Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 19 February 1909, page 4


NEW STEAMER KOOMBANA.

DUE TO-MORROW.

It may be safely said that openers for the Aus-tralian coastal trade are being built continuously in Great Britain The Koombana of the Adelaide S S Company line which is due here to more Kw., makes the third new ' answer" to arrive here within three weeks the others being tire Kapuud of the Melbourne S S Company line and tin 1 umeralla of the Howard Smith line The Room him which is intended for the service on Hil > northwest coast of Australia His sire is made

tills nt I remain It and Adelaide, the object of Jar visit to Melbourne being to enter dry clock for an overhaul She will afterwards return to the north west, and enter upon her duties there the Koombana is a patch in a steamer of I 200 tons gross burthen having the following principal dimensions length 145ft, breadth -tSft

2in depth, 20ft 8in She was constructed is an up to date passenger steamer by Messrs Alec Sti phen and Son, of Glasgow Racing intended to trade in warm climates His Koombana his been specially designed so as to ensure for passengers a minimum of ventilation, and a complete set of electric cooking apparatus is a feature of the ship the accommodation for both Hint and sea end of its passengers is said to be of a very high order and embodies all the most modern con training for case and comfort As In addition to ordinary cargo the vessel has been fitted for the carriage of live stock, the greatest care has were taken to ensure the welfare of animals Captain John Rees, an old identity of the Ade

lame Kb Company line, is bringing the Koombana to port having gone to Scotland some

months ago to superintend the construction The ri ports that the \LSdtl left (1 is go on Dr comber -a tenant, a severe snowstorm and after 15 hours delay at Greenock uniting snowbound passengers a st tri was made it 7 and on the 21 st

I mr weather w as met with on the run down the Irish Channel and arose the Bay of Bison Las Palmas was passed on January 6 and Cape ride- on the 9th the A I trade wind ming cal

ned down to the sixth parallel The equator was crossed on the 17th and light S E winds were met with until within three days of Cape Town when strong head winds and heavy- seas consider they did it rd progress Cape lawn was reached on Emu Era ss and after rub taking passengers the Koombana called the following day arriving at Durban on the 27th Here a large number of passengers joined and departure was made on the '8th The weather prevailed down to the 26th parallel The Koombana passed close to Easter dum Island on the 25th just and the whistle was sounded but there was no sign of rain in life in the island From thence to Fremantle strong; southerly winds and heavy beam seas were in countered The Koombana was not driven at full power on the run out but turned over Mr knots from Durban her seagoing qualities pro, ed to be exceptional.) One Captain lies lies with him the following officers -Chief, II I Clark second, T Birch third S H Nelson purser, 13 B Reid surgeon Dr B Muir chief engineer 7 It Al Donald second-, W T Shimmins, chief steward A h Smith