lO 



ing:; on the steamer an early acquaintance, hailing from 

 Johore, after gfoing- linto detailed accounts of the systems 

 of tapping- rubber trees, innocently advised me to read 

 — my own book. I kept under cover until he brought 

 me a copy of my own misery, when I considered the time 

 opportune to offer an explanation. 



However, I am living in the hope that a month of 

 tossing waves and blue skies wiill work wonders. 



Bubber Tiling on Steamers. 



It will interest British rubber manufacturers to learn 

 that nearly all the new N.D.L. steamers are being sup- 

 plied with rubber tiling. The ss. " Kaiser Wilhelm der 

 Grosse " was, according to information obtained from 

 the steward, the first N.D.L. boat on which rubber tiling 

 for floors was tried. The results have been so satisfac- 

 tory thait this, like other steamship companies, has de- 

 cided to use more of it wherever practicable. I was told 

 thait the N.D.L. Company placed, their first orders with 

 an Amenican firm, but that conttraots are now being 

 given to Bremen and Cologne houses. So far I have 

 not 'beei)! informed of any orders being placed with 

 British fi-rms by this line. 



There is a fair amount of rubber tiling on the " Prinz 

 Eitel Fniedrich," the Gummifaforik Roland, Bremen, 

 having laid down the presen't flooring some three to 

 four years ago. The material has lasted well, there being 

 no apparent wear even on the most frequently used floors ; 

 a bright and cheerful appearance is presented by the 

 colouring and pattern adopted ; cleanliness is easily and 

 rapidly effected. 



The floor of the smoking saloon lis vi^ashed once, and 

 that along the corridors, etc., three times every day._ I 

 Imagine that the d'eposit of water is equdvalent to a fairly 

 respectable rainfall, but with ithis difference — the moisture 

 IS not allowed to soak in. There is not the amount of lift- 

 ing or separation at the joints which one might at first 

 expect, and the surface remains relatively level through- 

 out. 



The exact area which has been tiled is difficult to 

 determine, but a few rough measurements were made. 

 The smoking saloon has a floor space of about seven 



