OUR SHIPBUILDING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 213, 8 September 1891, Page 5

OUR SHIPBUILDING.

ANOTHER RIVE it STEAMER,

LAUNCH OF THE OHINEMURI.

A second new river-steamer within the week was launched ab tho North Shore this morning, in the shape of a smart, wellbuilt wooden screw boab of about 60 bons register, constructed by Mr W. Holmes, fche well-known Devonport shipbuilder, to the order of fcho Northern Steamship Company. Like tho s.s. Paeroa, launched last Saturday, this vessel, which is named tho Ohinemuri, is destined for the Upper Thames river trade, being a shallowdraugiib craffc in order to achieve the successful navigation of tha Waihou River. Sho is slightly larger than tho Paeroa, having a couple oi feet moro beam, and she has a larger carrying capacity, but in most essential details she is similar fco the new addition to Mossrs Brown, Cedclos and Syms' river Hoot. Mr W. Holmes, her builder, is woll-known as a very laifchfui nnd careful workman, and ho has in tho Ohinemuri burned out an exceedingly woll-pub-fcogebhor and handy boab, while ab the samo timo ho has not neglected her outward appearance as far as lines aro concerned. Mr Holmes has been in tho local ship-'ouilding trade for over a quarter of n contury, and during that time has turned out. from his yard a largo numbor of vary useful coasting steamers aud sailing vessels. Steamers havo boon his " forte," so to speak, and many steamboats of his build aro afc present doing useful work around tho coast of Now Zealand. In Hawko's Bay alono tlio To Kapu, Wairoa. Moirakn, and other stouincrs constructed by him aro at presenb engaged ; tho Fiji Government steamer Clyde was also built by him ; and tho well-known local steam yachts Nautilus and Kawau were launched from his yard. With a high reputation for building good and handy steamers, ib is only to bo expected, then, 1 hub ho has pub cunio good work into tho Ohinemuri.

Tho Ohinemuri is built of kauri throughout on tho diagonal principle, with pohutaUnwa knees, and is extra strongly fastened. Hor dimensions aro : Length on keel, 87f'fc ; ovor-all. !)sfb ; boain, ICl't.; depth of hold, 6ft Gin ; builder's measurement, 122 tons. Sho is intended to .airy a good number of passengers as well* as a big cargo, and comfortable accommodation is accordingly provided for travellers, tho ladies being especially considered. Her draught; being a very light ono for tho river trade, sho is very ilafc in fcho floor, which gives hor a low bilge, and her LSffc. of beam and l-JOffc. length of hold givo her capacions carrying spaco. Tha saloon is situated on deck amidships, and is a very commodious and comfortable apartments. An iron bulkhead divides ifc from the foro part of the steamer. This will bo a dining-saloon as woll as sleopingsaloon for gentlemen, ladies being accommodated olsowhere, and measures lllfb in length by 16ft in breadth, height 6ffc 6in. Accommodation is provided for cighbeon people, the saloon being furnished with comfortablo swing- back berths and curtains. Tho upholstery will bo iv crimson plush velvet. Tho ladies' cabin is situated below right aft), accosn boing gained fco ib by a roomy companion - way. The apartmonfc is 16ffc by 16ft, and is very coscy and comfortable, being fitted up for about a dozen fair travellers. Every possible convenience necessary is provided in connection with bbo cabin, which will bo handsomely upholstered in crimson plush volvofc, Tho officers will also havo their quarters aft, while tho crew have comforbablo accommodation forward. Tho steamer is to be onginad by Messrs Eraser and Sons, and hi expected to attain a maximum speed of ten knots. Her engines and boiier will bo ready for her very shortly. Tho engines are on the compound snr'acc-condonsing principle, the high pressure cylinder being 12 inches in diameter, aud tho low pressure cylinder 24 inches in diameter, length of stroko l<i inches. The boiler will carry a working pressure of 1001b fco tho square inch. The boiler and machinery will bo placed in fcho after part of tho ship, right abaft; the saloon. Tho steamer will bo given a handy forc-aud-afb rig, being rigged as a ketch.

Tho launch of tho new vessel took place at high-water, 10.15 a.m. to-day, quito a largo number of people journeying over from town to tho Shore to witness fcho event. Tho manager and directors of tho Company were present, besides a number of shareholders and a large number of Shore residents. As fche vessel slid oil the ways into tho water, Mrs.Cruickshank, wife of MrD. B. Cruickshank, managing diroctor of fche Northern Steamship Company, broko the customary bottle of chrunpagno across her bows, and christened her t.he Ohiuemuri, amidst cheers from tho assemblage. The launch was a most successful one, and fche little craft, as she sat in fcho water, was much admired. Tho threo cheers for tho builder and owners wero not, forgotten.

Immediately after tliolaunch thedirectors and a fow friends adjourned bo tho residence of hlv Holmes, fche builder,and drank the toast of "I'rnsporby to the new sbeamor" in bumpers. Tho toa?b was proposed by Air l>. j>. Cruiekshank, managing director, who briefly wished all success to theOhinemuri in hor future sphere of work on tho Thames, and trusted that sho would, as we.ll as being handsomo, prove to be a profitable boat. Mr Cruickshank then proposed tho health of "The builder," and expressed the gratification of the Company at the excellent and faithful workmanship which Mr Holmes had put into tho steamer. Ho remarked that although Mr Holmes was well on in years, ycfc hiss hand did not aeem to have lost any of its cunning, and ho couid pufc many a younger shipbuilder to t-ho blush. Mr Holmes very modestly responded, and said he was very glad to find that he hud given satisfaction in his work. Mr 11. C. Tev/sley proposed tho health of "Tho Northern Steamship Company," and Mr D. B. Cruickshank responded, remarking that tho Company was always willing to fall in with tho wishes of dwellers in out-of-the-way districts for better communication, and to do all that way possible to facilitate trade. He said that tho new steamer had boon built, expressly to suit the people of I'auroa and tho vicinity, and he hoped sho would prove in every way satisfactory. The steamer will be cnpuied shortly and fitted out for work, ;;nd in a fow weeks she will start in tho Auc:ki.;uj-I'aeroa trade. She is expected to be übiu to carry 80 tons deadweight cargo on a draught of 4 feet 9 inches. The reasons which induced the Northern Company to build Iho new boat may be briefly stated as follows : —When the Company first acquired the Thames trade and bought up the sbsatnors liotomahana, and Enterprise, they abo took over the plant and running of the Upper Thames River S.N. Company, and continued transshipping , goods from Auckland to the Upper Thames by way of Thames townfihip. At last the Pueroa and adjoining residents began to objeco to this system, and made overtures for a moro satisfactory service, which would deliver and bake away the goods without any transshipping between Auckland and I'acroa. It was in response bo these repeated requests that tho Company at last determined to build a handy steamer to run direct bebweuu Auckland and Paeroa, and the result ia the Ohaiairmri.