LAUNCH OF AN IRON STEAMER.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2676, 15 November 1878, Page 2

LAUNCH OF AN IRON STEAMER.

The fine iron steamer built oy lnr *euumu ivu Mr Seaaer, of Wellinaton. was launched from the shed on the reclamation yesterday, and. chrißtened the "Huia" by Miss Yeoman., A full description of the vessel, which is intended for the Wellington-Wanganui trade, appeared In our columns some time ago. Her dimensions are ■ Length of keel, 112fc; breadth of beam, 16ft; depth of holci, Bfc. She wiU be driven by a ■nair of en?ines of 25 noumal horse power, and will draw sft. of water at the bow and 7ft. at the stern when ready for sea. Messrs Sims and Brown carried gout the contract for the woodwork portion of the vessel very credjtably. The Huia has good passenger and cargo accommodation, and will, no doubt, prove a very suitable vessel for the trade.

Inwards Coastwise.—Four Sisters, cutter, from Mahuraagi, with 40 tons firewood; Adah, ketch from Thames, with 23,0Q0ft kauri timber; Isabel, cutter, from Matakana. with 25 tons flreOutwards Coastwise.—Ocean, schooner, for Whale Island, in ballast, (passengers: O. Jones an<l C. Tot.hill); Sissy, schooner, tor Russell, in ballast; Rangatira, cutter, for Omaha, in ballast; Foar listers, cutter, for Mahurangi, in ball st; Coralie, cutter, for Kussell. in ballast; Muna, cutter, for Tairna. in ballast; Isabel, cutter.sfor Matakana. in ballast; Zillah, ketch, for Thames, with 30 cases castor oil, 2o tons coal, 4,000 bncKS, an The trial W Up r of the new s.s. Clyde took place on Wednesday in the harbour and resulted qatisfactorr This vessel has been built by Mr Wmfam Holmes for Mr W. Sight, of Napier, for the trade between Napier and the Wairoa She is a compact, well-built craft, of about, 56 tons register, on excellent. lines and a good model. Her boiler and machinery were dwimed and built by Messrs S. McCoskrie and Sm. Chanel-street Iron Works, and are admirambly fitted. The engine is hi«h pressure of 15 hp nominal, and is fitted with a water heater, for heating the water to nearly boiling heat previous to entering the boiler, preserving also the water fmm the exhaust steam returned to the boiler, and at the same time reserving a sufficient supply of blast for the funnel for the draft. The boiler and steampips is coated with Hadrill's non-conducting composition.. These two improvements effect a.savmg of thirty per cent of fuel-not a mean .item, a coal expenditure. The speed ascertained at the trial trip veaterSay amounted to from 8i to 9 knots, the engine giving off 185 revolutions par minute. The new steamer has been placed in charge^of Captain Peterson, formerly m the A.S.P., 00. s service, and will leave in a day or so. The s.s. Staffa, which arrived from Opotiki yesterday, brought 128 sacks maize, 49 bales wool, a quantity of sundries, and a number, of Pa The DfAfantine Oceola sailed from Timaru for from Lyttelton for the Manukau. Pas'^nger-Mr.Berry. The s.s. lArgyle [arrived fronv Wangarei and Mangapai. this morning with 30 sacks gum. 30 boxes eggs, 60 sheep, 10 keys salt and 5 boxes fresh butter, 2 horses, 15 bales wool, 4 sacks and 12 boxes new potatoes, and 2 tons sundries. Passengers: Mrs Scott, MissMcCulloch, Messrs Reyburn, Webb, Keane, Bates, McLean, Campbell, McLeod, Mattison, aud Wardell. She will 1 brig vTsion'hag been brought alongside the Gore-street Jetty for the pupose of undergoing alterations in her rigging.