LAUNCH OF THE TONGARIRO.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1165, 25 October 1883, Page 3

LAUNCH OF THE TONGARIRO.

(Glasgow News, Aug, 24tb)

A fine-modelled steel screw-steamer for the New Zealand Shiping Co., for their riirectservice between thisconntry and New Zealand, was launched yesterday from the vard of Messrs John Elder and Co., at Fairfield, and named the ' Tongariro.' Messrs John Elder and Co. have also at present in an advanced stage of construction two sister vessels for the same owners. These vessels are built of steel throughout, and have cut-water stems with figureheads, which gives them a very graceful appearance, They are to. be barquerigged, having masts and yards' of steel, with a large spread of canvas, which will be of great service in the trade winds. Each vessel is divided into eight watertight compartments. Five divisions are carried up between main and upper decks, and fitted with watertight, fireproof doors, giving access from one part of the ship to another. By this arrangement the danger of fire spreading, should it break out in any part of the ship, is obviated, and greater safety ensured by being able to isolate any one compartment in case of damage to the hull and the compartment being flooded. The special care taken in providing for the safety of the ships acd the persons on board entitles them to rank as transports of the highest class, and they will be entered on the Admiralty list. The vessels are also built under special survey to the requirements for Lloyd's highest class for hull and machinery. The two upper decks are of steel, covered with teak on the upper deck, and with pine on the main deck. The principal dimensions of the vessels are as follow :—Length between perpendiculars, 380 ft; length over all, 410 ft ; breadth, 46ft; depth, 33ft 4in ; with a gross tonnage of about 4200. The vessels have three decks, w : h large foretopgallant forecastle for crew, petty officers, and conveniences. A large bridge deckhouse, about 160 ft long, is fitted amidships, enclosing engine and boiler casings, and enclosing accommodation for officers, engineers, galleys, sculleries, bakery, etc. A short poop with rounded oversides is fitted aft, below which are placed smoke and card rooms, bath rooms and lavatories, wheel-house and servants' accommodation. Forward of the poop, and in continuation of the poop deck, is fitted a shade deck extending over the deckhouse and out to the full breath of the vessel, forming an extensive promenade about 115 ft long, for the sole use of the first-class passengers, who have also the bridge deck for a similar purpose. The after deck-house encloses saloon entrance, music and social hall, two special state-rooms, salcon well, and captain's room, which is unusually large and finely furnished. 'On the bridge deck forward are placed the chart and wheelhouse. Over ihe latter is fitted a hurricane bridge, upon which are placed repeating telegraphs for communicating orders to the engine-room, and also to the after wheel-housa. Two large lighthouse towers are placed at the after end of the forecastle, with admittance from the lamp-rooms below in the topgallont forecastle, thus affording the greatest facility for trimming the side lamps at any time. Accommodation is provided on the main deck for aboui 80 first-class, 80 second-class, and 250 third-class passengers. The saloons and state-rooms will be fitted with all that can conduce to the comfort of the passengers. The firstclass accommodation ia situated abaft the engine-room ; entrancs is obtained from the upper deck by means of a spacious staircase placed in the after deck-house. The main saloon, placed in the midship portion of the ship, immediately abaft the engine-room, will be a fine, large, and elaborately furnished apartment, 42ft by 32ft, Over the centre of the saloon is a large well, with a skylight on the hurricane deck above, giving ample light and ventilation, and making the total height of the saloon full 17ft. Numerous extra large lights are also fitted in the sides of the saloon. The first-class state-rooms are unusually large and well furnished. The corridors are also veiy spacious, ample light and ventilation being obtained from large trunk ways and skylights uxtending to the bridge and hurricane decks. The ladies' boudoir is fitted immediately forward of the saloon, and will be furnished in a handsome manner. The main saloon, entrances, social and music hall, smoke and card rooms, special state-cabins in deck-house and the captain's cabiu are to be furnished in polished hardwoods—these, consisting of teak, oak, satinwood and walnut, forming a very rich combination. The second-class staterooms are arranged forward of the machinery space, and all are fitted up in a most substantial and complete manner. The second-class saloon is lighted and ventilated by a large trunk well similar to the first-class. Forward of this again are placed third-class passengers, for the comfort of whom special care has been taken in all the arrangements. 'T'he saioons, entrances, corridors, ladies' room, smoking, etc., rooms, social hall, captain's cabin, engine-room, etc, are to be lighted throughout with the electric light on the incandescent principle, which will greatly add to the comfort of the passengers and to the effect of the tasteful decorations throughout. The greatest care has been taken in the lighting, ventilation, and sanitary arrangements throughout. The vessels have each seven boats of large dimensions placed on the bridge and promenade decks, as far as possible beyond the risk of damage from the sea. Steam steerin? gear of the best and strongest typo is fitted aft in the wheelhouse under the poop, with connection for steering the vessel from the bridge. As an additional safeguard, a powerful screw steering apparatus, with double wheel, is fitted on the poop deck. Four large steam winches are fitted at the hatchways for the prompt loading und unloading of the cargo. A powerful steam windlass is fitted on ihe topgallant forecastle, with a captsan placed forward of it, driven by gearing from the windlaes engine, for manoeuvring the ▼essel in harbor. Refrigerating chambers, with two refrigerating engines of the most improved type, are to be fitted in the fore hold for the carrying of a large quantity of frozen meat for the English market, and also for the carrying of an ample stock of fresh provisions for the use of the passengers. In fact the vessels are to be provided with all the most approved appliances. The engines will indicate about 4000 horse-power, they are compound surface condensing, and have two inverted cylindera-one high-pressure 46 inches in diameter, and, one vlpWlßresBure 88 inches in diameter, each adapted

for a stroko nf 4ft 9in. The high-pressu e cylinder lias a valve of the equilibrimnpiston type, and the low-pressure cylinder has an ordinary double-ported slide valve ; these valves are worked by the usual double eccentric and link motion. The reversing of the engine is effected by one of Messrs Brown Brothers' steam and hydraulic reversing engines. The crank shaft is built and ia made of Messrs Yickers, Sous and Co.'s crucible-cast | steel. The thrust shaft anct propeller shaft are also made of the same material. The surface condenser is placed at the back of the engine, the water being; supplied to it by one of Messrs W H Allen and Co.'s centrifugal pumps, capable of discharging 1200 tons, of water per hour, The air, feed and bilge pumps are worked by levers connected to the piston rod crossheads. The propeller blades are of No. 3 manganese bronze. With this material the blades can be cast with fine edges and smooth snrface, which reduces the resistance due to the passage of the blades through the water to a minimum. The steam is supplied to the engines by three cylindrical doubleended multitubular boilers, having in all eighteen-of Foxe's patent corrugated furnaces. The boilers are constructed entirely of steel, and made for a working pressure of llOlbs per square inch, The New Zeabnd Shipping Company (Limited) was formed in 1872 with its head office at Christchurch, New Zealand, and opened offices in London about midsummer, 1873. The nominal capital at that time was £IOO.OOO in 10,000 shares of £lO each, whic'i by resolution of shareholders waß increased at a 1 iter date to £250,000, and in last year to £1,000,000 by a further authorised issue of shares of the same value. The company was formed for the purpose of building or purchasing vessels of the highest class for the maintenance of trade between this country and New Zealand. The trade of New Zealand is exceptional, inasmuch as the bulk of the imports and exports is made by firms established in New Zealand, on account either of a class known as squatters, or acting as financial agents for the middle class of tradesmen ; hence, therefore, the conclusion arrived at by the promoters of this company, that it was to the interests of the colony that carrying of New Zealand exports and imports should be under the controlling power of a local company. The trade has now, however, grown to such magnitude that many firms of the highest standing have for some time been established in the colony, and conduct their own imports and exports. It is, however, sufficient to say that the object of the New Zealand Shipping Company being well known, the first and latter issue of shares in the company were rapidly subscribed for, and the company's business since its formation has so increased that the Directors find its present fleet of iron sailing tonnage qnite-inadequate to meet the ever increasing requirements of the trade, though of the very highest class, built and equipped at great cost for the conveyance of passengers, and entailing a very considerable outlay over and above what an ordinary cargo ship can be constructed for. They have therefore contracted with Messrs John Elder and Co. for the building of steamers especially designed for the seivice, which meantime is being maintained by the employment of. chartered steamers of Atlantic repute, and which have well performed the passage between this country and New Zealand, thus confirming the frequently expressed opinion that the direction of this colonial enterprise has been conducted with discretion and succes?. By the establishment of a direct steam service the passenger traffic has increased to such nn extent that each steamer despatched has sailed with a full complement, and the lonic which has iust made the passage out in 43 days, and home in the same time, including stoppage for coaling, is already fully engaged, altough not sailing until 20th September. All the Company's steamers are fitted with refrigerating engines, and have nuat chambers capable of containing from 10,000 to 14,000 carcases of sheep. The lonic on her present voyage has 12,800 carcases, which are reported in prime condition.

The ceremony of naming the Tongariro was performed by Mrs Pearce, at the request of Mr Coster, in behalf of the New Zealand Company. After the launch the company adjourned to the luncheon room of Messrs John Elder and Co., and Mr Pearce, in proposing ' The Health of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and Success to the Tongariro,' briefly referred to the formation and history of the Company, for which his firm was building these steamers, and exprdssed the greatest confidence in its success. He looked for considerable extension of its operations, and took it as a compliment that the Company had given his firm the first order, which he believed was being most faithfully executed. Mr Coster, in responding, referred to tbe past success and future anticipations of the Company, and he considered that the thanks of the colony as well hs the Company were due to Mr Pearce, and to his able : and energetic employees for the expedition with which the order for steamers was being executed. He thanked Mrs Pearce for naming the Tongariro. In responding to the toast of'Our Colonists,' which bad been proposed by Mr McGregor, Mr Teschemaker, of Canterbury, New Zealand, took occasion to refer to the great services which had been rendered to New Zealand by the Company which ordered the Tongariro, especially to Mr Coster, the Chairman of the Company, whose energy, courage and perseverance had, under all opposition and difficulties, brought the present enterprise to a marked success.