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246 | THe Marine Review Writinc Room oF THE DROTTNING VICTORIA. y smokeroom. The first class dining saloon is a handsome apartment. Sit- uated on the saloon deck, it extends the full width of the ship. It is ex- ceptionally lofty and airy, and contains seating accommodation for 212 people. It is panelled in the stately fashion or the time of Charles' II) and is painted chastely and simply with a delicate and ivory-like white. This room has the popular "well" arrange- ment overhead, with verandas for the bandstand, and the tables are arranged on the restaurant principle. Over the vertical sliding sidelights are handsome iron grilles and leaded lights--a useful and artistic combination, insuring fresh sea air without drafts. On the upper promenade deck is the reading room, a charming apartment. The walls are decorated in the Adam style, with delicate ornaments in low teliet, Lhe floor. is parquetry, ©The furniture is inlaid birch; the carpet is crimson Axminster, and the large mul- lioned windows complete the artistic character and symmetrical beauty of the room. - The lounge is also on promenade deck. The oak panelling of this apartment is restful to the eye, and the ceiling panelling is well worthy of notice. A large and_ well-selected library invites recreation or _ study. Writing tables afford an opportunity for correspondence, and the comfort- able sofas with which the room is -amply furnished, the work tables pro- vided for the industrious, the cosy corners for intimate conversation, and the card tables for those to whom bridge appeals, complete the furnish- ings. The windows contain in stained . tastefully decorated the upper glass effigies of poets, painters, drama- tists, and philosophers. In the smokeroom (also on _ this deck) cosy comfort is the keynote of the decoration and furnishing. The walls are hung with stamped leather and adorned with handsome leaded glass windows at the forward and after end, with graceful symbolic fig- ures of poetry, music, sculpture, and painting. The seats are deep and luxuriously upholstered, of a kind to invite the smoker to lazy enjoyment. The. "rich and- mellow tone: <of the stained glass windows affords a light in which the mahogany seats with their carving and their brown leather coverings fairly glow with a sombre magnificence of coloring. The second class staterooms are on the shelter deck, and the saloon on the middle deck--a very fine apartment, extending the whole width of the ship, to seat 264. The second class library is on the lower promenade deck, and the smokeroom on the upper prome- nade deck--both elegant apartments, in polished hard- wood. The second class passengers on 'this vessel and the Laurentic will find the provision made for their comfort second to none on the Atlantic. The third class dining room, which is aft on the upper deck, is also an exceptionally good room, extending the whole width of the ship. The promenade spaces form a spe- cial attraction, the fullest advantage having been taken of the vessel's size to provide the pleasurable recreation so much enjoyed by Atlantic voyagers. The vessel is fitted up with the latest and most improved Marconi sys- August, 1909 tem of wireless telegraphy, and has. also a submarine signalling apparatus, The Laurentic on her first voyage fulfilled the highest expectations formed of her, and it is safe to predict that the Megantic will also prove a favorite with Canadian passengers. ROYAL MAIL STEAMER BERBICE. The Berbice, the first of the two new twin-screw steamers ordered by the Royal Mail Co, from Harland & Wolff, Ltd. left Belfast on Thurs- day, July 8, and after adjustment of compasses and_ satisfactory trial pro- ceeded for the West Indies. - The Berbice is a very interesting ves- sel, and, although smaller than the large ocean steamers which the Royal Mail Co. have added to its fleet dur- ing recent years, is nevertheless a ves- sel of the most approved design and the latest type. She is a _twin-screw steamer 313 ft. long, 38 ft. 3 in. beam,. and about 2,500 tons, with two sets of quadruple-expansion engines on the "balanced" principle. The principal decks are of steel, and the vessel has been constructed on the same principles as the largest ocean liners. The Royal Mail company, in the construction of the Berbice and _ sister ship, have shown their determination to keep up every branch of their im- portant service in a most. efficient manner, and it is safe to assert that these vessels will maintain the com- pany's high reputation in the inter- colonial trade. The provision imade for both elements of the service, name- ly, passengers and carefully devised. The advance made in the passenger accommodation will be greatly appreciated, and the ar- rangements for dealing with cargo are -- very complete. The Berbice will carry a large num- ber of first and second class passen- gers, also deck passengers. The _ state- rooms are large and airy, and provided with electric fans. The first class cabins are in white enamel, which has both a cool and attractive appearance. The second class cabins are also in white, The first class dining saloon on the main deck extends the whole width of the ship. The sidelights are of large diameter and arranged in pairs, thus insuring ample ventilation, while the provision of jalousie shutters will afford protection from the sun. The ventilation will be assisted by large electric fans. The bridge deck will be entirely de- voted to first class passengers, the lounge being at the forward end and cargo, has been ~