Kapunda - Launch

NEW PASSENGER STEAMER

LAUNCH AT WEST HARTLEPOOL

Daily Mail, October 28th 1908.

Messrs. William Gray and Co., Ltd., yesterday launched the handsome steel screw steamer Kapunda, which they have built to the order of the Melbourne Steamship Co., Ltd., Melbourne. The vessel will have a Board of Trade passenger certificate and takes the highest class in Lloyd’s. Her dimensions are:  Length over all, 341ft.; breadth.; 45ft.; depth, 23ft 9in. She has a full poop, extra long bridge, and a topgallant forecastle, the bulwarks being carried same height as the bridge, with large doors for taking in cattle and cargo.

There will be a handsome and specially lofty dining saloon, in a house on bridge deck, fitted up in light oak, with morocco leather upholstery and party tables, having large skylight overhead with ornamental glass and a music-room leading off the saloon similarly fitted up, with a handsome piano specially built to stand the Australian climate. The gentleman’s smoke room, buffet, and bar will be fitted up in mahogany, and on the large promenade deck above will be a handsomely-furnished ladies boudoir.

There will also be accommodation for a large number of first class passengers, in addition to stewards and stewardesses, in houses on the bridge deck, and for third class passengers accommodation is made in poop and poop deck houses, the officers, engineers, and crew being housed in the bridge.

The galley will be fitted with up-to-date appliances, including steam cooker steam boiler, etc., with lift to pantry. There is a very efficient installation of electric lighting, bells, refrigerating machinery, and cold chambers. The decks are sheathed in “Kauri” pine, and ventilation has received very careful attention to suit the Australian climate.

The hull is built with deep bulb-angle decks in fore and after main holds, cellular double bottom, and a large after peak tank for water ballast, the whole being available for carrying fresh water to be delivered on deck for stock purposes, a large number of cattle and horses being carried in the ‘tween decks. Large hatchways, eight steam winches of special design for raising and lowering derricks will be fitted.

The vessel will be schooner rigged, having two masts with derrick tables and out riggers, eight derricks, and one large derrick to lift 10 tons. Steam steering and hand screw gear of the latest type will be fitted in the deck house aft, and the whole of the steering will be manipulated from a wheel on the promenade deck. A patent direct steam windlass, six lifeboats, stockless anchors, and a very complete outfit will be provided for a first class passenger and cargo steamer.

The design has been well thought out for the vessel’s special trade by the builders, in conjunction with Mr. J.H. Hallett, Pattison and Co. of Cardiff.

She is designed for a high rate of speed, and is supplied by the Central Marine Engine Works of Wm. Gray and Co., Ltd., with their well known type of triple-expansion engines, having cylinders  25in., 41in., and 68in. Diameter, and 48in stroke, and three large steam boilers adapted to work at a pressure of 200lbs. Per square inch, in conjunction with Howden’s system of forced draught. The engine room will be replete with all the latest accessories including Weir’s pump, and centrifugal circulating pump, “central” evaporator, Webster’s combined feed heater and ballast donkey, See’s ahs ejector, bronze propeller, and a very liberal supply of spare gear.

The vessel and machinery have been built under the superintendence of Messrs. J.H. Hallett, Pattison and Co., Cardiff, on behalf of the owners, and the ceremony of naming the steamer Kapunda was gracefully performed by Mrs J.H. Hallett.

This is the fourth steamer built by Messrs. William Gray and Co., Ltd., for this well known firm.

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