A NEW TURBINE STEAMER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12644, 3 November 1905, Page 8

A NEW TURBINE STEAMER.

TRIAL TRIP OF THE MAHENO

(From the "New Zealand Herald's coirrespondent.) LONDON, September 30.

Yesterday, at tihe invitation respectively of the owneire (the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand) and of the builders (Messrs W. Denny and Bros., of Dumbarton), a numerous company attended the trial trip of the fine new steamer Maheno, the latest Clyde creation, for the enterprising colonial shipping company. The Maiheno Ls the largest passenger vessel that the Union Company possesses, and their second of the turbine type, they having been among the first companies to take advantage of this new method of propulsion. The Loongana, ■which has completed a year's active service in the most satisfactory manner, ■was among the very earliest orders received by Messrs Denny. I may describe the Maheno as an elaboration of the usual type of intercolonial vessels, of which the Union Company possesses so many fine examples. She is elaborately fitted out for passengers, of whom she can carry 223 first-class, 116 second, and 60 third-class. " The requirements of the cargo service have not been neglected, as will be seen from the fact that her ttrial had to be carried out with Wot less than 3000 tons of deadweight on board, while if loaded down to her marks she could carry more than this.

At her first official trial, at (full power, with, all bailers in use, the Mahen o easily attained a mean speed of

17.5 knots; and at the second trial, which bad to be done with a third of the boilers fchut down, the speed maintained for six hours, as per contract, was 16.4 knots, considerably over the guarantee. As regards her intern.al arrangements, the first-class dining saioon is situated on the' upper deck forward, and has table accommodation for 98 passengers. The finst-cla&s music saloon, which is situated in tlhe forward deckhouse, on the shade deck, is a spacious, lofty, and tasteful apartment. It is well lighted by square windows on three sides, and by a massive skylight filled in with richly stained glass. The first-class smokeroom is one of the most effecibive apartments in the ship by reason of its loftiness, size, and railwaycarriage dome roof. It is framed throughout in an Indian wood, resembling old Spanish mahogany in its figure, and is of ; free classic design, simply treated, the panelling being diamond shape and fielded. The ladies' retiring and cloak rcoan (first-class) are arranged" on the"'main, upper, and shade deck. The one on the upper deck is in white enamel. The | others, which are most artistic apartnients, are in panelled sycamoi'e, the panels being hand-painted in a dainty Japanese design of apple blossom sprays and birds.

The second-class dining saloon is situated on the upper deck af'fc, and is a commodious and airy apartment. The tables are arranged to dine 64, and by means of hinged backs to the sofa seats 16 sleeping berths can be provided. The second-class smokeroom and ladies' deck saloon are on the shade deck aft. They •are panelled in a simple design with cedar wood, clear polished. They are well lighted, roomy, and comfortable, ■and altogether the. acwinmod'ation for the second-class passenger is of a very high order. Third-class passengers ar© placed on the "matin deck aft. A pantry, bathroom, and sufficient lavatory aoeamimod'ation are all in connection with, the saloon,- while adjoining and finished-in asimilaa* manner is an apartment set aside for a limited number of ladies.

The first-class staterooms, wlhich are arranged for bwo, three, and four passengers, and which are practically similar to the second and third class, are vei-y elaborately fitted out, having folding berths. Each - stateroom has Captain Cameron's patent berth ladders and lifebelt racks, the latter a great improvement upon the ordinary method of fixing tlhe life-saving appliances. The boats are very ample in. number, viz., one steam launch, eight lifeboats, one cutter, one dingey, and two Berthon boats. The boats atre carried upon Cameron's improved pattern dropping chocks.

The cooking and serving arrangements are of >a very high-class order, both galley and pantry being fitted with the necessary ranges, potato steamers, Bain-Ma>rde pans, grills, hot po-esses, etc. The Maheno is propelled by a set of Parsons' patent turbines, constructed by (Messrs Denny and Co., of Dumbarton. There are three turbines, one high and two low-pressure, working three shafts, with three propellers in all. The oondeneera are placed fore and after, at the side of the turbines. Steam is supplied by four cylindrical turbular boilers, two double-ended and two single, at a working pressure of 1501b. per square incih, land fitted with Howden's system of forced draught. The goastern turbines are contained within the low pressure, and work on the wing shafts. The reversing gear is particularly well <arranged, -the whole of the engines being easily controlled by one engineer. The auxiliary machinery is very complete, and consists of air and circulating pumps to eadh main condenser. Each set consists of two Edwards' air pumps and one centrifugal pump, driven by simple, .tfcw;o-cylinder engine; two Weir's feed pumps; auxiliary condenser with neoesfeary pumps; two large duplex pumps for bilge and ballast purposes; a Oaird and Rayner distiller, and a vertical duplex wash deck arid fire engine, suitable for working See's ash ejector; sanitary pump, stewaird's pump, waiter service pump, oil pump,'etc.