MR QUICKS NEW STEAMER.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 553, 4 December 1875, Page 2

MR QUICKS NEW STEAMER.

Wb condense the following detailed dep'.riptton "Sf IWTnW st«ainer 'intendeeTfor 'tlie'^iiikato ' river traffic) from a lon account which appear* in Thursday's * Cross":—-'Rapid" :— -'Rapid prog-reM *f b«e ing made with the new steamer which itairtC^ . built Ab.O«ehung» to.Xbs bt&mz oLMr.G Qui**J—j» The contract was signed only about fit week* ago, Mr Holmes being under a heavy mon-'j pen*lfcy for each day's delay in completing the w.rk after the expiry of the stipulated penod. were aotnally commenced about a month ago, -with several intervening days of •inclement weather, which prevented out-door work. The bull is built on the composite principle, the frame being of iron and the outer planking of 1 the best 2^ inch and 3-inch kauri.^ The designs were prepared by Mr W Holmes, • In the present instanoe he has sought to combine light d i aught aad good carrying capacity with, strength, rigidity, lightness of material, tad fine Hoes, in order to impart speed, and a glance at the beautiful model #hich now lies on the stocks is sufficient to -how that in there objects he has succeeded admirably. "Her fine lines fore and aft will enable tbe steamer to tarn with ease in very short lengths, whitfh u one of tbe chief requisites of a successful steamer for the Waikttto trade- When launched she is not expected' to draw more than 8 inches, and not more fehrfn 16 inched with her machinery, boiler, and fittings, or 18 jnches-with passengers and cargo. One of th« mo-t noticeable feature* in this fine model is the rigidtty wjiiotj is given to the frame by the adoption of truss girder keelson principle. There lire two of these in the ornfcre of the vessel, each 56 feettong. The hull 'is 91 tVet lor.g oaj th» keel, and 93 feet ove*all, the extreme wrdtlF of beim being 16 feet#4 inches, an<) deiptl»of hold 3 feet 6 inches. She will be on the paddle sidewheel model, similar to the best class American river steamers apri combining ail the best points ofthat class of passenger boats. Her two pnddle* will be 15 feet 7 inches inches in diarue er, wi h 5 feet floats, and these dimensions will undoubtedly give great speed and an exceilentequilibrium. Power will be communicated to the paddles by gear so designed a» 'to reduce lh« strain to a minimum. * Messrs Fra^er ana Tinr-e, who have th» contract for the boiler and engine*, have completed the paddle wheels and their sr.aft. The engines are«n«w being made by Messrs Fras«r and Tinne | they will be 40 h. p. nominal, but capable of- working up to 140 horsepower. Tnere will be twtrdeck houses *bu»lt in the sty/fi of the American river boats The saloon will 26 feet in length,- with a w- d«bdf 21 feet at the larger en^, and 4 frQft-8 inches at the other, md a clear height of 7fep« 9 inches. *At the end of the ftaoonthe<e will be a Indies' cabin, 6 f^ec in length. These two cabins will be lined with polished cedar, the ceil. ing being beautifully gilded and otherwise decorated Thn whole o r tbe sides of the saloon and ladies cabin, above the deck level, Will be of plate glass, and there Mill be skylights in the roof. The ser<<nd cabin, aft, will be 13 feet by 8 feet, ani will be fitted up in tbe Mime, style. Hor»*-hair cu-hions and backs will be provided • snd evert provision be- made •for comfort and nsy travelling. Opposite the companion there" wiHb* a b*r* 00 »», 5 feet by 4 feet, and a g* ley will be placed ever one oi the sponsons f»r cnliuary purpose!. Te steamer will carry 350 (?) passengers ard 59 tons of cargo, the later being carried on deck. Th» total cost of. the-- steamer will be about £3,250, the engines and boiler alone costing £I^soo. ' The steamer will be launc'ied about Monday and* will probably be ohrtst^n^d br Misa Quick. Tbe name hns not been definitely settled, but it is proposed to call the a,i earner "-The Quickstep," which appear* to be« a very appropriate name.