THE UNION STEAMSHIP COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 224, 4 October 1901, Page 2

THE UNION STEAMSHIP COMPANY.

LARGE ADDITIONS TO THEIR FLEET. OHAT WITH MR. JAMES HILLS. [A uokland Herald Correspondent.] London, August 31. Mr. Jamea Mills, of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, has been good enough to give me a few important and interesting particulars as to what is being done toward tlw , improvement of the splendid steamship service which New Zealand at present enjoys, and what is contemplated in the near future. It will be remembered that as the result of a former chat with Mr. Mills, I was able some time ago to state that bis company had entered into a contract for a new 8500-ton boat for the trado between New Zealand and Calcutta. I asked Mr. Mills whether his recent visits to Scotland meant that there were to be further additions to the fleet of the Union Steamship Company. "Yes," replied Mr. Mills. "We have now completed contracts with 1 Messrs. Denny Brothers for the building of a new passenger steamer for our i intercolonial trade. She will be someI what larger than the Means, her I dimensions being 368 ft by 47ft by 33ft, and her gross tonnage about 4500 tons. Her accommodation and equipment, it goes without saying, will be up-to-date, and her speed will be a little in advance of the existing boats of the company." " What do you expect her to do?" " She is expected to steam 16 knots on her trial, and to maintain 15 knots in ordinary circumstances, when in her own trade," was the reply.

" Will she be fitted like the Moana ?" "No. Her accommodation will be somewhat different from that of our recent ships. That is to say," Mr. Mills went 0n,," the saloon will be on the upper deck, altogether. There will also be on the fame deck twenty-two berth cabins. There will of course be other accommodation between decks. Her cabins, too, will be fitted on what is known aa Bibby's patent, by which the inside at well as the outside cabins will have light and ventilation from the outer side of the ship. She is to be finished next \ ugust, and will reach the colony in Ootober of next year, in time to take part in the summer service of 1902."