THE RIVER STEAMER DESPATCH.

Te Aroha News, Issue 4, 30 June 1883, Page 2

THE RIVER STEAMER DESPATCH.

The Despatch made bey appearance again at Te \roha on Wednesday aftarDoon last, between 3 and 4 o'clock, alter having undergone very material aUcrations and improvements. Experience after her final launch showed that she was too short, and her very flat bottom caused bur to heel over dangerously on rounding sharp corners of the riyer, and toobviate this hhe was cut in two and lengthened 9 feet amidships. Other improvements were also made, and the result ha 3 proved emminently satisfactory. The trip on Wednesday was the first after her alterations and was highly plea-ing to all on board. She left Curtis wharf at half past 9 o'clock in the morning, and mnde tho passage iv exactly six hours and a quarter, including stoppages at two places. Mr Goonre Price, one of the owners, was on board, and states that he is confident .she will be able to steam from Curtis wharf to Te Aroha in 5£ hours. On the trip in question

it wns found that the < furnace-bars required alteration, as the coal clogged, and as there was another set on board, these • were put in on Thursday night, o,ud are expected to answer all requirements. Owing to this considerable ddl ay "occurred, causing the journo}' to occupy a much^ longer time than if. would otherwise have done. The Despatch, as the name would seem to imply, is simply intended for a fast passenger boat, and will carry little or no cargo. She has a neat cabin, but with only a curtained small space for Indies. This, we caiinot help thinking, is a great mistake. There should be a ladies' cabin, howevm* small it were, and we trust that the owners will make the addition i£ possible. A little cabin has been improvised just large enough to afford sleeping room for the hands, and the closets and gallery are placed aft. The ftngines worked smoothly and well throughout, and the vessel answered her helm admirably, and was '-emarkably steady. Her draught is only two feet forward and 3 feet aft, and by means of n. ballast tank forward she can be brought to an even keel in a few minutes, if required through the ? % iver shoaling in the summer. Her appearance is greatly improved by recent additions, and she looks as smart and saucy a little craft as any one need wish to see. She has not been officially measured, but is now about 45 tons. Captain Roe, well and favourably known on the river, lately of the "p.p. Pa-tiki, is in command. This boat will prove a vast convenience to travellers, as irrespective of shortening the pas^ago by about one half, she will come ud from and return to the Thames the same day at least half of her t!m«j, and will stay hero long enough to enable visitors to spend an hour or two before return. She is under offer to the Thames River Company, who, after her trial performance will in all probability purchase hor. Altogether she is a valuable addition to the river fleet, and we cordially wish her and her owners, present or future, the success that seems (o bo assured. We may add that on hor Thursday's return trip she went down in 4^- hours, and came upyestarday in 4 hours 55 minutes, exclusive of stoppages.