MOVING BIG BOILER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21498, 23 May 1933, Page 12

MOVING BIG BOILER

TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM LYTTELTON TUNNEL TOO SMALL A large boiler, weighing 47 tons, which is to be landed at Lvttelton shortly from the steamer Waikouaiti, has presented a transportation problem to those responsiblei for its importation. The boiler is out of the Australian doop Geranium, which was recently scrapped, and has been purchased in Sydney for works at Woolston, Christchurch. The dimensions of the boiler preclude its passing through the Lyttelton tunnel or over the railway from Timaru to Christchurch. It is probable that the scow' Ngahau'. which recently reopened trade across the Waimakariri bar, will be chartered to take the boiler from Lyttelton, across the Sumner bar, to Heathcote. The last, vessel to cross the Sumner bar with cargo was the small Peninsula steamer, Purau, with a transhipment of hardwood poles for the Sumner Borough Council, about 1916 or 1917. The schooner Annie Hill was towed across the bar about 12 years ago for use as a sea-scout training ship at Redcliffs., and about two years later was towed back to Lyttelton again. More than 30 years ago the little steamer John Anderson made an experimental trip across the bar and proceeded some distance up Estuary.