A NEW SHIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 611, 13 March 1929, Page 10

A NEW SHIP

The Margaret W. Transformed SPEED TRIALS YESTERDAY The Margaret W. has been transformed. A few weeks ago she was a four-masted schooner with an auxiliary motor-engine, but now she is a fullpower motor-vessel with auxiliary sails. A new four-cylinder Diesel engine has been installed. This has a nominal rating of 265 horse-power, but can develop 320 horse-power. Top-masts have been removed, gaffs have been banished, and a schooner’s full “suit of sa.ils” reduced to three small try-sails and a jib. £ new Admiralty bronze propeller with a diameter of 72in, has been fitted. . The winches have been increased m number, and the Margaret W. now boasts six of the friction type. She also boasts a chart-house and a bridge. Electric light has been installed throughout the ship. At 1.20 p.m. yesterday the Margaret W moved from Albert Street Wharf to Western Wharf, where she took on loi tons of fuel oil from the Shell Company’s pipe in readiness for her trip to Australia. Her master. Captam A. F. Watchlin said that he could take on enough oil to last 120 sailing days. From the Western Wharf the vessel proceeded down harbour on her speed trial. Against the tide the Margaret w. covered a three and a-half mile stretch in 23 minutes and 25 seconds a speed of approximately 8?< knots The ye? sel „ returned to Albert Street Wharf. This morning the Margaret W. cleared for Whangarei and Hokianga to load for Sydney. After discharging there she will load at Newcastle for New Zealand. It Is Captain Watchlin s intention to keep her on coastal and inter-colonial work as hitherto.

. The. Margaret W., a steel vessel, was built m 1919 at Svendborg, in [Denmark „ was brought out to New Zealand her Present owner. She has a length a beam of 29ft 6in, a depth of 13ft 4m, and a gross tonnage of 394 tons. . e in these waters, having been engaged in coastal and intercolonial trading for some years.