S.S.WALLACE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIX, Issue 254, 4 November 1884, Page 2

S.S.WALLACE.

r A very lar«e parly ot lidies and gentlciuin ns-embled on b ard the Wallace yesterday af.eraoou on tha occasion of her trial trip after the reoen*. alterations, the litt'e steamer b ing crow-Jed in erery part. It was a beautiful day, au j the excursion was greatly enjoyed by all. The measure.! mile outside the Boulder Bank was tried twice, the first run which was against wind and tide occupying 7 miv. 42 sec, and the second which was under more favorable circumstances being accomplished iv Gmius 45 sets, but thero was leason to believe that that time could be considerably improved upon. On returning to the wbarf.'the hiallh of the proprietors was proposed in a few appropriate worda by Mr fcsharp, and heartily drunk ia bumpeis of champagne. Mr J. H. Cock, iv re-plying, said that, tbe Company had ban 60 well satisfied with ihe results of the improvements and alteration-} to the Charles Edward tbat they hud determined to convert the Wallace also into a fcrew boat, and they must all, he thought. j.gree that the alteration had been a success. He might state tbat no less than £10,0.0 bad been expendtd hy the Company upon their boals. They felt giateful to the public for their support, nnd hoped and believed that they would continue it, for the iat« rests of tbe company aud of the Nelson public were in every way identical. He thanked them for the hearty manner iv which' they iud drunk the health of the Company. The Wallace has beeu altered from a low pressure paddle boat with feathering wheels to a siDgle screw boat with compound surface condensing engines ; diamet'.-r of high pressure cylinder 12 inches, and of low pressure cylinder 24 inches ; length of stroke 15 inches. The steam is supplied from a toiler constructed entirely of steel carrying a pros-sure of 90lbs, driving a four bladed scicw 6 feet in diameter with 8 feet pitch. During, the trial yesterday the engines ran '130 revolutions to the minute, but a higher fpeed is obtainable. The boat herself has been strengthened by fresh plating and angle iron where required, a keelson also haviDg teen put in her from Btem to stem. Like all tbe other Anchor boats, ebe is supplied .vith a steam winch and donkey boiler on deck. Tbe passenger nccorn modal ion has been much improved by the removal of the saloon from below to a deck housa amidships, where the ladies' cabin ia also situated. By tho removal of the saloon to the deck and the lessened engine space now required, the cargo capacity of the steamer is nearly doubled. The saving in fuel will be very great, ihe consumption now being less than 4 tons per 'Ji hours, against over 10 tons previously, while, the speed is improved, and the general handiness of tbe boat much increased. The whole of the work ht.s been successfully carried out at the Anchor Foundry under the able and energetic supervision of Mr Alexander Brown, the manager. The Wallace will take up her running iv the same trade with tho rest of the fleet.

The recent improvements to the Anchor boats have involved an expenditure of over £10.000, and for a considerable time the Company's pay sheet has been over £1000 per month, which will be increased by the Wallace being put in commission. Almost the whole is spent in the place, as most of the employees have made their homes here. The circumstance of these boats being locally owned prevents a large amount of Nelson money being paid away in freights to other districts as well as bringing a good deal of outside capital to the place. The Company is therefore deserving of the support of all who are engaged in business in the place.