OUR SHIPBUILDING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 211, 5 September 1891, Page 5

OUR SHIPBUILDING.

NEW RIVER STEAMER,

LAUMCH OF THE PAEROA.

This morning the new s.s. Paeroa, a smartlooking wooden screw steamer built by Mr C. Bailey bo the order of Messrs Brown, ("eddes and Syms, for bhe Upper Thames River trade, was launched ab fche Hobson-street Wharf. This latest addition to the fleet of iiuckland-builb crafb is to join the small river fleeb which already comprises the steamers Ruby, Maori, and Matuku, and is to bake up bhe running between Auckland and Paeroa, via ports, in which the s.s. Ruby has for some time past been engaged. Her owner's chief object in building her was to provide more passenger accommodation for travellers than they could fib up on tho little Ruby, especially for ladies. Indeed, the main reason for ordering her was to provide additional space and comfort for lady passengers, and the new boat is exceedingly well-fibbed up for such a purpose. Ib was in Augusb, 1889, that Messrs Brown, Geddes, and Syms started to run up to Paeroa, and they have established an excellenb passenger and cargo service. The Paeroa was launched from the spot where she was constructed, at high-water this morning, 8.30 a.m., in the presence of quite a large number of interested spectators. Miss Syms performed the christening ceremony in the othodox manner with a bottle of "Cham." The steamer was launched broadside on, but though tbe spot was an awkward one the affair passed off very successfully. Subsequently she was brought round to the Queen-street Wharf, and was much admired by passers-

by. The steamer's dimensions are :—Length, 35ft on keel, 95fb overall; beam, 16ft; depbh of hold, 6ft Gin. She is of about 60 tons net register, and is built of kauri throughout, on bhe diagonal principle. She has been built of a light draughb in order bo enable hor bo successfully navigate the Thames River. She will only draw five feeb of water when loaded. She has a straight stem and a neat counter, and her lines are excellent. She has ample deck-space, and her hold will accommodate 70 tons of cargo. She has a fine spacious saloon aft, 30ft in length, to accommodate aboub thirty passengers, and on deck there is a handsomely-fitted up cabin for ladies. The saloon is fitted with comfortable swing-back berths, upholstered in crimson plush, the moulding and general wood-work being finished very tastefully in graining and painting. There aro six berths in the ladies'deck-cabin, which is airy, and will be greatly appreciated in the summer. The lavatories, ebc, are ample and carefully constructed, and all the necessary accessories, pantry, galley, etc., are conveniently placed. The officers will have their quarters amidships, under the bridge, and the crew forward. Her engines will arrive nexb week from the Thames, where they have been made by Messrs A. and G. Price. They are expected to give her a speed of about 9 knots. She will be ready to take up the Thames running in about three weeks. Her owners are Very weil pleased with Mr Bailey's excellent workmanship, and with the manner in which the boat has been fitted up. Next Tuesday a rival river-steamer to the Paeroa will bo launched at the North Shore, by Mr W. Holmes, to the order of the Northern S.S. Company.