ANOTHER STEAMER FOR WAIKATO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4534, 25 May 1876, Page 2

ANOTHER STEAMER FOR WAIKATO.

A very fine paddle steamer lias just been constructed by Mr. Gibbons, at Onehunga, which ho intends to run in the Waikato, where there is now an extensive passenger and goods traffic connected with Hamilton, Cambridge, Ngaruawaliia, and the other settlements. The most important difference between this boat and those now plying in the above trade, consists in the water-tight compartments with which she is nrovided. These are fifteen in number and are so constructed that should the vessel at auy time strike on one of the snags or sandbanks so numerous in the Waikato, and which have always been a great source of delay and danger to its navigation, the vessel would still retain sufficient buoyancy to enable it to proceed. In addition to this, each of the compartments is fitted with a man-hole, so that a leak can be at once discovered and remedied, and the number of airtight compartments precludes the possibility of sinking. It is 73 feet long, with a beam of 12 feet 4 inches. In steaming condition she will draw only 14 inches, and when loadod, 22 inches will be her greatest draught. There are three sets of ribs in each compartment, which are securely bolted to the planking, and the whole is strengthened longitudinally by braces over the deck 42 feet long. Upon these braces, which form the frame work of it, the cabin is built, and this, we understand, will be fitted up with every comfort and requisite as soon as the vessel reaches the Waikato. - The hurricane deck has a. clear length of 60 feet, and every care will be taken to render the deck passenger as comfortable as possible; this, indeed, will be a leading feature of the new boat. The machinery, which has been purchased by Mr. Gibbons from the Government, is comparatively new, and in first-rate working order. The work of construction was carried on by Messrs. Young, White and Reynolds, and the model was designed by Mr. Gibbons himself.

A MONSTER GREENSTONE—CURIOUS HISTORY. Ms. James Roue, of the greenstone fac-" tory, corner of Chapel and Durham-streets, has jnst finished catting a monster piece of greenstone, weighing six hundred weight, to the order of Mr. William Oliver, of Queenstreet, for some Waikato native friends, who are the owners. The work was completed by means of machinery, and teok six months in finishing. The greenstone was divided into eight slabs, six centres and two j outside ones. The saws employed were fed with emery and water, the cost of the emery alone amounting to over £60 ; our readers therefore, may reasonably conclude that greenstone is of an exceedingly hard nature. Mr. Rolfe informed our reporter that the cutting of such a large piece of stone has not hitherto been attempted in the colony, and the nature of it is pronounced superior to any other before operated upon. There is a very interesting history attached to the transportation of this monster piece of pounamn here. About fifteen years ago it was brought up here from the West Coast, the place where the Maoris at all times got their largest supplies of greenstone. It was shipped to Melbourne to be cut up into meres, but there were no means of doing the work there, and Sydney was tried with like results. It was then brought back to Auckland, and a number of Waikato natives sold a black of land and purchased it. It was conveyed subsequently to the Waikato, and remained buried for twelve years, until Mr. Rolfe's machinery was erected, and the natives, advised that the machinery was ready to cut the stone, at once unearthed their treasure and sent it down. Kiug Tawhiao is supposed to be the largest shareholder. The slabs will now be manipulated into meres. The work has been capitally executed, and when the contemplated transformations take place, the cost altogether will not be under one thousand pounds. The slabs are now deposited with Mr. William Oliver. The details which we have given possess several features of an interestiug character, and shew beyond doubt that when ourbrotvn brethren desire to possess anything, neither care, expense, nor other obstacles stand in the way. They were determined to possess the greenstone, and they waited patiently for years till they could get it cut.