Impressive ship Britannic said to be largest in the world

Women students setting out seed potatoes at Henhull Hall Farm, Nantwich, Cheshire, England. They...
Women students setting out seed potatoes at Henhull Hall Farm, Nantwich, Cheshire, England. They are being trained with a view to occupying positions as farm workers during the war. - Otago Witness, 28.6.1916.

A letter received in Christchurch gives some interesting information concerning the Britannic, which is said to be the largest ship in the world. The vessel was built by the White Star Line in reply to the Cunard liner the Aquitania.

The outbreak of war found her still in the hands of the shipbuilders. She was then a mere shell, and further construction was postponed indefinitely for 18 months. Then, owing to the Gallipoli campaign making such an unexpected demand on hospital ships, she was requisitioned and completed for the purpose by the Government.

To show what a tremendous addition to the hospital fleet the vessel is, it is stated that when operating near Naples five large ships transferred their patients to the Britannic, which possesses permanent accommodation for 3800 patients, apart from the medical and nursing staffs and crews.

In addition, she has operating theatres and X-ray rooms which are claimed to be more up-to-date than any shore hospital. Her dimensions are: Length 882ft, beam 94ft, while her gross tonnage is 28,157, and registered tonnage 24,592.

She is fitted with reciprocating and combined turbine engines of 50,000 horse-power, and has triple screws.

•Curiosity occasionally leads individuals along lines of inquiry that entail a great deal of labour, but have their issue in a somewhat profitless result. A steward of the Central Mission recently imposed upon himself the task of counting the coins received in the collection plates on the occasion of the Kitchener memorial service; and the result was made known at the anniversary gathering last evening by the Rev.

Clarence Eaton, who prefaced the announcement by remarking that they were not a wealthy congregation. The collection was composed as follows:- Four half-crowns, 6 two-shilling pieces, 52 shillings, 322 sixpences, 887 threepenny pieces, and 121 pennies - a total of 1594 coins, amounting in value to 23 6s 10d.

These figures were greeted with much laughter, which was redoubled when Mr Eaton remarked: "I think we should pass a vote of thanks to the threepenny pieces.''

The speaker added that the collection last Sunday, when anniversary services were held, amounted to 33 8s.

•Our Alexandra correspondent writes: - "At Friday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court (Mr Acheson presiding) a case which caused considerable interest in pastoral circles was decided.

For a long time past every runholder up here has been pestered with hordes of dogs running at large amongst his flocks, and on this occasion Messrs Marshall and Iversen (trustees in the Iversen estate) proceeded for heavy costs for damage done to the Iversen flock by dogs.

Ample evidence was adduced to prove that many of the flock had been worried and the balance badly harassed. The plaintiffs claimed substantial damage, and although the case was ably defended by Mr McKean, solicitor, of Clyde, the magistrate granted the full sum sued for - 87 12s - 12 14s 6d costs.

The case is looked upon as a test one, and as a warning to irresponsible owners of prowling dogs.''

•"During the last 40 years,'' said Mr J. W. McEwan at a Plunket Society concert at Petone "the infantile mortality has been considerably reduced. In the first 33 years it fell from 12 percent to 7 percent, but during the next seven years it fell from 7 percent to 3 percent, which reduction is due largely to the efforts of the Plunket Society, which was formed that year in Dunedin.''

- ODT, 21.6.1916.

 


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