LIGHTHOUSE SHIP MATAI.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20037, 19 September 1930, Page 18

LIGHTHOUSE SHIP MATAI.

TRIALS PROVE SUCCESSFUL. H'ROiT OU» o\V:t COBEEai»ONDEKT.) LONDON August 15. On Thursday and Friday. of last week tho twin-screw lighthouse and general seryice sleaiyer, Matai, which has been built by Messrs R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie, and Co., of Hebburn-on-,Tyne, for the New Zealand Government, ran a highly successful trial off .itho Elver Tyne. . The vessel has an attractive appearance. It is 228 ft over all, with a beam of 35ft. She is rigged as ia two-inasted fore and aft schooner with'clipper stem and cruiser stern. Although 'primarily intended for lighthouse service she-, is. also designed to serve as the official yacht for the Governor-General when required, and special accommodation is a-i-ranged. on the bridge deck for the use of their Excellencies and staff.-A large dining saloon is also provided for their use, extending for the full breadth of the vessel, and is situated on the upper deck. Accommodation is providthe bridge 'tween deck for' 24 lightkeepers, with a special dining saloon for their use. ' Special Apparatus. The wireless apparatus is very complete, and comprises a 1} k.w. transmitter and emergency transmitter and two receivers, a direction-finder being also installed, and an echo-sounding apparatus'of the latest type.' The Matai' is specially arranged for dealing " with buoys, and is fitted with a special type of windlass for this purpose, while two derricks capable of lifting six tons and one of ,15 tons have been fitted -at the foremast. . The machinery consists of two sets of triple.expansion engines of the directacting surface condensing type, having cylinders 12iin, 21in, and, 35in working at 105 revolutions per minute. The air pumps, bilge, and sanitary pumps are worked off. : the ; main engines, and the remainder of the auxiliaries, including centrifugal circulating pump and Weir's feed pumps'are of the independent type. Steam is supplied at a pressure of 1801b per 3q. in. from two single-ended cylindrical boilers, which are fitted to burn either' oil fuel or coal. ■ To-day .the. Matai. will leave Newcastle on Her journey to'the Dominion. The - vessel is under the command of Qaptaip.v Manning, who was responsible for .taking out the fitago dredge, OtakoU; The route will be via Panama, and the journey is likely to take sixty days.