THE LINER ROTORUA.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1917, Page 5

THE LINER ROTORUA.

TORPEDOED IN THE CHANNEL. The liner P,otorua, torpedoed whilst going up the English Channel, was 11,500 in tonnage, length 484 feet, breadth 02 feet, and depth 35 feet. She was only seven years old, and was completed in Denny's yards, Dumbarton, in 1!)10. A very creditable performance was put up by the vessel, both in her trial speeds and on her. maiden voyage 't»»New Zealand. In the former she managed nearly 10 Knots, and in the run from London to Wellington 13.7 knots. The run from Hobart to New Zealand was done at an average of I i knots. Her engines were of the combination reciprocating-turbine type, developed SOOO horse-power, and sfe had five single-ended boilers. The linor. of course, had a very fine wireless equipment. Her cargo-carrying space was estimated at 100,000 carcasses, of mutton. A special feature was the double set of refrigerating machinery, each of which was capable of dealing with the whole of the insulated capacity of the ship if required.

In comparison with the Ruahine, the Rotorua's predecessor, the Rotorun had many advantages. Among the innovations was a children's room, with its own se® of baths and lavatories in connection with' the first saloon, and also a bath for the use of passengers on the promenade dock. Owing to her large beam (02 feet), all the public roo'ms, such as the social rooms, smoke rooms, and saloon lounges, were very spacious, and were also very lavishly furnished. A special feature on the upper deck were tne single-berth cabins (16 in number), with spray baths in addition. The lirst saloon was a magnificently furnished apartment, having six round tables capable of seating five persons at each, besides two long tables seating 15 passengers at each.

In the second class most of the inner cabins were fitted on the Bibbv plan, .which ensures a porthole to each, and also makes them very much- larger. This class also provided extensively for the comfort of passengers, there "being ample two-berth accommodation and a beautifully furnished saloon, lounge, and smoke-room. The third class passengers were well provided for, having a smokeroom, lounge, and bar, in addition to comfortable berthing accommodation. THE \£W ZEALAND CARGO. ' The following is the complete list of cargo shipped from New Zealand' ports:—SOW bales wool, 16,677 crates cheese, 27,350 cases butter, 647 saeks casein, 20,127 carcasses mutton, 30,371 carcasses lamb, 4549 quarters beef, 1811 frozen pigs, 159 pieces beef, 179 bags scheelite,_ 300 cases sugar of milk, 5-24 tins glax'o, 95 cases shell, 48 boxes of rajf veils. THE ROTORUA'S OFFICERS'. 9 Captain J. A. Sutcliffe, formerly of the ill-fated Tongariro, and an esteemed and wel-1-kjiown master of the company, was in command of the Rotorua, and left Wellington with the foUowin" officers:—Chief, Mr. S. W. Somers-Vine; second, Mr. J. P. Ramos; thi»d, Mr. M. C. Williams; fourth, Mr. C. Biddlecombe; wireless operators, Messrs. J, ]J, K. Bowling and A. iY. Forbes; surgeon Mi. Milfion R. Rhodes; chief engineer, Mr. A. H. Parker; Second, Mr. A.°John--8'0n:' 0n : Mr. W. Edwards; fourth, Mr. (i. Hill; fifth, Mr. \V. Norman! sixth, Mr. li\ Smith; seventft, Mr. R. J. Lingley; first refrigerating engineer, Mr ■ second, Mr. J. McLeod; electrician, Mr. R. Hainel.