Floating Home

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 603, 4 March 1929, Page 1

Floating Home

Old Ferry Steamer Now a Boardinghouse BRITTANIA’S NEW STATUS | The old ferry steamer Britannia has taken a new lease of life. [ For years she lay in Rotton Row, | swinging on the tide in the listless I way of a boat ending her days after j a busy career. Now she has been converted into a floating boardinghouse with accommodation for 40 men and complete with kitchen, baths, hotwater service and electric light. One day last week the reconditioned Britannia was towed out ot the harbour by the launch Huawai to Puhoi. near Waiwera, where she will be used as living quarters for the men engaged in road and bridge making on the main highways section of that district. As the work of the district progresses the floating boardinghouse will be towed from place to place on the Puhoi River and later will be used in | other districts where there is slielI tered water along the coast. | In her present condition the BritanI nia is a comfortable home. The din- | ing-room is situated amidships and ! occupies the full width of the ship. It is 40ft long with seating accommoda- ! tion for GO men. Corridors run from each end of the i dining-room and off these corridors are small sleeping compartments, each | fitted with two berths. The top deck has been made waterproof and will be a water catchment ! area. Several tanks with a capacity ; of 4,000 gallons have been installed ! and a good supply of fresh water will ' always be on hand. A well-equipped kitchen, a hot-water service and electric light throughout the vessel completes its comfort. The morning tub can be taken by diving overboard into the river, where the | ship is anchored. The Britannia has had an interest- ! ing history. She was built in the early 80’s by the well-known Auckland !• boat-builders, Charles Bailey and Son, for the Devonport Ferry Company. 1 After serving for many years on th€ harbour run she was consigned to J Rotton Row —home of derelict ships p Last year the Britannia was purchased I privately and taken to Bayswater where she was to have been converted into a cabaret to be anchored off ono _ of the seaside resorts on Waiheke ■ L This project was abandoned, however and the old ship was turned to hei present useful purpose.