MOLYNEUX RIVER TRAFFIC.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 27, 14 January 1875, Page 5

MOLYNEUX RIVER TRAFFIC.

: ■*■ = - -- t - THE NEW STERN- WHEEL BTEAMEK. In these days when travelling by locomotive has become? so to speak, the order of tbe day, we are apt to overlook the real importance of our river traffic. Still, it has a commercial significance, and the experience of other places proves that instead ,of superseding, railway communication has •he efft ct of increasing it. The river Cl\ de is a' notable example in point. The steamboat traffic to and from Glasgow never at no time assumed the proportions it has done until the railway to Greenock was opened. The one operated as a wholesome check upon the other, and commerce generally gained the advantage ; an advantage amply repaid by the increased trade that has been done. We look forward to similar results being brought about by the opening of the through-line to Dunedin, as well as the construction of the proposed branch lines. Of late the river traflfa hae not given the amount of satisfaction it did some time ayo. This is no doubt due, in a great measure, to the fact that the sea going steamers have not had the river steamer to assist thf mm crrrying on the work. That drawback: is in a very fair way of being obviated. Indeed, arrangements are being made which leaves little or no doubt but tbat this part of the service will be placed on a much more efficient footing than it :as ever been on any previous occasion. The new stern- wheel steamer now on the stocks will have carrying capacities equal to four times that of its predecessor. Reduced to vulgar fractions the relative pro portions will st ar , u thus:— The Tua peka at no time took more than 250 hags of produce at one trip, whereas her successor will be capable of carrying at leas? 1000.- This increase of accommodation is due, not so much to increased proportions as to improvements in the build. For in-s-anoe, the old craft was 90 feet long, with an 18 foot beam. The new vesstl is only somi- 30 feet more the one wav, «md three feet the othtr. Her deck, however, wdl be about two fett higher. A very simple form of arithmetic will prove that these increased dimensions do' not of themselves account for the increased accommodition. The secret lies mainly the design; the bilge of the new craft being much fuller than that of the Tuapeka. So much is this the case, that the bottom is just about as wide as the deck ; the sides being built as near as might be perpeudicular, instead ot being rounded away towards the keel. The deck-house, wheel-house, and other cumbersome fittings which characterised the Tuapeka, will be wholly dispensed | with excepting a kind of fit. d bridge uo athe s^ern, btneath which the jjaliev, and a j few bunks suffi.-ieut to accommodate the learner's employees will be constructed. By this, change the rate of speed in the on will be maintained as great, if not greater than that of the other, despi c the extra amount of diad weight carried under de.-k. On the other hand, the alteration, of bilg will so incnase the buoyancy that whereat the Tuapeka drew three feet pf water when light, the new steamer is not expected to draw more than 18 iuches. At this stage of our remarks, we cannot do better thw reprint the following ixJract from a borne publication. It may be of service to tincontractors in carrying on their work : — " A number of scientific gentlemen connected with improvements in steam naviga tion were present at the trial of a steamer *pt'cially adapted for shallow rivers, builr hy Messrs Yarrow and Hedley of Poplar It is believed to be the shallowest steamer ever constructed, the draught of water with s f eatn up being but six inches. The 'steamer subjected to trial is the first which Messrs Yarrowand Hedley are coostructine for tbe Bmzl Government, the conditions being that the vessel shall not draw more than seven inches with steam up and fully equipped, and not mare than two hches hi excess, with two persons on bo rd, and not of too great a size to exclude its beint; exported whole to the Brazils on a ship's deck. To meet these requirement", thtvessel tested po3?e3sed a length of 45 feet ft is entirely flat- bottomed, except at the bows, and constructed of steel, though it is intended to build the remainder of the fleet of copper. The machinery placed amid ships consists of a pair of inclined dent sating engines, 5£ inches diameter by 10 inch stroke, working at 230 lbs per squar. inch, and driving paddles on each side 54 inches diameter. The engines make 80 revolutions per minute, giving a speed of eight miles an hour, the consumption of I coal b. irjj_» 40 lbs an hour. There ig accommodation for 40 passengers, 20 forward an-t the same uumber at the stirn. The boat with a full compliment of passengers underwent a variety of experiments opposite the Temple pur, to show the facility with which (he vessel answered to her helm, and could be put about in rough water, for 'he river was rougher than it has been known for some years. It then started for Greenwich at ha^f-past one, reaching the Gveenwich pie* in less than half an hour, and notwithstanding tbe roughness of the water, the draught at no period exceeded eight inches The trial was pronounced *-y the scientific gentlemen on board to be a perfect success, and the steadiness of the vessel under the most adverse circumstances was remarkable." To return, however, to the subject more narticularly on band. As many of the fittings of tbe old steamer a? can be made available, are being made u«e of in conJ structing the new one. In particular the boilers and the old machiney have been so employed; 'he former after bt ing unshipped and examined wa-* found in first-rate condition. A few repairs will have to be msde upon the machinery but *he«e we understand are not of a very costly nature. The stern- wheel will also be transhipped and used in the new craft as well as various other fittings and appendage*. ; As an evidence if substantial character of the work,' w^ niay state. that each of the timbers for the:) new boat would make at least two of theiotber. With the exception of the flooring "for which costly American timber is used, the vessel will be built of native wood, prin cipally birch, got out of the adjoining bush. Tbe work is being kept back for want of -a sufficient .number of hands, still there is no^ rrason to suppose the steamer will not be ready for launching by the end of February or, beginning of Mai-ch. So far as it has gone, the workmanship is most substantial, and as an enterprise closely connected with ;the trade of the district; it is 'worthy of the highest commendatiofl that c«n lie bestowed qm^fo : : r: .-. K '\y-,:.,y .:,:.;..* *';-_ ■