NEW STEAMER FOR FOXTON.

Shannon News, 25 January 1924, Page 3

NEW STEAMER FOR FOXTON.

CANTERBURY S.&. CO.’S ENTERPRISE. FOR MANAWATU’S PORT. Through the enterprise of , the Canterbury Steam Shipping Company, the port of Foxton is shortly to come to its own. A new 300-ton oil-burning steamer lias been ordered for the Foxton trade, and is now under construction. She will arrive from England in nine months’ . time and will immediately proceed to develop the trade of the port with southern ports.

A represntative of the Canterbury Steam Shipping Co., Ltd., of Christchurch, and Mr C. F. Millward, of Messrs. Millward and Co., the well-known Wanganui shipping agents were in Palmerston North for a few hours yesterday after having visited Foxton, and they made the important announcement last evening. The fact that the Canterbury S.S. Co., is undertaking the enterprise is a guarantee of its being pushed to a successful issue. In coastal trading the firm has been prominent for twenty years,- among its best known boats being the Storm, the Breeze, the Calm and the Gale. This firm practically pioneered the port of Wanganui, and was for many years almost the only shipping concern serving that port. The new steamer for the Foxton trade has been specially designed to meet the needs of the port. She will he one of the first oil-burning coastal boats in the Dominion and will be equipped with Diesel engines capable, of developing a speed of ten knots.an hour. The boat will carry 300 tons dead weight and draw Bft. 6in. fully loaded. .

Captain Monro anticipates that the steamer will have no difficulty in negotiating the river and bar either at spring or neap tide, as she will only draw 7ft. of water with 200 tons aboard.

The new venture is full of possibili r ties for Foxton and the large district of which it should be the..natural outlet. The trade of Palmefson North, Feilding, Levin and other centres will be fully exploited,-and it is more than likely that a further important developments will follow.