S.S. GAEL

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1928, Page 1

S.S. GAEL

THE LOCAL PURCHASE. Some further particulars of the s.s. Gael, purchased from the Northern Shipping Coy. will he of interest; particularly to southern readers, to whom her service promises to l>e of special value. ' ... On behalf of the Westland Shipping Coy. Mr 9. S. Dawes, formerly of Hokitika. made a preliminary report on the steamer, from which the following particular.-, are extracted:

'Hie steamer Gael is a soft wood vessel. built of kauri. throe skin diagonal, by Gluts Bailey in 1904. She is (Soft, long, 17ft. oin. beam. 6ft. 7in. depth, 9o tons gross and do tons nett. Ihe machinery is well aft. and when light she draws 3ft. forward and 6ft. 2in. aft. The hold being forward, when loaded she comes up aft, her loaded di aught being dft. fiin. forward and oft. Bin. aft. The hold measurement is 1911. d cubic foot. say dO tons measurement, or tons dead weight cargo capacity, with a bunker capacity of 10 tons. •She has passenger accommodation for •>() passengers (in main cabin below) with ladies’ cabin on deck. I here is a good deck space forward. The bridge deck and shelter deck are aft. There is a dynamo and electric- light. She is a single screw steamer, machinery by Plenty and Sons (a well known maker), compound surface condensing, cylinders llin. by 22in. by Min. stroke, boiler pressure lODlbs. Pier indicated horse power should ho well over 100 h.p. but is set down at 98; sea speed from 8 to 9 knots. The length of her hold is 23ft bv 7ft. height. She was surveyed on OQth. August last, and is in commission, running to various coastal ports at present.

The boiler was retubed throughout and new furnaces were put in in 1907. Apparently the boiler is in quite good condition, as the steam pressure has not been cut down. The Gael is probably as suitable a boat for the trade as is procurable without having a vessel specially built. As the annual survey at Auckland is a strict one. it may be taken as sufficient wnrrantry of the condition of the hull and machinery. .Blu* is practically ready for sea at any time, which is a great advantage. She will carry a crew of five.

Ah- P. Renton. Chairman of the Shipping Coy. lias arranged a lull freight for the steamer to Hokitika. She is having a final overhaul before sailing, a new hulk head being put in to provide three water-tight compartments. The cargo to Hokitika will consist mainly of sugar, cement and kauri timber.