THE “FOXTON” ARRIVES IN PORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3989, 24 August 1929, Page 3

THE “FOXTON” ARRIVES IN PORT.

News that the Canterbury Steam Shipping Co.’s new vessel, the m.v. Foxton, was outside the bar spread around Foxton with great rapidity yesterday morning and long before the vessel reached the wharf a large crowd had assembled to witness the berthing. With the Mercantile Ensign flying from the stern, the vessel made a fine picture as she rounded Robinson’s Bend and licw broad beam and ample proportions drew forth many favourable comments from the crowd on the wharf. As the boat drew into the wharf it was seen that she was drawing only six foot of water and against a strong run out she made good progress up the river.

The hatches were removed as soon as the vessel berthed at 11 a.m. and a start was made to discharge the cargo, which consisted for the main part of sugar from Auckland and general from Wellington.

Those who witnessed the arrival of the Foxton yesterday could not but have been impressed by the vessel’s stout proportions and the quality of its workmanship. Built by Messrs Nicol and Co., of Auckland, the Foxton is ketch rigged, hut is mainly dependent on two powerful Fairbanks-Morse Diesel engines which are capable of giving her a speed of 9.8 knots. The vessel has two cargo hatches and has a carrying capacity, excluding deck cargo, of 320 tons on a draught of 7ft. 9in. which should enable her to work the local port without difficulty. Two winches are provided for handling the cargo and the boat is fitted with its own eleeti’ic light plant and powerful lights for handling the cargo at nights.

The hull of- the Foxton has been constructed on the diagonal system and has five skins of the best heart of kauri in all 8 7-Bth inches thick. The keelson and sister keelson arc of ironbark and the stem and stern are also of hardwood. Nine bulb frames are provided on either side of the hull which is divided into three steel bulkheads. The vessel is specially designed for N.Z. bar and river work.

During: her trials at Auckland the Foxton registered a speed of 10.10 knots over a measured mile at highwater slack tide and 9.45 knots against a light wind and ebb tide. THE MAIDEN VOYAGE. The little vessel left Auckland on Friday, the 16th August, at 0 p.m.. for Wellington, arriving there shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday. A fair wind and following sea were experienced most of the way. On rounding Gape Palliser a fresh head breeze sprang up, which delayed the ship about an hour. The machinery ran well all the way and the passage proved a non-stop run. FROM WELLINGTON TO FOXTON. The weather in Wellington on Tuesday and Wednesday proved too bad for the Foxton to put to sea but at 6 p.m. on Thuirsday she left Wellington for Foxton on her initial trip. A fresh southelry wind was blowing at Pencarrow but the little ship battled her way thro.ugh it and proved her seaworthiness. She atrrivad off the Foxton bar shortly after 3 a.m. yesterday, crossed the bar about 10.15 a.m. and arrived at the wharf about 11 a.m. The captain and members of the crew speak very highly of her as a real good sea boat, and they all feel that they could go anywhere on her. TILE PERSONELL. Captain C. Williams (late master of the Portland) is in eomunand of the vessel and associated with him are the following officers: - Chief Officer: Mr. Jensen; Chief Engineer: Mr. ICarr; Second Engineer: Mr. Anderson. Mi 1 . Harold Osborne is the local agent, i One member of the crew is a local lad, Mr. A. Neville, son of Mr. W. Neville, of Harbour Street. IN THE ENGINE ROOM.

The propelling machinery consists of two 100 b.h.p. full Diesel Fairbanks-Morse direct reversible engines turning at 400 revolutions pea’ minute. Fitted in the engine room is an air compressor which, in addition to pumping up the eight air bottles, drives a general service pump which is capable of circulating main engines, pumping bilges, washing decks, etc. A 750 watt, 32 volt electric light plant with a storage battery consisting of 10 cells has been fitted. The machinery was fitted in position on board ship by the Porter Engineering Co. Ltd., Auckland, and the ship has been built to Lloyds requirements. ON DECK. .

The winches are of the 10-12 h.p. Fairbanks-Morse type, capable of lifting 25cwt. in single gear. Accommodation and mess room is provided aft for the Master, Mate and Engineer and is very roomy and comfortable. The fo’castle accommodation for the seamen is also roomy and comfortable. The fo’castle is sub-di-vided with a four berth cabin on the starboard side and a mess room on the port side. Each seaman is provided with a wardrobe and electric lights are fitted throughout the accommodation. A teak-wood wheel house with sliding windows is fitted on the bridge which tends to make the man at the wheel comfortable, he used to be in years gone by. Captain Monro, Marine Superin-

tendent and Mr. D.' S. Kerr, Supervising Engineer, were in Auckland for several weeks supervising the deck and engine-room departments respectively and both speak very highly of the workmanship dis-

played in both the shipbuilding and engineering work. The Foxton left port this morning for Lyttelton where she will pick up a full load for Foxton, expecting to arrive here on Tuesday morning.