IRON STEAMSHIP BUILDING IN AUCKLAND.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 616, 9 June 1876, Page 4

IRON STEAMSHIP BUILDING IN AUCKLAND.

The Auckland Serald says The action c£ the tforth Shore Ferry Company in sending to England for an iron steamer for the Thames trade has caused a stir not only in —Auckland, bub- also,, at the Thames, and a company is being formed for the purpose of building an iron steamer in Auckland and employing her in the Thames trade. In another column the prospectus of the new company,is set forth. The directors are all gentlemep residing at the Thames, but they ‘ have power to ad d to'.’their number, and addition's will be .made .when the canvass for shares is concluded at Auckland and Coromandel., Between six’ and seven hundred, shares have already been taken np here,

and about -two hundred and fifty in small lots have-‘been subscribed for at the Thames. ' AJcontract is to be entered into with Messrs Fraser and Tinne, for the construction of a first-class iron steamer, suitable for the traded : The boat is to be replete with every modern improvement and accommodation,;.and-to be-ready by December next. The. cost of the steamer is estimated.at and the capital of the comnany is nlaced at £12,500. Messrs Fraser and TiniJe guarantee a speed of twelve knots perhour. An arrangement has been .entered into that, should the speed prove less.,than this, the builders forfeit at the rate of £IOOO per ; knot, while they are to receive a bonus of £IOOO for every knot over the twelve knots per hour. Her dimensions will be—length of keel, HOft ; breadth of. Beam, 18ft; depth of hold, 9ft. She i will be a puddle-wheel steamer, with feathering floats, driven by a powerful compound oscillating engine with tiyo boilers. Her saloon will be aft’ the cabin to be 46ft in lengthy and similar to the saloon of the Golden Crown. The ladies’ Cabin will be in a Seefc-bonse, built somewhat similar., to the Boyal Alfred’s. Good steerage accommodation will also be provided.,,ln addition id which, the vessel estimated t 0... be able to carry from thirty to forty, tops ( o£,cargo, ,:With the speed expected from lsej engines of the proposed power, {he Upp to. and. from the Thames is estimated to occupy less than four hours. A Irawing otythe jaew jsteamer is on view in Messrs Eraser and inne h*rsa mpdel of her at 'J Qeir foundry. interest in the K one-eleventh of the liances they doubt that ' witb tbe ap ' •« Jr Messrs Fraser and LJrJ3£ in turning out a boat jam- specification, and the success of tbe „ „er will be: the commencement of the *ade of iron steamship-building in Auck•nd.” I »• \ ■ ■