Untitled

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 38, 7 May 1927, Page 2

A LUXURIOUS YACHT An interesting visitor to Tilbury Dock recently was the Bergen Steamship Company’s motor cruising yacht Stella Polaris. She was built and engined by Gotaverken, Gothenburg, and it is understood that she cost in all just over a quarter of a million sterling. She is a handsome vessel, with clipper bows, and undoubtedly represents the last work in pleasure cruising ships. Her principal dimensions are: Length, overall, 446 ft.; breadth moulded, 50ft. 6in; and depth, 30ft., with a draught of 17ft. 6in. The accommodation is of a most luxurious description, and it is noteworthy that, notwithstanding the size of the vessel, only 200 tourists are carried. Apart froin four cabins de luxe, each with a sitting-room and double bedroom and a bathroom, there are 11 staterooms with two beds and a bathroom, 59 double cabins, and 51 single, bedsteads being in every case fitted in place of berths. The owners intend to employ the Stella Polaris for cruises of comparatively short duration—in the Mediterranean during the spring months and during the summer to the Norwegian fjords, North Cape, and fipitzbergen.

AN UNUSUAL ACCIDENT The launching of the motor-tanker Augustina, built for the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company by Messrs. Swan, Hunter, Wigham, Richardson, Ltd., was the first vessel of this year’s output by that company to be put in the water, and was, unfortunately, attended by a fatal accident, a most unusual occurrence at any launch. When the vessel was sliding down the ways, a heavy link in one of the check chains broke, and a piece struck a workman, killing him instantaneously. A UNIQUE LAUNCH James Pollock, Sons, and Co., Ltd., Faversham, have contracted to build for service on the West Coast of Africa a twin-screw motor launch of unique design. The vessel will have a length of 70ft., a breadth of 13ft., and a draught of 3ft., and will have exceptionally large accommodation. The propelling machinery will consist of two sets of two-cylinder Bolinder direct-reversible heavy oil engines each developing 50 b.p.h. at 500 r.p.m. The speed of the vessel will be ten miles an hour. PORT OF LONDON’S RATS There is evidence that the rat nuisance is being successfully combated in the Port of London. Last year the Authority destroyed 10,563 of these pests, compared with 11,977 in 1925, and 13,020 in 1924. This diminution in numbers killed is due, not to any failure of the methods employed, but the fact that the rat army is steadilv becoming smaller. A war of attrition may be slow, but it is about the only possible way of dealing with this problem.

WITHIN WIRELESS RANGE— The following vessels are expected to be within range of the undermentioned wireless stations during the week-end: Auckland.—For Saturday only: Arawa, Queen Eleanor. For Saturday and Sunday: Tofua, Matra, Whangape, Canadian Britisher, Wairuna, Aorangi, Marama. For Sunday only: Raranga. Chatham Islands.—Tainui, Ruapehu, Rotorua. Wellington. For Saturday: Maori, Waihine, Ngaio, Arahura, Port Darwin, Middlesex, Raranga. For Saturday and Sunday: Tamahine, Tahiti, Kaiapoi, Northumberland, Otokia, Hertford, LJlimaroa, Maunganui, Cumberland, Moeraki, Poolta, Omana. For Sunday only: Hurunui, Queen Eleanor. Awarua.—E'or Saturday only: Denham, Crosskeys, Port Curtis. For Saturday and Sunday: Waikouaiti. For Sunday only: Port Darwin and Norfolk. PORT OF ONEHUNGA—YESTERDAY’S DEPARTURE OHINEMURI (5.15 p.m.), 114 tons, Parker, for Whangape. ARRIVALS TO-DAY RARAWA (7 a.m.), 1.077 tons, Bark, from New Plymouth. The Rarawa leaves at 3 p.m. on Monday for New Plymouth and returns to Onehunga on AVednesday. The Ngatiawa arrives at Onehunga to-morrow from ITokianga and sa.ils at 4 p.m. on Monday for Raglan and Kawhia. PACIFIC MAIL—AORANGI, R.M.M.S., left Sydney May 5 for Vancouver via Auckland, Suva, and Honolulu; due Auckland May 9; due Vancouver May 27. MAKURA, R.M.S., sailed from Sydney April 22 for San Francisco, via Wellington, Rarotonga, and Papeete; left Wellington April 27; due San Francisco May 13. NIAGARA, R.M.S., left Vancouver May 4 for Sydney, via Honolulu, Suva, and Auckland; due Auckland May 23; due Sydney May 28. TAHITI, R.M.S., sailed from San Francisco April 20 for Sydney, via Papeete, Rarotonga and Wellington; duo Welling-