NEW STEAMER FOR GISBORNE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 519, 4 September 1902, Page 2

NEW STEAMER FOR GISBORNE.

[By Telegraph—Press Association.] Auckland, last night,

Messrs Kennedy and Evans, of Gisborne, have placed an order with local firms for a 10-knot cargo steamer to trade with Poverty Bay ports and lighter frozen meat to tho large steamers. Sho will have cargo space of 120 tons, and bo fitted with insulating chambers, and will be launched in December.

Tho new steamer, wo learn on enquiry, is to bo 70ft to 80ft keel, with deck space of 85ft by 17ft, tho depth of hold being 7ft 6in, She will have compound engines of about 100 h.p., and will be of diagonal build. It is expected that the power will give a speed of at least ten knots. Tho builder is Air W. H. Brown, shipbuilder, and Messrs Fraser and Sons supply tho machinery. A steam winch is to he provided, fitted with every necessary appliance,overythingbeing up-to-date. The boat has been specially designed and is being specially built to suit tho needs of tho port, and also for any emergency such as sometimes occurs. When light the draught will he between five and six feet, and loaded should be about 7ft. It is expected that she will be able to carry ioo tons under hatches. The firm of Messrs Kennedy and Evans feel that they must keep pace with the requirements of the port, and have taken into consideration that the very large steamers now coming to the Bay to load cargoes for the Home market lie so much further out than was the case with steamers of lighter draught. For that reason the lightering firm will further merit the public confidence placed in them by providing a more powerful boat to do the work of towing, etc., with the greatest despatch possible under the conditions prevailing. The machinery is a duplicate of that on the Auckland coasting steamer Rob Roy, a vessel which gives a speed of ten knots, although having the additional obstacle of a deck-house. The Rob Roy encounters a rough bar, and has proved a splendid sea boat.