NEW VESSEL FOR FOXTON TRADE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 264, 3 August 1929, Page 11

NEW VESSEL FOR FOXTON TRADE

SUCCESSFUL LAUNCHING. Dominion Special Service Auckland, August 2. The new auxiliary schooner Foxton was launched from Mr. G. Niccol’s yard, Freeman’s Bay, this afternoon. The vessel has been built for the Canterbury Steam Shipping Company, and it will be employed in the trade between South Island ports, Wellington, and Foxton. The launching occupied about three-quar-ters of an hour, the cold weather having hardened the grease on the slipway. The timber to which the winch-cable was attached broke and caused some delay, in coaxing the vessel into a smooth slide. Once over the first few feet, the vessel slipped smoothly into the water. She was towed to Central Wharf for the stepping of tlie masts, and should be ready for sea in about a fortnight. The Foxton is 110 feet in length, and she has a 2S feet beam and a capacity of 325 tons, with a draught of 7ft. 6in. Twin Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines of 100 nominal horse-power each are fitted. There are two Fairbanks-Morse oil-driven cargo winches, and electric light is installed, with special provision for cargo operations at night. A speed of about nine knots is expected.