THE S.S. GO-AHEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 82, 13 April 1870, Page 2

THE S.S. GO-AHEAD.

This pretty little vessel has lately been undergoing a thorough overhaul alongside the breakwater, and yesterday shipped her new boiler. She was always a model on which the eyes of a seaman dwelt with approbation, and from a casual glance one would have thought she was a rapid sailer. But there was a deficiency about her which materially detracted from her value, and that was her want of speed — she was not such a rapid sailer as she ought to have been from the appearance and general build; soon after our enterprising townsman, Mr. S. H. Smith, purchased her he determined, if possible, to rectify her shortcoming. Her boiler was found to be not nearly large enough for the engine, which, in consequence, exhausted the whole thus rendering the working of the screw weak and irregular. Her new boiler, made by Mr. Yoeman, of Albert-street, is double the capacity of the old one; and, from its appearance, will make a good head of steam. It ia of first-class workmanship, and it is now hoped that the speed of this favourite little ■teamer will be much augmented, and she will no doubt be a great favourite with visitors and settlers having occasion to go to the Waikato and Kaipara, for which trade she ia intended. The rig of the G-o-Ahead hss, we understand, been considerably modified. Formerly she carried three masts —she will in future carry but two, being rigged like the s.s. Sturt, which is perhaps the most serviceable rig afloat The bulwarks, which were before only about a foot and eight inches high, have now been heightened to four feet; and many other little alterations have been made, which will have the effect of considerably improving her. In the centre of the vessel a circular deck house, embracing the whole breadth of the vessel—twenty feet, and twenty feet long, is being built by Mr. Bartley, who has the contract for fitting it up as a saloon. At the entrance of i this are two berths, one for the captain and the other for the engineer. The cabin itself is to be handsomely and substantially fitted up with mottled kauri, and when completed, will be a most comfortable apartment, and afford accommodation for a large number of passengers. Jhe captain's cabin that was, is to be altered, and transformed into a ladies' saloon ; while forward, the steerage will be enlarged and greatly improved. As formerly, she will be commanded by Captain Watson, and, as mentioned before, is intended fur the Kaipara and Waikato trade. Mr. Smith deserves well of the public for the enterprising spirit he has ■hown on all occasions as the owner of passenger boats, and we feel quite sure that the expense which he has been put to in undertaking »uch extensive improvements in the steamer Go-Ahead, will not be overlooked by the travelling public, who may have occasion to visit either the Kaipara or the Waikato; and who, we doubt not, on such occasions, will invariably give the, steamer in question a fair •hare of their patrpnage. , , -,