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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 269, 21 November 1861, Page 3

NELSON. ' New Steamer.— The littlers.s. Undine, which we have before referred to as in progress, of building for Mr. Stock, of tin; port, was tided on Friday last inside the harbour for about two .hours; arid-we hear that the result was entirely satisfactory. Her actual speed on that occasion wap over six knots per hour, whicli she was increasing, though labouring under, the disadvantage of stiffness, of bearings, and other matters inevitable-with first experiments. She is fitted with! a pair of horizontal oscillating • engines arid, tubular boiler, which is proved to a pressure of 150 lbs. to the square inch* On* this occasion she worked up to 14 horse-power under a medium steam pressui’e, the screw making 140 revolutions a minute. Of her dimensions we cannot at present speak, she has, however, two cabins, one of which is sufficiently capacious to dine 30 persons ; there is a. space allotted for cargo ;. and her consumption of fuel being exceedingly small, the Bunkers will hold a long supply. The hull of this, the first steamer com structed in the province, was built by'Mrf Harrington ; and shq fiirnighes .a • procf that the province now possesses the requisite mechanical ability for skilled work of a high order, though it is, but a short, time since that we had to send to another province for the simplest iron casting. Mr. Stock, to whom much credit should' be given for his spirited effort in the face of many difficulties, intends running the Undine in the -Bay trade, and she will prove a boon to the passenger traffic or mail seiwice.— -Colonist. '