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NOR'WEST SHIPPING TRADE.
ADELAIDE COMPANY'S NEW
STEAMER.
(See Illustrations.)
The Adelaide Company's new steamer
Koombana, which arrived at Fremantle
last week on her maiden voyage from
Glasgow, has a special interest for the
Western Australian public. She is the
first passenger and cargo boat that has
been built exclusively for service on the
Western Australian coast. Her mission
is to develop the Nor'-West trade. That
she is admirably adapted for this pur-
pose is beyond question. During the
last few years the Adelaide Steamship
Company have made several additions to
their large fleet of inter-State vessels,
and in the Koombana the acme of per-
fection as regards the comfort of passen-
gers, facilities for handling cargo, and
appliances for skilful navigation find ex-
pression. Several gentlemen interested
in the shippiug trade who at the invita-
tion of Mr. W. E. Moxon, the company's
general manager in this State, made
an inspection of the steamer, mar-
velled at the courage of the Adelaide
Company in placing such a fine boat in
the Nor -West trade. It is tangible evi-
dence of the recognition of the growing
importance of this service, and that the
travelling public and those interested in
the development of the great northern
portion of thc State will appreciate the
enterprise of thc Adelaide Company goes
without saying.
The Koombana is a steamer of 3,760
tons register, and was constructed by
Messrs. A. Stephen and Sons, Ltd., Glas-
gow. She is equipped for thc carriage
of passengers, cargo, and stock, her di-
mensions being 34oft. between perpendi-
culars, 46tt. 2in. beam, and 20ft. 8in. in
depth. On a draught of 19ft. she can
carry 4,000 tons of cargo. In her de-
sign special attention has been given to
the fact that she will be engaged in a
semi-tropical trade. Her decks are so
many that a lift is almost required for
transit purposes. Above the lower hold
is the orlop deck, on top of which is
the main deck. Higher up is the spar
deck, on which the bulk of thc passenger
cabins aud thc dining saloons are situ-
ated. Over this again is a fine promenade
deck, and going still higher the bridge
and boat deck is reached. On top of all
is the navigating bridge. Accommoda-
tion is provided for 300 first and second
saloon passengers. Most of the cabins
contain only two berths, and the ap-
pointments leave nothing to be desired.
All the first-class staterooms are con-
structed on the island system, each divi-
sion having a separate entrance from
the deck, while easy access is obtained to
the saloon. Electric fans are fitted in
each cabin. The drawing and smoke
rooms are located on thc promenade deck,
and both are handsomely appointed. Spe-
cial attention has been paid to the col-
ours of thc upholstery, an effective scar-
let shade predominating in the smoke
room, while in the social room a har-
monious and restful tone is produced in
purple. The social or drawingroom is
fitted with portable lounges, and furnish-
ed in Waring and Co. 's best style. The
walls are treated with sycamore, the
panellings being executed in satinwood.
At one end is an elaborate bookcase with
mullioned frames and bevelled glass, and
containing an up-to-date library, and a
Broadway piano, two Chippendale wri-
ting desks, occasional tables, electric
fans, etc., are also included in the fur-
nishings. The ceilings are composed of
white painted canvas with gilt-edged
floral design. The main entrance to
the saloon is handsomely panelled in
mahogany, and the stairway leading to
the promenade deck is of the same mate-
rial, with carved pilasters. The dining
room in the first saloon has seating ac-
commodation for 75 people. lt is
roomy, and well ventilated, and the oak
panellings and green upholstery give a
quiet but withal pleasing effect.
In the culinary arrangements every de-
tail has been well thought out. The
most up-to-date appliances are provided
in the galley and pantries, a feature of
the kitchen being a patent electric egg
boiler, by means of which an egg can
be boiled to suit each individual's taste
-soft, medium, or hard. In the bake-
house an electrically driven dough
mixer is fitted up and 300 loaves a day
can be turned out if necessary. Ample
bathroom and lavatory accommodation
is provided and generally speaking, the
fittings throughout are of first-class de-
scription. The ventilation throughout
the vessel has been very carefully attend-
ed to. On the main deck, running fore
and aft of the vessel, excellent provi-
sion is made for the carriage of live-
stock-an important branch of the Nor'
West trade. Besides the ordinary space
for stores, refrigerating chambers are
fitted up with a capacity of 1,800 tons of
cubic space. With the exception of one
steam crane at the No. 1 hatch for'ard,
all the cranes are worked by hydraulic
power. Clayton's fire extinguisher and
fumigating plant is carried on board.
The navigating appliances are of the
very latest and most improved design.
On the bridge are a variety of instru-
ments and machines undreamt of in the
earlier days of steam navigation. There
is Alfred Gralham's patent telephone
switch, by means of which the officer on
watch can converse with the captain in
his cabin, the engineer on duty in the en-
gine-room, or the officer on the poop.
An indicator is provided by which auto-
matically and silently directions can be
given to the officer right aft when the
vessel is being moored or leaving the
wharf; a further indicator shows the
exact position of the rudder, while the
steering gear is controlled by a tele-
motor, the latest device for the safe
navigation of a vessel. Electric side-
lights, with auxiliary oil lamps, are pro-
vided, and should any of the navigating
lights at the port or starboard side or
at the masthead become by any means
extinguished, an indicator gives imme-
diate warning to the officer on the
bridge. The officers' quarters are all
conveniently situated.
The Koombana was brought out to
Australia by Captain J. Rees, late of
the s.s. Bullarra, and he will retain com-
mand of the new vessel. The steamer
left for Melbourne last week to
be docked. According to present ar-
rangements she will then return to the
West, and leave Fremantle on her ini-
tial trip to the Nor'-West on March 12.
It is interesting to note that the vessel
derives her name from Mr. R. Forrest's
"Koombana"" timber mill, near Bun-
bury.
NEW STEAM EH FOR THE NO« "-WEST TE ADE-THE ADELAIDE STEAMS UH' COMPANY'S "KOOMBANA." Help

NEW STEAMER FOR THE NOR'-WEST TRADE-THE STEAMSHIP COMPANY'S "KOOMBANA."

(See Page 14.)

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