SALE OF STEAMERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9691, 20 June 1917, Page 2

SALE OF STEAMERS

RICHARDSON AND 00. PURCHASE THE AWAHOU. An important shipping, deal whicn has been under negotiation recently lias been completed, resulting in the sale of the well-known coastal steamer jiwaliou, 407 tons gross, by her owners, Levin and Co., of Wellington, to Richardson and Co., of Napier. Richardson and Co. intend to place their new purchase in the Auckland-Gis-borue via bays service. The vessel can lift about 400 tons of general cargo, and she. will bo found a useful substitute for the same comjiany’s steamer Kal.'U, which is to withdraw from commission in the meanwhile. The Awaken, in her new trade will carry stores to the various stations between Auckland and Gisborne, and will load wool and general' produce for the return trip. Robert Wallace, superfintending erigirieer for Richardson and Co., will arrive .by express this evening from Napier to take over the Awahou. The vessel, which has been undergoing an extensive overhaul, is expected to be ready to leave Wellington on Saturday or Monday for Picton to load chafl for Gisborne. Messrs Richardson and Co. now own .eight. steamersr-Mako, Ripple, Awahou, Kahu, Tangaroa, Rum, Fanny, and Koutunui, and five oil-power craft —Kiritona, Echo, To Aroha, Pahau and Tuatu. The Awahou was built to the order of Messrs Levin and Co. about five years ago, and was brought out from Scotland for the New Zealand coastal cargo trade. The vessel ran coal from Westport, Greymouth. Wanganui and Fosrton, lifted cement at Tarakoho, and made occasional runs between AVellington and Foxton. She practically took up ,tho work of the Himitangi when the latter vessel was sold by Messrs Levin and Co. to the Chatham Islands Fishing Co. ' The Awahou is a twin-screw, steel, schooner-rigged vessel of 407 tons gross and 151 tons net. Her principal dimensions are—length 146 ft; beam, 25.11 ft; depth of hold, 9.5 ft. The vessel was built by John Fullerton and Co., of Paisley, and the engines, which aro of 74 horse-power, are by Ross and Duncan, of Glasgow. The engines and bridge-house are amidships. There are two holds, with the fordhatch measuring 24ft 6in by 14ft, and the after hatch 21ft by 14ft. There are four horizontal steam winches for the quick handling *of cargo. The Awahou is classed 100 A 1 at Lloyd’s. Captain Herne brought the vessel out from Homo.