PORT OF GREYMOUTH

Grey River Argus, 23 February 1949, Page 7

PORT OF GREYMOUTH

Tuesday, February 22, 1949 ARRIVAL. Ptiriri, s.s., 1248 tons (Collins) at 8 a.m from Westport. DEPARTURES. Hauiti, m.v., 50 tons (McArthur), at 3.20 a.m. for Hokitika. IN ROADSTEAD Rata. IN PORT Matthew Flinders, Puriri. EXPECTED ARRIVALS Rata,Wellington, to-day. Kiwitea, Auckland, to-day. Gabriella, Wellington, Friday. Poolta, Wellington, Friday. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Puriri, Nelson, to-day. Matthew Flinders, Melbourne early Rata, New Plymouth, early. Kiwitea, Auckland, early. Gabriella, Miramar, early Poolta, Wellington, early. NOTES The depth of the bar at high water yesterday was 25ft. The Hauiti sailed yesterday morning with general cargo for Hokitika where she will load posts for Wanganui. The Puriri arrived yesterday morning from Westport and is due to sail to-day with coal for Nelson. The Matthew Flinders is loading limber for Melbourne and is expected to sail towards the end of next week. The Rata is in the roadstead and is expected io enter port to-day. She will load coal for New Plymouth. The Kiwitea is expected from Auckland to-day to load coal for return. The Gabriella is expected from Wellington on Friday to load coal for Miramar. The Poolta is expected from Wei- • lington on Friday, where she will load coal for return. New Anchor Motor Vessel Puriri on First Visit to Port Making her first visit to Greymouth the Anchor Line’s new motor vessel, r-uriri of 1248 tons gross, arrived at Greymouth yesterday morning from Westport to load coal for Nelson. She had almost completed loading when heavy rain set in during the afternoon and prevented her departure early last evening. . Built at Leith, Scotland, the Puriri replaces a vessel of the same name which was blown up in Auckland harbour when serving as a minesweeper during the war. She arrived in New Zealand last month, and is the latest addition •to the Anchor’s fleet. The modern features of the Puriri, and the use of equipment not previously seen at Greymouth attracted considerable attention yesterday as the vessel lay at the wharves. With a draught of only 12ft 7ins., the Puriri has been designed specially to work the bar harbours of the West Coast, and in this she follows suggestions that have been made over the years that vessels of light draught should be employed on the coal trade to Greymouth and Westport. With a cargo capacity of almost 1000 tons, the Puriri carries about 200 more tons of coal than the Rata, a well-known West Coast trader. CREW ACCOMMODATION The up-to-date accommodation provided for the crew should assure her owners of no difficulties in filling her complement of 17, for two-berth cabins in the stern of the vessel are provided for the men. Each cabin is fitted with oak furniture, and equipped with fans and heating apparatus. A large mess room is connected to the galley by a dumb waiter, and fitted with hot press and electric thermostat contioiled percolator. The cool chamber facilities will be enhanced when a reiigerator is shortly instated. Quarters for the officers, situated between decks are ol the sajYie hiftli .stcindcirc! with ti line smoking room. Modern navigational equipment, including patent log and directionfinding gear is fitted to the vessel, which is equipped with radio, including morse and radio-telephone for working the smaller ports. With six holds, the vessel has been specially constructed for the coal trade, and those loading her will not be faced with much difficulty in levelling her coal cargo. The hatch covers on runners are moved by the ship s winches, which have enclosed cabins for the winch operators. There are eight electric winches, each of lour tons, and the ship has four sets of loading gear compared with the usual three.' Only the inter-island steamer expresses Hinemoa and Rangatiramre similarly equipped on the New Zealand coast. . . Captain Norman 'Collms who is m command of the Puriri is well-known on the West Coast having commanded almost all of the Anchor vessels which have visited these ports. He brought the Puriri from England and found that the vessel was sound at sea. She proved a particularly good sea vessel when she encountered me heavy gales in Tasman Bay on hei voyage to Westport last week-end.