THE WAIKATO, GUNBOAT.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 108, 30 October 1863, Page 3

THE WAIKATO, GUNBOAT.

(From the Southern Cross, 0ct. 7.) 1 The colonial gunboat Waikato, how lying in the Manukau harbor, is well worthy an inspection by those who are in any way interested in shipping matters, and especially so when viewed as a colonial specimen of workmanship. Her size, we believe, is ; somewhat greater than was considered desirable when the construction of a vessel was first decided upon, but to ensure speed and steadiness in motion, it was deemed necessary to increase the length. She was built, as our readers are aware, in Sydney^ by Mr M' Arthur, managing engineer of the Australian Steam Navigation Company, and superintended, pn the part of the New Zealand Government, by Mr Edward Moriarty, the Government Engineer of New South Wales. She was completed on the seventeenth week from operations b y eing first commenced, and after being inspected was handed over to Captain G. E. Breton on the 19th September last. The trial trip took place in Sydney harbor, at the measured mile, when she averaged a speed of ten and a half knots with a pressure of 64 lbs, Her performance "on this occasion was extremely satisfactory, as she answered her helm so well, and exceeded the contract rate rate of speed by two and a half knots. Captain Breton having taken command of her, the following officers were appointed : — Mr O'Cal laghan, lieutenant ; Mr Jeffrey, chief engineer, and a crew of twenty-one petty officers and men. On the evening of the 22nd September she sailed from Sydney, in tow of the Eclipse ; particulars cf the voyage and the extremely severe weather met with^ having already appeared in the Daily Southern Cross. She arrived off the Bluff on Saturday evening, and anchored there about half-past nine o'clock,. On Sunday morning she again got under way, but afterwards got on shore on the Bluff, and had to wait until three o'clock on Monday morning, when she floated and dropped up to the position she now occupies off the wharf. Having had an opportunity of inspecting her we obtained the following particulars, which, may be interesting : — Her length overall is 153 feet, waterline 140 feet, beam 20 feet, and depth of hold 8 feet 6 inches. The draught of water in ballast for her voyage across to the JManukau, was 3 feet, but when her spars were taken out of her, and she is fully prepared for actual service she will draw only 28 inches. There are two engii c , tf J5-horse power each, ■which] have-been supplied by the builders of the vessel ; and an horizontal high pressure boiler — the valves being regulated to 641 bs. to the square inch. The steam exhausts through, .the stern and under water, thus assisting ! materially in the propulsion of the vessel, which could be moved slowly by this means without the power of the wheel being exercised. A small donkej engine is fitted up to work a patent ventilating fan, and which will supply pure air to those in the ship foie and afi. This will be of the greatest importance to the crew and troops when engaged in operations below, or in case of an attempt being made to take possession of the deck. The hot water and steam pipes round the vessel are also expected to render good service in the event of an attempt being made to board the ship. This patent has not been tested yet with hot water,but was found to answer well with steam. The paddle wheel is on a patent principle, with feathering floats 12ft. Gin. in diameter and 7ft. broad, and it will have the same immersion as the draught of the vessel. N She will carry 20 tons of coals in the bunkers, and the consumption at full speed has been estimated at about three tons per diem. Two rifled bullet-proof cupolas have been erected on deck — one forward, and the other amidships. They are 12ft. in diameter, Bft. 6in. high, with three ports in each for the 241 b howitzers, and 14 loopholes for rifles. There is a ventilator at the top, and the communication with the cupolas is from the lower deck. Twenty-eight men for firing could be accommodated with ease in each cupola. There are also 84 scuppers in the lower deck which also can be used for this purpose Over the wheel and engine room there is a bullet-proof house, loopholed the same as the cupolas. Iron-houses are also placed on deck for the leadsman, who otherwise would have been subjected to great danger when taking soundings. There is a wheel for steering in the engine house and also another in the foremost cupola which can be connected at pleasure with either the bow or stern rudders. The masts which served her so well in crossing from Sydney are to be taken out, and light staffs three feet six inches in diameter introduced in their place. They will be used simply to hoist signals upon, or to set a jib. She has five watertight compartments; namely, the engine-room, saloon, after troop deck, bunkers and stoke hole, fore troop deck and magazine. Communication is had fore and aft between decks, and the" watertight compartments are fitted with watertight doors and bulk-heads. Four hundred men.

. . . — ■■■« , 5 could be accommodated'oH board for a i "sh6r£~trip7 300 Jiavirig rbeen ~dn board i when the trial .trip was made, and she j Mid not then appear at all overcrowded. J The saloon is elegantly furnished, and I painted walnut, with guilt cornices* * The cabin doors have, patent jalbuses,^] to secure thorough J Sleep* 3 ing accommodation is provided for seven ~1 persons. Previous to starting on her! voyage from Sydney she' was fitted with J two sliding keels," or centre boards, fore-J and aft, four feet deep, which proved j very useful at sea ; but these willl! now be dispensed with. When sailing^ 1 she is reported <to have a very peculiar! motion — not heeling over, but sliding or I shuffling along, and which had the effect/I .of turning every person sick on boards for the first few days, from the oldest! salt to the youngest cabin-boy. Herfl decks, were kept clear" of water, whilst! the Eclipse was' making frightful seas.fl Four howitzers were* brought ifromfl Sydney, but the. two placed in thai cupolas only will be retained; others being brought to Auckland., Thai additional arms on board are 24 Terry's breach-loading rifles, 24 Colt's improved! revolvers, and 24 cutlasses. „These. These wilfl be supplied to the crew. The ammuni<9 tion new on board is about 600 roundel of shot and shell, with proportionate^ quantity of > ammunition for riflesfl bhe has twenty-two feet gigs, v whiclfl are stowed on deck, near the - buljfl warks, to preserve them from injurfl by shots. The total cost.of the WaikatoH exclusive of arms or ammunition, ma^| be stated in a round sum as £9,500, «9 the time she was handed over by tbjH builders. She has not been registered!! but her burthen is- estimated at abou^J 295 tons. The repairs to the injury dH her port bow, caused by the collisio^f with the Eclipse, and the necessafjM mechanical fittings, to enable steam «^| be got up, are now being made. vlt believed she will be ready to, leave, fq^| her destination about the end of thj^|