A NEW STEAMER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 64, 15 March 1907, Page 5

A NEW STEAMER.

In consequence of the increasing number of people who listvo been attracted by the week-end trips to the resorts in the Hauraki Gulf, the owner of Kawau Island (Mr. A. J. Farmer) has had a new steamer built, which will make fast trips from Auckland to Kawau and Waiwera, leaving Auckland on Saturdays and returning on Monday mornings. The boat, which will have a speed of about 11A knots, will be regularly engaged in this trade during the other days of the week. She has been built at the engineering yards of Messrs. Gibbons and Harris, Customs-st. West, i>y Mr. W. H. Brown, who also drew out the designs, and will be launched at 9 a.m. to-morrow. She is of the following dimensions:—Length, 110 ft; beam, 21ft; draught, 7ft; tonnage, about 150. She is built or. the diagonal principle, with beat heart of kauri planking and Australian hardwood timbers in her keel and kelsons, while the hull is sheathed with totara. There is a spacious main-deck, on which is situated the maincabin, with seating accommodation for 24 people at two tables. The room is nicely furnished. Aft of this there is the engine-room, and two ships' cabins, and further aft is the ladies' cabin, with accommodation for 12 passengers. .Above this cabin is an awning-deck, with seats, and the captain's cabin and the wheelhouse. Beneath,, the ladies' cabin is ~a smoking-room, with staterooms for male passengers. All the compartments are painted in harmonious colours, and are very attractive in appearance. The electric light is installed throughout, with electric bells and lavatories, and other conveniences are also provided. A feature about the vessel is the fine promenade her decks afford, there being an entire absence of alleyways. The engines are of the compound surface condensing type, and have been supplied and fitted by Messrs. Gibbons and Harris. The new boat will be named the Daphne, after the daughter of the owner.