LIGHTERS FOR NAURU.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 78, 2 April 1928, Page 9

LIGHTERS FOR NAURU.

CONSTRUCTION AT LANG'S. The western waterfront of Auckland is the scene of much activity, little of which is seen by the general public. Down in St. Mary's Bay, for instance, in Mr. R. Lang's boat-building yard, is being executed a contract for the construction of lighters for use at Nauru Island. Three have been completed, and are now playing their part in lightering phosphate from the island to the steamers anchored in the roadstead. A fourth is nearing completion.

Great solidity is a feature of the construction, as the lighters frequently encounter heavy weather when being towed by launch through the narrow coral passage that prevents the steamers from going close inshore. Often they are subjected to severe buffeting against the sides of the ships. Measuring 30ft by Oft, they are built with a framework of solid poliutukawa, and planking of stout kauri, with bottoms of Australian hardwood. That Mr. Lang obtained the contract for their construction in the face of competition from Sydney shipyards speaks well of the reputation he has won during the nine years he has been established.

work of every description is undertaken by Mr. Lang, who incidentally has done all the shipwright work on the Government steamer Hinemoa for the past year. Launches and dinghies are built at reasonable rates, and all classes of repairs are carried out.