WAIKATO RIVER TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19092, 10 August 1925, Page 10

WAIKATO RIVER TRADE.

NEW VESSEL LAUNCHED. BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Saturday. The progress of the river trade of the Waikato was advanced a further step this afternoon, when the shell of the new cargo and passenger vessel, recently brought from Britaia for the Roose Shipping Company, was launched from the island at Mercer on which it has been assembled. The new vessel was christened the Ravvhiti in the time-honoured fashion by Mrs. Caesar. Roose, mother of tho present head of the company. There was a large attendance of spectators, and the launching took place without a hitch. Mr. D. Hay, managing director of the company, spoke of tho great possibilities of the Waikato River as a trade route, stating that up to tho present time the river trade had only been in its infancy and predicting tremendous development in the future, especially if the Waiuku Canal project wero carried out. This latest addition to the Waikato River fleet is 2loft. in length, with a 35ft. beam. A peculiar feature is its shallow draught, for it will carry a cargo of 180 tons at 2ft. 9in., while even with 30Q tons on board it will draw only oft. 6in. It will therefore be possible to navigate the Rawhiti for the full length of tho river from Port Waikato to Cambridge, as is at present done by the smaller vessels owned by the company. The - new vessel is almost twice the length of the Manawai, whjch is the largest vessel at present in commission on the river. The Rawhiti was brought from Scotland in sections and has heen assembled on tlie island at -Mercer. At present only the hull is completed and it is likely to bo somo months before she will bo put into commission. Sho will be of tho stern-wheel typo, which is at present used on tho river. An instance of her shallow draught was noticed at Mercer this afternoon when several hundred persons wero on board, at which time sho drew only lft. lOin. of water.