or anything whatever in the state of the atmosphere to remind him that he is between decks. The engine-room presents a wellkept appearance. The engines will indicate 4,200 horse-power; they are of the surfacecondensing type, and have also two inverted cylinders. The high-pressure cylinder has a valve of the equilibrium-piston type, and the low-pressure cylinder has an ordinary doubleported side valve. These valves are worked by the usual double-ecceutric-link motion. The crank and propeller are made of Vickers, Sons, and Co.’s crucible cast-steel. The propeller blades are of No. 3 manganese bronze. Steam is supplied by three cylinderical double-ended multitubular boilers, having 18 of Fox’B patent corrugated furnaces- The Aorangi was built by Messrs. John Elder and Co. | Glasgow, and launched on October 2nd. She has two special engines to work refrige* rating machinery, and her chambers are capable of stowing a large guantity of meat. The following are her principal officers Commander, Captain W. R. Turpin ; chief officer, Mr. W. Blair ; second do, Mr. H. E. Greenstreet (formerly captain of the Mataura and well known in Wellington) ; third do, Mr Geo. Scruby; fourth do, Mr. G. D. Armstrong; Chief Engineer. Mr. G. Hughes ; Purser, Mr. W. Wilson ; Surgeon, Dr. McGrath ; Chief Steward, Mr. BlOGk. Her officers and crew number 126 all told. She brings 326 passengers of all classes, who have arrived in excellent health and in the best of spirits, the voyaye having resembled a summer pleasure trip rather than one which extended over so many latitudes. The monotony of the voyage was broken by a number of concerts and balls. On Christmas Eve Captain Turpin delighted old and young by producing a Christmas Tree, which was loaded with articles intended as gifts for the juvenile section of the passengers. Every branch terminated in an electric lamp, and the general effect has been described to us as something bordering on wonderland. That there have been no complaints of note during the passage is perhaps best vouched for by the fact that a number of testimonials were presented at the end of the voyage, the steerage passengers, who are as a rule, the first to find fault, unanimously appending their signatures to one of a flattering nature to their first steward.

The following is a report of her passage:— Hauled out of dock November 29th and proceeded as far as Gravesend, where, on the following day, the ship was inspected by Government authorities, and passengers embarked. Left at 2 p.m., and brought up off the Noreat 4.30; was under weigh at daylight the following day, and on December 2 let go anchor in Plymouth Sound, when the ship was coaled and the remainder of the passengers and mail taken aboard; had moderate breezes and fine weather to Teneriffe, which was reached on the 7th, 4 days 12 hours from Plymouth. After 12 hours’ detention for coaling, left Teneriffe with light N. wind and fine weather. Cape De Verd was sighted at 7 p.m. on the 10th. Head winds and sea, with fine weather, prevailed as far as 37deg. 8., and the Equator was crossed on the 14th in long. 12deg. W. The meredian of Cape of Good Hope was passed on the 24th in 37deg. S. The easting was made between lat. 44 and 45deg. S., fine weather and moderate winds being experienced the whole way to Tasmania, which was sighted on Jan. 12, 40 days’ steaming from Plymouth. Anchored off Hobart at 3 p.m. the same day; coaled ship, and proceeded the next day at 3 p.m. A strong W. gale, with heavy sea, was met with after leaving Hobart. At daylight yesterday made Cape Farewell, Pencarrow Head being sighted at 3.30 p.m. We must acknowledge the courtesy show n by the officers of the ship, and especially M r Greeenstreet, second officer, and Mr. Wilso n ' purser, who gave our reporter every assistance that lay in their power. The Aorangi remains in port about four days, when she sails for Lyttelton and London. She loads a large quantity of wool and other produce here, but no frozen meat.