COASTAL STEAMERS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14983, 2 June 1914, Page 8

COASTAL STEAMERS.

NEW VESSELS ORDERED. Owinp to the rapid expansion of its coastal businef-s, the directors of the Northern Sto_i_Khip Company have decided to add several vessels to their fleet. At tho annual meeting of shareholders, it wa_ mentioned in the report that it" had been found neoe_sar7 to place an order for the construction of a light-draught etoamer, suitable for the Waipu trade. Durinp tho summer months thie port ia unworkable, owing to the bar, and it ia no uncommon oocarr-n~" (says th© "New Zealand Herald'") for the Gael, which ia at present engaged in the trade, to be held np at Waipu for days. A contract ha_ jn_t been entered into with Me-STs J. McGregor and Company, Ltd., of Dunedin, for the construction of a • lif*htdraught eteel passenger and cargo eteamer specially for the x_uc_land-Waipu trade. This vessel will be about the size of the Hauiti, and is to bo ready to tako up hor running in about ten months' time. She will be 101 ft in length, with a beam of 22ft, and <v moulded depth of 7ft 6in, and will have a ■ car&o-carrying capacity of' 120 tons on a very light draught. The vessel will have

electric light installed throughout, and k to develop a speed of about 9J knots In order to facilitate tho working" of thi " ooastal steamers at the shallow bar portv such as Ohiwa, Whakatane, and Opotiki tS company has decided to have censtrocte. "- two light-draught auxiliary -oowe for this purpose. The order haa been placed wit_ Mr G. T Niccol. shipbuilder, of AuckW - Tho vessels will be SOft Bin in lenirth _i* a breadth of 22ft. 4in, _nd a depth of «. Sin, and a carrying capacity of abont 133 .- tons. Two Bcardmoi- semi-Dieoel eneinM will be installed in each vessel, each en gmc being of 60 horse-power. The soows u» i expected to be ready for launching early " I m November. . M