RANGITIKI ARRIVES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 809, 1 November 1929, Page 1

RANGITIKI ARRIVES

MAKING FIRST VISIT TO AUCKLAND LUXURIOUS MOTOR-LINER On her second voyage to the Dominion, the New Zealand Shipping Company's motor-liner Rangitiki made her first appearance in Auckland shortly after noon today. Bigger than the Aorangi, the Uangitiki is one of three vessels ordered by the New Zealand Shipping Company for the Dominion run; her sister ships being the Rangitata and the Rangitane. Fitted out luxuriously, and with accommodation for 500 passengers, the Rangitiki was launched at the Clydebank yards of John Brown and Company, Limited, on August 30 of last year. She is the first oil-engined passenger liner to be built for the route and is an unusual vessel from other standpoints, particularly because of the employment of machinery having a larger cylinder diameter than has ever before been used with Diesel engines at sea.

During her trials she reached a speed of 16 knots and averaged 15.66 knots on the ruii from the. shipyards to London. She has a length of 530 ft, with a 70ft. beam. Her gross tonnage is 16,755. LARGE ENGINES By reason of their size, the engines are impressive in appearance, each of the two main motors comprising five of the largest Diesel engine cylinders ever installed in a ship. The engines drive their own reciprocating scavenging air pumps and blast air compressors in addition. 'Of the Rangitiki’s two funnels, only bne is used for exhaust purposes. The engines are designed for a normal output of 0,300 h.p„ with a maximum output of 10,000 h.p. The injection air and scavenge air for the main engines are supplied by direct-driven units. A large amount of insulated space is provided, comprising a total of about 476,950 dubic feet.' Tile refrigerating plant is on the lower deck forward of the engine room. FOR THE PASSENGERS Passenger accommodation is well provided for and no effort has been spared in fitting the ship out luxuriously. The space allotted to the 100 first-class passengers is large and the rooms are therefore airy, 20 of the cabins having private bathrooms attached, ten on the promenade deck and ten on the bridge deck. In addi tion, there are two suites-de-luxe, each of which contains a large double sitting-room. One of the suites is panelled in quartered silver oak. while the olher is finished in walnut in modern French style, with furnishings to match. The first-class lounge is panelled in walnut and gilt and is of early Georg an style. It has a carved manteil ieee, above which is a picture after .Vatteau.

Indirect lighting is arranged in a raised dome and the tloor is laid with parquetry in the centre for dancing. The carpets are reproduced from Aubusson designs. On the same deck aft is the smokingroom—a reproduction of the Elizabethan period, with the walls panelled in oak. The fireplace is of stone, carried over in oak and the motifs arc taken from examples of Scottish woodwork of the Elizabethan period. A half-timbered raised roof, with modelled plaster, is worked in the scheme and the windows are fitted with leaded glass. Lighting is provided by old bronze lanterns and the frieze to the central rajsed roof is fitted with sof; concealed lighting. MARBLE FIREPLACE

In the drawing-room the -walls are of hardwood, mainly in soft shades. There is a fireplace in statuary marble, inlaid with Sienna marble, and above is a painting. The dining-room is adapted from Louis XVI style and at the after end is a polished sideboard with a painting by Turner above. Large mirrors on the sides, of the sideboard add spaciousness to the room, while table lights are provided in addition to the semiconcealed lighting from the ceiling. A notable fact is that all the first, second and third-class rooms have cot bedsteads. The cabins have opentype wash-basins with hot and cold fresh water supply in the first and second-class. Cold showers are also provided in the latter cabins. Arrangements are made for music to be broadcasted to the public rooms and dancing spaces. Arrangements have been made by the company to throw open the Rangitiki to visitors from 3 o’clock to 5 o clock [ on Sunday atternopn.