SALE OF NEW SCHOONER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3936, 30 April 1929, Page 1

SALE OF NEW SCHOONER.

AUCKLAND-BUILT VESSEL. CANTERBURY FIRM’S PURICiHASE. . SOU TH ISL AND -FOXTON TRADE. Negotiations have been completed by Captain H. Munro, of Christchurch, on behalf of the Canterbury Steam Shipping [Company, for ■the purchase of the auxiliary schooner now under construction by Mr. George Niccol at Freeman’s Bay. The vessel is to be employed in the trade between' South Island •ports- and Foxton. The Canterbury company, which was established a quarter of a century ago, now operates a fleet of four steamers between Bluff and Wanganui. Its present enterprise marks an innovation in the southern coastal trade, as the new vessel is the first of its kind to be; employed there, and the results will be watched with interest. The schooner will be somewhat larger than the Ho'kianga, which was recently completed by the same builder for the Ho'kianga trade. ‘ Her length will be 110 ft. and beam 28ft., and the carrying capacity, on a draught of 7ft. Cin., will be 325 tons deadweight. The design of the vessel is especially calculated to meet the special needs of bar harbour work, the company’s particular interest in .-this respect being the Foxton entrance. The hull is diagonally built of heart of kauri, the frame being covered with three thicknesses of planking, and is strengthened to sustain heavy strains by doublesister kelsons, in addition to the heavy irombailk central kelson, and heavy iron .knees inside the framing. Twin sets of powerful Diesel engines will be installed, capable of propelling the vessel at a speed of nine knots on a low consumption of oil. Masts, derricks and winches will be designed for handling lifts up to 10 tons, the winches being operated by independent oil engines. Electric lighting will be installed throughout the vessel, and in every respect her owners intend her eqiiiplmeut to be the most efficient for a vessel of this type. The work of construction is well advanced, and as soon as the vessel has been completed, and passed her trials, s-h.e will be placed in the South Island-Foxton trade. —Auckland. Herald.