Saloon, Balclutha

One at a time? all the best Mac.

doesnt look much like a mess room to me Stein

A mess room it isn't Kotteman. It is mostly captain's private quarters and reception room, and then dining room for the after-guard. But the furnishing I feel free to doubt, the Yanks are not such sticklers for authenticity. To begin with I would exchange that bottle rack hanging under the skylight with two large petrol lamps in a cardanic suspension. Then if keeping those plush chairs at all, I would add some wooden swinging ones, or simply two benches around a substantially larger table. In spite of what it looks like, due to camera distortion, to the right is aft, right ahead is starboard. The open door is to a spare cabin, to the left of this is the Master's bathroom. Ahead of this the Master's cabin, In front the salon: stairs and pantry, on port side: officers cabins (steward, mates). Aft of the salon, after peak/sail locker. And that's it. Regards, Stein.

yes I would question the authenticity of the furnishings aswell, the table is not even sufficient for a game of cards, I originally thought this would have been part of the captains saloon but the table would certainly be big enough for agents and customs etc to complete paperwork and have a drink.

This is the Captain's saloon, or just the saloon. That's where the after-guard had their meals. And the steward actually had the entrance to his cabin in the saloon. And outside their stuffy little cabins (if there were two of them) there were nowhere else to go for the mates to go. So the name is not perfectly accurate, it is mostly the Captain's quarters. The Master's private cabin/office was quite roomy, so if he wanted to live in near complete seclusion he could stay there, rather than force the mates to sit on their bunks! If he had his wife onboard, and perhaps even children, then the officers must have had to be considered family; this is not a liner or a super-tanker: space is restricted. Regards, Stein.