A CANVAS CANOE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue II, 29 November 1889, Page 2

A CANVAS CANOE.

■1 . j Local, industry .is exemplified in i| the construction of a canvas canoe by [ Mr A Fraser. The other, day wo I had the pleasure of inspecting it, and also in watching certain evolutions [; performed by the own<n* whilst in it. | The canoe has not been the offspring ' of his own thought, hut has been. f e'irefully copied from the description of how t) mak* one, described in '• The Boys Own Annual "for -1886-6. The le gth over all is 12 feet 6in and the breadth 2ft 4in, and the d pih 9 inches. Al the timber thafc is used is a piece required for a keel, the back and. foot boards, the. timber rouud the outs de of the frame, and the scrips so h.s to shape the c nvas out. The whole has been covered with strong- calico t\v cc oi.led, und twice painted. The whole turn out, with the xeeption of t^he paddle, is the work of Mr Frasor, and he is proud to possess a cr dt that Bits the -vatoi like a duck, for the small expenditure in oasM of thirty shillings. That the boat if* •rustworthy is assured, a the owner has mad.c many trips, and only the other day paddled to Shannon and back, 'l o i oake the boat more secure, in case by some untowai'd accident the covering got torn, two bullock bladders* inflated, have been secured undei the covering both fore and affe, the effect of which would be, M "raaer believes, to < eep tho boat afloat even if full of water, with himself in it.! He fiid not, however, putt the trial to a test in our presence, thoug;h we should have liked to have witnessed it. There is no doubt that the canoe is as light as she can be made, being easily carried, and but lifctln effort is required, ta move h«er through (if over is not the proper description) fie wat-r We oougratu a'.e Mr Fraser on the s >ccesf vii accomplishment of his in lustry.