New Zealand - Wellington - RMS Ruapehu, Arrival of an international ship was a major event - Circa 1910 - ZAK Photo - Real Photo Postcard Format #332362 - The RMS Ruapehu was built by William Denny & Bros at Dumbarton Scotland for the New Zealand Shipping Co, Ltd., (NZSSCo). She was 7,705 GRT (Gross Registered Tons) and as built she offered accommodations for 340 passengers, in three classes as well as steerage. - Commenced early in 1900, she was launched on February 21, 1901 and after a rapid fitting out process of her interiors, she ran her sea trails and was duly delivered to the NZSSCo in London on April 18, 1901. Her First and Second Class public rooms were fitted out in a high quality and well furnished, whilst the cabins were known to offer from supreme to good comfort. Although little is known about the Third Class, but knowing the NZSSCo they would have been of a relatively good standard! - As stated earlier, the RMS Ruapehu offered accommodations for just 340 passengers, being 40 in First Class, 50 Second Class and 80 Third Class, however there was also space 170 Steerage passengers, but they shared the Third Class public facilities. Steerage passengers were berthed in temporary quarters in the ‘tween-cargo-decks. However, the NZSSCo decided remove steerage just five years later in 1906 as they felt it was no longer required, thus from that time until her final days she accommodated just 170 passengers in three classes. -The Ruapehu had been advertised to make her maiden voyage from London to New Zealand in April 1901; however she did not enter her official duties with NZSSCo until December of that year. This was entirely due because the Ruapehu had been chartered by the Allan Line who had paid an excellent, if not a superb price, to operate the ship for five return voyages to Canada. For this service Allan Line temporarily renamed her SS Australasian. Upon conclusion of the charter, in November she was returned to the NZSSCo in London and her original name was restored, and was made ready for her very first halfway around the world voyage. - RMS Ruapehu departed from London with great fanfare on December 5, 1901 for her official maiden voyage to Wellington New Zealand She sailed via Cape Town, several Australian ports, Auckland, arriving at her destination Wellington New Zealand where she was made very welcome! - She sailed on without any mishaps and she proved to be a reliable, good and a sturdy ship. In 1906 the steerage section was removed and she was now just a three-class ship. - In 1911 she had further changes as she became a two-class ship and she now carried just Second and Third Classes, with First class moving into the original First Class section and Third Class now occupied both Second and the original Third Class areas, thus giving far more space and superior facilities. Now they paid according to their cabin level of comfort and location. (source - https://ssmaritime.com/Ruapehu.htm)