TUG LAUNCHED YESTERDAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1136, 25 May 1911, Page 6

TUG LAUNCHED YESTERDAY.

FOURTH LOCALLY-BUILT BOAT. Shortly alter one o'clock yesterday &£*• tomoou tho blocks that held tho new liarhour tug Muritni were knocked out mid, aiiied by a tow-line lrom tho l'Hot, and. to the accompaniment of the cheers-ot' Iho spectators, the made her debiu in i'ort Nicholson. She was at onco taken in tow by the "i'ilot, and brought to. tho yueen's Whari, where (with the hehi ot a crane) her engines wero lowered on board, it is expected that she will be iinally completed about tho end of June. Before the launching, Jlr. A. E. Mabm (chairman of directors ol the Ferry Company), in addressing those present, said that tho vessel was shortly. to take her place in tho fleet; ot the lorry Company. Sho was only a small boat-not nearly so big as her ill-fated predecessor, tho Duco-but the day ot the. big tug was past. • At one time ocean liners used to bo towed into the port, and take their departure from the stream. Passengers, luggage, etc., had to bo taken on board by a tender, but now largo steamers caino alongside the wharves and depart? Ed without assistance. The Xluritai was tho first vessel built here for U.years*thcro had only been three others-and she retloctcd credit on her builders (Messrs. S. Wood and Son). She was a, practical illustration of tho progress made bv the Wellington Ferry Company, 110 wished her good luck and a great earning capacity. Jlo then called on Mrs. Mabm to name the new boat. He added that, as this was the day of the opening of Industrial Exhibition, it waj thought filling that they should 'sup. port New Zealand industries and therefore a bottle of New Zealand wine wri used instead of champagne. ■Vftcr the 'launching, Mr. H. W. Shorlt, Mayor of' Eastbourne, congratulated tho Ferry Company on this evident sign of progress, and wished the owners success in "their now venture. Sir. E. F. G. Zohrab. manager of tho company, replied on behalf of the directors, the Slurilai, he stated, was alreadv ..engaged for her first "job," and, no doubt, tho company would shortly bo building another vessel. Tho health of tho builders was then honoured. '