THE SHIRLEY HASSELL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1586, 17 October 1905, Page 3

THE SHIRLEY HASSELL.

GISBORNE SHEEPFARMERS’ COY’S NEW STEAMER,

The Gisborne Shoopfarmors’ Company's now staamor, tho Shirley Hassell, arrived in the Bay shortly nftor fonr yoatorday I afternoon from Sydney. The Company’s steamer Nautilus, with tho manager, ohiof engineer, chairman of directors and others aboard, wont out to meet tho inooming steamer, and gave her a tow lino into tho river. A largo number of people witnessed tho entry into tho river of the Company’s now purohase. Tho vessel left Sydnoy at 12 85 p.m. on tho 7th inst. and experionoed fresh southwesterly gales and heavy seas on tho run noross. Tho Zoalandia was paseod at 2 p.m. on Saturday bound wost. Capo Maria Van Dieman was passed on Satnrday morning at 12.20 a.m. and the Norrh Cape at 2,10 a.m. Tho East Capo was' passed at six yesterday morning, light winds and smooth water being experienced to port. The Shirley Hassell was built 12 months ago by Messrs Moore and Whatmoro, Jervis Bay, and was used in tho timber trade between New South Wales and Bonth Australia. She is 79 tons rogister, and has a gross register of 141 tons. The vessel is oarvel built, hardwood being used throughout. She has a length of 105 2-10 ft, breadth 24 8-10 ft, depth of ' hold 6ft 6in, She has compound snrfaoo condensing engines by Plenty and Sons, Newbury, England, tho boiler being by Chapman and Co., of Sydney. An important featnre of tho run aoross was that the log showed that in the total distance of 1609 miles, whioh was done at an overage speed of 7.84 knots, there was not a single stoppage of the engines. The steamer oarries 51,000 ft of hardwood or 100,000 ft of light piDe or kauri. Her offioial number is 117667. The vessel at present carries 12 oi a orew, bnt that number will not bo required for lighterage or ooastal work. Sbo has oxoellent accommodation, there being a mess room and aooommodation for four aft, master’s cabin amidships, and foreoastle aooommodation for eight. The steamer is commandod by Captain Sewell, who had commanded the vessel for her former owner, Mr A. H. Hassell, for the past twelve months. Mr Preddy is ohief engineer. Captain Sewell was second officer on the A.U.S.A, Co.’s Pilbarra, whioh became disabled through breaking her fonr propellers in very heavy weather about seven or eight months ago at the New Hebrides on her way from Numea to Fiji. Sewell volunteered to take tho ship’s boat and go for assistance, but there was such a heavy sea running that it was not until 20 hoars had passed that the captain |of the vossel would allow him to make the_ attempt,

When tbs intrepid officer with font men departed for Port Vila for assistance those on board the Pilbarra did not expeot to see them again. An idea can be formed of the sea that was running from the faot of the Bhip’s boat covering the 300 miles to Port Vila in 04 hours. Here a oatter was

chartered, and Sewell beat down ibe group again, where he picked up the luduna, which took the disabled vessel iu tow.

Obief Engineer Preddey has also had his share of shipwreck, and was an officer on board the Tasmania which was wreoked

on Mahia reef.