STEAM LAUNCHES.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 3, 23 July 1874, Page 3

STEAM LAUNCHES.

V Whilst the demand for railways continues j to increase in all parts of the Colony, it is ! well to direct public attention to the facilities given us by nature for steam communication ittipur numerous estuaries, rivers, and lakes, There cannot be less than several thousand miles of navigable waters in this Colony, capable of being turned to account in opening up the country by the general adoption of steam launches and other descriptions- of small steamers of shallow draught. Hitherto,. when laying off lines of railways, little or no attention has been given to the importance of making the existing facilities lor water communication t-erve as feeders to the railways. We have been led to these remarks after a perusal of the list and photographs published by Messrs Yarrow and Hedley, of London, who have for years passed made the construction of steam launches and other small steamers for all parts of the world a specialty, and have brought them to a high degree of perfection, adapting them for any description" of fuel, and at prices which are exceedingly moderate. In all parts of the world their launches are corning into increasing use. Last year they shipped to South America alone upwards of 30, varying from 30 to 100 ft. in length, but the number is a mere earnest of what wiil be required iv that great Continent when the extensive railways now in course of construction there are completed.. In the * Engineer' of the 30th January, 1874, an entire page is devoted to elaborate engravings of a steam launch constructed by this firm ior the Brazilian Government, to be used for harbor service at Rio de Janeiro, and describedjn that journal as follows:— "LeDgth, 48ft;; beam, 9ft;. drauget 4ft. Draught forward, 3ft 6'm. Proportions suited to withstand the rough weather met with at times in the Bay of Rio. The machinery consists of a single 10 inch cylinder, 8£ stroke, supplied with steam from an ordinary return tubular boiler. On the trial trip, a continuous speed of 10£ statue miles was maintained, the engine indicating 50---horse power, maksng 255 revolutions per minute with 90lbs of steam. This little crait serves as a good sample of a thoroughly serviceable steam launch, aud maintains the high reputation of the builders." An Engli.-h paper, commenting on the same launch, remarks as follows : — " Tbe great importance of steam launches of shallow draught, for the farreaching fluvial waters of South America, by means of which, in the absence of other facilities for transport, access eau be obtained to vast and undeveloped regions of the interior of that continent, is too obvious to require discussion. Many have already been built to private and public order, and have been found exceedingly applicable in opening up new and almost unknown ground. Our attention has been particularly directed to the steam launch built by Messrs < Yarrow and Hedley, for the Brazilian Government, and iutendedfor harbour service at Rio de Janeiro. It has/just been shipped onboard the steamer Bonita for the Brazilian capital. "As a specimen of marine architecture on a small scale, nothing could be more perfect in all its parts than this steam hunch, which will fully / sustain, though it can hardly add to, the high' and merited reputation of the builders. She is provided with an awning to protect the; crew and passengers from the effects of • the tropical sun, and iv all other resp.ecf s is fitted with every other requisite for/cohvenience and, comfort, on. board. The and the internal cabin; laya^ arrangements are "wonderfully/co mplete, Indeed,, tb.e^ admira^le^^manne.^ in which space;ha^'b^|n jifilised [and ..economised is a pr6o£p£ffie^g^ that mjU9tSh||ve^ by the ■^^^^oioS&^^^ Jiv^sult of their ;y#ilW pflfh* iydescr iptipn.^ ;'"■•'■' - •'' - • - ReVetiug'i ;*^ln' ?H6\"-Messrs Yarrow and Hedleyjsvlistwe find;that^heir. lunches are comiugrifito increasing demand iii England as pleasure boats, fishing boats, and also/as tugs! As ships' boats, launches of abojaf 30 feet in lerigeth- serve as tenders when off a port ; and an^casej^la; c*4m, -;can jje employee! to tow the/; ship into a region ;pf; ■ fair wirld- - The working expiefhses are very/ /small— -in England_jthey amount to about -•fUteerTshiUings a day' including all charges',; for a iauirch';43; feet^byy.S feet, having a speed of ten miles ah houf,"the consumption of fuel bemgabput t>cwt, and v man and bpy ' are, aii.the, crew -reqired. Amongst others,/

the following seems wtll suited for many : of the'" rivers, etc., in this "Colony; and is j described thus :-— ," No. 75. A twin-screw river .steamer, built for the navigation of the Yangtse-Kiaog. It was 72 feet Ibng by 12^ feet beam having a draught of three feet, and a Bpeed of*ten milesVau hour." The following is the description of a tug, which might with advantage be stationed at such roadsteads as Oamaru, >: Timaru Taranaki, Napier, etc. It is described thus :— " No. 85. A small tug boat fitted with steam winch forward, and a steam fire pump aft. It was 40 feet in length, 10 feet in beam ; draught of water Bfeet 6 inches/ when in working trim. ' We commend this subject to the earnest consideration of authorities and all those interested in the development of the resources of the Colony. Water communication is the cheapest known. The Colony possesses immense advantages in thia respect, not merely as regards its water systems, but* a-.so in its extensive coal deposits and its forests, which would Btrve lor motive power. Launches up to~4s~feet iu*length may be carried on a ship's deck, and with the large number of emigrant vessels now coming to the Colony, the freigh'tTon such should be merely nominal, as these ships are bound by Imperial Statute to provide themselves with boat accommodation in proportion' to the number of t assengers. They may also be shipped in three or more sections. The cost oi standard iron launches ranges from £iTQ for one 23 feet long, with seats for 8 persons, draugt of water about 2 feet , and 5 actual horsepower; a similar one, if built of teak, being £230; or if built of pine L 192. All portions of the machinary being made toljgause, any part can be replaced with the certainty of its fitting. Messrs Darling and Co., of Prince 3 street, Dunedin," are authorised to receive orders for Meseres Yarrow and Hedley, and can supply all detailed information on. this subject. — * Otasyo Daily Times.' -