FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 92, 15 October 1932, Page 21

FIFTY YEARS AGO

A conception of the ship of the Z U ,1 Was given ' hi r a correspondent, to "Die Post" fifty years ago as follows:—"An iron vessel built in compartments with an iron deck, airtight covered on the upper side with wood; in the deck over each compartment an airtight trapdoor or manhole with airtap; one iron box with air-tap made large enough to hold a man; then un air pump and tube to be worked by the engmc or by manual power." The idea was to connect the pump to the leaking compartment and by pumping air in, keep the water out. By means of the iron box and trapdoor men could be sent down to repair tho leak or shift cargo.

Early in October, 1882, the steamer Manawatu made a trial trip round the harbour after having been converted from a paddle to a.screw steamer. The work was done on Coffee's slip, and tho ship was fitted with 40 h.p. compound engines designed by Mr. Cable, of the Lion Foundry. It was announced at the time that the owners of the Stornibird were so impressed with the success of the Manawatu job that they decided to have their ship similarly c'ouvertcd. The barque Port Glasgow, which, ;is recalled in these colunins last week, was. damaged when forced to put out to sea from New Plymouth by a storm, returned to port on Bth October, and her owners stated that, after completing discharge, she would proceed to Wellington for repairs. An announcement at. this time with regard to the Union Steam Ship Company's steamers stated that the Penguin was being fitted with new boilers and engines and improved passenger accommodation. The recent arrival of the Omapero had allowed the Mahinapua to be placed permanently in the service for which she was designed, and she would make fortnightly trips between Dunedin, Lyttelton, Wellington, and the West .Coast ports of tho South Island. On account of the increased trade with Fiji, the Taiaroa was replaced by the Hero and transferred to tho Timaru trade.