Oceania

Orion Visits Fr.

U.S. Millionaire’s Palatial Yacht

From Our Own Correspondent.

PAPEETE, March 29.

Mr. Julius Forstmann, American

millionaire industrialist, who owns one of the largest wollen mills in the world at New Jersey, paid a visit to Tahiti recently in his palatial yacht Orion. After making a tour of the Lee ward group, the vessel sailed for Los Angeles on March 15.

Luxury and hospitality on a fantastic scale are the predominating impressions of a visit aboard this German-built craft, which was launched at Kiel in 1929, There is also, however, a very noticeable disci pline and a quiet efficiency among the crew, which is unusual on a vessel devot ed to pleasure. This is no doubt account ed for to a great extent by the fact that the Orion is captained by a German ex naval officer, and that many of the crew of 56 have seen naval service.

The Orion is 400 feet in length and has a registered tonnage of 1600. She Is equipped with Krupp Deisel engines, which enable her to keep up a steady 15 knots per hour. As might be expected on such a vessel, the wireless installation, which employs four operators, contains the latest and most elaborate devices. There is also a beam steering apparatus for use in foggy weather, and an automatic re cording sonic sounding equipment which flashes a coloured light apd starts a bell ringing in the pilot house whenever the vessel is approaching water below a cer tain depth. For exercise, as well as amusement, there is a very large swim ming bath, a gymnasium containing elec tric riding horses and rowing machines, and many more unusual innovations.

A native entertainment was given on the after deck of the Orion during her stay in Papeete. The visitors also took part in one of the celebrated stone Ashing events, arranged for them by the people of Borabora.