THE GOVERNMENT STEAMERS

New Zealand Mail, 22 January 1902, Page 47

THE GOVERNMENT STEAMERS

ARRIVAL OF THE LADY ROBERTS AND JANIE SEDDON. NEW SUBMARINE MINING BOATS. | “We have had a rough passage from ; Gieenoek, but these boats showed the;) j are possessed of good sea-going qualities,” i was the reply to a query put to Captain : Fraser, of the Lady Roberts, by one o i j pur representatives as the steamers wera i berthed at the Wool Wharf on Thursday ; afternoon. “Look round for yourself, and ; y°u will find that these steamers are well suited for the work required of themm ■ The boats are small and schooner rigged, [ and have a smart appearance. They, were built for submarine mining purposes by the British Naval Department, and handed over to the New Zealand Government. The vessels are named the Janie Seddon and th© Lady Roberts, and were constructed by Messrs Fleming and Ferguson, of Paisley. They are both of the same dimensions, the tonnage being 370 tons, engines 370-li.p., with 93 feet length by a beam of 18 feet, and depth of hold about 9 feet. Both are built on the latest designs, and are, to use the words of Captain Fraser, “better than any of their class in the Old Country/ - * Everything on boaru is up-to-date, oven the winches on the decks are covered with plates to prevent accidents. They are compound twin-screw, surface condensing steamers, are fitted with electric light, and have everything needed for laying down and picking up submarine mines. The officers have splendid accommodation for’--ard, and the crew are situated aft. On the passage out, the vessels in ordinary weather steamed. knots, but an average of 10) knots can he maintained by them if necessary. The Janie Seddon was when leaving Greenock commanded by Captain Robert Fraser, R.N.R., son of the Hon F. H. Fraser, M.L.C. Captain draper was for many years in the New Zealand chipping Company's service. Ow--1118 to the illness of Captain Moorhouse • of the Lady Roberts, who had to remain bemnd in Australia, hia place was taken c Captain Fraser, and the command ®t the Janie Seddon was allotted to Mr A. H. Aitkeq, chief officer. The steamers came via the Red Sea, having left the Old Country on 28th September. They sailed from Albany on the 26th December for Melbourne, and owing to more adverse weather, had to put into Warrnambool for coal, but arrived at Melbourne on tbe sth inst. Two days later the passage to Wellington was continued, and fine weather prevailed till Gap© Farewell was sighted. Both vessels passed there , at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, and later on put into Golden Bav. The vessels resumed the journey at 5.30 p.m. the same day, and arrived in Wellington yesterday afternoon. The Janie Seddon will probably be stationed at Wellington, and the Lady Roberts at Auckland. The officers and crew of both vessels will bo paid off to-dav or to-morrow.