LARGE LAUNCHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23008, 8 April 1938, Page 12

LARGE LAUNCHES

LAKE TAUPO WORK FOUR FROM ENGLAND CONTRACT REPORTED SPECULATION AS TO USE r n v TKLKCIUI-H—OWN CORRESPONDENT] TAUPO, Thursday Private advices received from Britain recently contain information of striking development pending in connection with three, well-known New Zealand lakes. A large South of England firm is reported to have concluded a contract for the delivery in New Zealand of no less than seven large twinengined launches, of which four luh to bo stationed on Lake laupo and three on Lake To Anau and another South Island lake. The vessels-will be of two sizes, the larger being 56ft. in length, and the smaller 42ft. Two of each size are for delivery at Lake Tnupo, and it is stated that of the larger launches one' is to be stationed at Tnupo, at th» | north end of the lake-and the other at Tokaanu, at the south. From tlnS latter fact it is assumed, although actual information on this point is lacking, that the vessels are probably to be used for tourist passenger work. Shipment in Parts The firm which is to supply these launcli.es has specialised in the production of steel vessels constructed in such a way that the parts can be shipped to any part of the uoild and put together at their destination «n a comparatively short time under the supervision of an engineer and a le» mechanics. Over 30 vessels similar to those now on order for Lake laupo and the Southern lakes have been supplied for work on the lliver Amazon and tributaries. The most striking feature of these launches from an engineering point ol view is a patent locking joint, used in jointing the plates of the hull together, which has proved so efficient that it has been approved by Lloyds, as well as by the .French and United States authorities concerned. W "lie the hulls are of steel, the interior fittings, cabins and so on are of wood, thus avoiding the needless ol the wooden portions from England, the timber being obtained at the place where the boats are to be commissioned. , Possible Tourist Work

At present there are some half dozen launches on Lake laupo in commission in the tourist trajbe. lhese boats range from about 2olt. up to about 32ft. in length, and are owned by some five launchmen who hire them for the use of anglers on the lake. In addition there are about a dozen or 15 privately-owned launches used for non-commercial purposes. It is suggested that these four large launches reported to be ordered for Lake Tatipo, together with the three reported as ordered for South Island lakes, are perhaps to be used in the development of. sight-seeing and excursion trips on the lakes. In this connection it is queried whether they have been ordered by the Tourist Department, as an extension of the steamer service already operated _ by tho Government on Lake Wakatipu. The hire launches at present on Lake Taupo are all, as already indicated, considerably smaller than these steel vessels., although Mr. J. Taylor, a well-known Taupo launch proprietor and boatbuilder, has a 42ft, wooden launch at present under construction in his own building yard at Taupo. Former Steamer Service

For some 20 years a private company ran the lake steamer Tongariro on Lake Taupo, maintaining a regular tri-weekly mail and tourist passenger service between Taupo and Tokaauti. With the improvement and bridging of the Taupo-Tokaanui road round the eastern side of the lake, the mail service was secured by motor-car passenger services and it was not long before the owners of the steamer service suspended operations. The present hire launches are engaged entirely in fishing work and the present fleet is fully sufficient for the seasonal work offering from anglers. This fact, combined with the details given as to the size of the four steel boats, seems to indicate that the latter must be intended for sightseeing and excursion traffic, which as far as Lake l'aupo is concerned has not been developed. It remains to be seen whether the new launches have been ordered by private interests or by the Government.