The P. S. Nile,

Manawatu Herald, 14 June 1898, Page 2

The P. S. Nile,

♦ On Saturday afternoon we had aflp opportunity of visiting the new steamer that Captain Kemp- and Mr Jupp have purchased for the river trade. Whenever a new boat appears in these waters diverse opinious are freely expressed and we were

therefore naturally auxiou3 for ar opportunity to board her and inspeci the boat for ourselves. Whatevei use she may be for her owners foi the trade she was purchased for that of conveying green flax dowr the river to the mills, is what the] can best speak of, and the partners assured "s that she was better it every way than they had expected Being a paddle boat it was doubtec if a punt could be carried alongside, but experience has proved it can bt so very con veniently : it was asserted that she would draw too much watei for the river, but as she had made three or four trips by the time we visited her, this suspicion was disposed of. She draws four feet sis inches to five feet six inches and there is only one shallow ju3t below the ferry which is troublesome at any time. She can carry in the forehold 15 tons and in the afterhold 10 tonp, and with the help of the punt she can bring a very large cargo. Tbus it seems the P.S. Nile answers to the wishes of her purchasers. As an excursion boat she is a most desirable acquisition to the port as she is not only a good model, but is nioely fitted up, and a lengthy trip on her would be most enjoyable. The length of tho steamer overall is 72 feet with 66 feet length of keel, and she has a beam of 13 feet six inches, and measuring aoross the paddle-boxes her beam would be 22 feet. The depth of hold is five feet six inches. She is a splendidly built boat being aU of steel, the under plates being a quarter of an inch and the upper plates three-sixteenths of an inch. She was built at Leith and pnt together in the colony. She haa also three watertight compartments and a collision bulk-head. The blades of the paddles are three feet in length. Har high-pressure engines work to equal to 50 horsepower. She is fitted up for towing. The engine room is lofty and spacious. Her after cabin is fitted up with permanent bunks and is capable of finding beds for ten passengers. In one side of the paddle boxes there is a neat little cooking range, and in the box on the other side of the steamer the necessary conveniences. Over the paddle-boxes and maiu deck runs a very spacious deck on which the wheel is, and this position gives an oppoi tunity to the passengers of a good look-look over the banks of the river. This deck would hold "80 or 40 persons. At present the Customs have not given the certificate for the number of passengers she may carry on the river, but it will most likely be for 107. The boat is well officered, as Captain Kemp holds a master's certificate, and Mr Jupp an engineer's certificate. We think that directly the warm weather sets in the p.a. Nile should find plenty of occupation in running excursion.., as the boat i3 so well fitted for the work, and her owners ifr& reliable and obliging men, who are bound to become favourites with the travelling public. We sinoerely wish them every suooess with the p.s. Nile.