THE S.S. LAWRENCE.

Manawatu Herald, 15 October 1889, Page 2

THE S.S. LAWRENCE.

» *- On Frida}' morning the long looked for screw steamer Lawrence steamed up tins river to the wharf. She is by far the largest steamer that has over entered the Manawatu, • measuring 160 feet over all with 28 feet beam. She has a very large carrying capacity on a very. , light draught of water, as though her net register; is 246 tons and gross register 350 tons, she can easily carry 400 tons of coal. The Lawrence was built in Punderland in 1884 and has been purchased by her present owners only lately in Australia where she was employed in the cattle trade. She is admirably adapted for stock, having very large hatchways andf good flooring, the h eighth of tae hold being 8 feet 6 inches. : Below decks she can t ike 60 head and 100 head on deck. To secure tho health of the beasts in the hold, there has been piwided a steam fan, which when at work creates a most powerful draught and draws away all unheatliy exhalations. The engines are 88 horse power, and she steams 8 knots. The steamer is not clipper built her bows being ■rather bluff, but she should be &% % excellently steady sea boat. The stealing gear is fitted to work with steam, thus reducing the labour so that a child could guide her. We forgot to mention that with 60 cattle in her hold she can take 700 sheep on deck. Hoy capacity for stock seems larger than the demand is , likely to be for her space. The passenger accomodation is small but very comfortable, each passenger being, provided with a separate sleeping cabin. The steamer is commanded by Captain James Leys, tijo. : chief engineer is Mr Griffiths, $he . chief mate Mr McDonad, and the second mate Mr Blue. . „ .: ; . . The Lawrepce leffc Westpprfc ..at 10.30 on Thursday and arrived at Foxton at 11.15 .on Friday, and crossed the bar drawing only 6 feet fi inches forward and 7 feet aft. The captain speaks very well <cU?,thV port, and st ites he had no difficulty in crossing or coming up the river. The assistant pilot Sciascia brought the steamer up to the wharf. .fche, had 200 tons of coal on board and^ /^ took in 46 head of cattle for Man?6i£ jf ' for Greyniouth. , . . .^" It is proposed that she will take., up a regular trade here twice a month with coal, . Mr James Liddell is her agent and' ' also acts as agent for the disposal of her coal cargoes. ; . , :