THE “FLEETWING” CALLS AT FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3735, 29 December 1927, Page 2

THE “FLEETWING” CALLS AT FOXTON.

There was tied up at the local wharf this morning one of the finest equipped launches that has yet visited this port, the “Fleetwing,” of Auckland, recently purchased by Mr. A. T. Diffe, of Feilding, and now oil,its way to Tangimoaua, where it will be engaged in fishing and plea- i sure pursuits.

The vessel was shipped to Wellington from Auckland as deck cargo, and set out for Tangimoana on Tuesday, manned by Messrs Diffe and C. Braddel, of Palmerston North. On reaching the Manawatu Heads heavy seas were encountered and as it was impossible to cross the bar, the boat put back to I'aramata, and commenced the last stage of the journey to Tangimo- , ana yesterday. A hot bearing, However, was responsible for the vessel being brought into the local port yesterday afternoon. Repairs hav- , ing been effected and oil taken aboard, Mr. Diffe will sail for Tangimoana as soon as the weather and bar permit. , The “Fleetwing” was built by Messrs Collins and Bell, of Auckland a few years ago, and was much used by the builders for cruising ’ around New Zealand. At one time it held the championship for cruis-, ing craft in Auckland regattas. The vessel is the last thing in comfort and the appointments would be hard to beat. There is sleeping accommodation for eight people in a luxuriously upholstered cabin aft which also contains a table, wardrobes, mirrors, toilet requisites, etc. In the engine-room is a kerosene stove and all the necessary cooking gear, together with cupboards and lockers and cutlery racks, which hold the cups, etc., in perfect safety in the roughest seas. The engine is a 12.18 h.p. Dbman. The boat is electrically lit throughiout and carries a dingy in the cockpit. It is 32 feet long and has a beam of 9 feet and is a very fine sea boat.

In conversation with our representative this morning, Mr. Diffe said the run up to Foxton was done in good time. The only reason a call was made at Foxton was on account of a hot bearing and they hoped to get away again as soon as possible.