NEW GOVERNMENT STEAMER

Evening Star, Issue 20686, 8 January 1931, Page 14

NEW GOVERNMENT STEAMER

MATAI ON CRUISE CIRCUIT OF SOUTHERN LIGHTHOUSES Tho Government steamer paid her first visit to Dunedin yesterday afternoon.’ Since her arrival in New Zealand in October the Malai lias visited the northern lighthouses and tho various lights in Cook Strait. She is a smartlooking steamer ot 000 tons gross, is 228 ft in length, and has a beam of doi t. Tho vessel was built by Jl. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company Ltd., at their ilebburn-oii-l'yno yards. She is an oil-burning steamer designed for a speed of eleven and a-half knots, and was built to replace tho Tutanekai. Tho Matai is fitted with special accommodation to carry Vico-Regal partiosTor journeys to outlying islands, or for use as a Vice-Regal yacht, _ but sho will chiefly ho used for periodic visits to the lighthouses• round the New Zealand coast. Tho High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir Thomas Wilford, and Lady Wilford, were present at tho launching ceremony on .lime 1.2. 'The Maitai’s propelling machinery consists of two sets of _ triple-expansion engines. Tho electrical installation consists of two steam generating sots, and an emergency generating set, with insulated stores on (ho lower deck. Tho vessel is also fitted with a. directionfinder. On-tho vessel’s arrival-at tho Liu If tho Governor-General, Lord Lle.disloe and Lady Llcdisloe, will bo taken do board for a visit to tho West Coast Captain. .(. W. Burgess, fate of tho Tutanekai, is in command.