TRIAL TRIP OF THE S.S. FAIRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3686, 27 November 1873, Page 3

TRIAL TRIP OF THE S.S. FAIRY.

An event of a noteworthy character took place on November Ist, being nothing less than the trial trip of the first oceangoing steamboat entirely built in Dunedin. Although more than one steamer has been partly built and fitted up in our port, we believe the smart little craft, the Fairy, which has just been finished by Messrs Kincaid and M'Queen, of the Vulcan Foundry, is actually the first steamer, every part of which has been manufactured in Dunedin. It is to be hoped she will prove the pioneer of a numerous fleet of locally-built steamers, and we really see very little to prevent the realisation of so pleasant a hope. Those who have experienced the troublesome delay attendant upon ordering _ small steamers to be built in Great Britain, and who have suffered from the risks of the long outward voyage, will readily appreciate the advantages of being able to build steamers in the Colony. Of course it will be said that the necessary appliances are

not available ; that there are no establishments here capable of turning out boats of tolerable size and speed. An inspection of the Fairy would, we think, go far to prove that these are mistaken views ; and we feel sure that upon enquiry any impartial person would be convinced that many orders sent to Great Britain could be cheaply and far more expeditiously executed in Dunedin. Some time ago the Hon. Mr Bathgate made a statement in the House of Representatives to the effect that the General Government were in the habit of sending a great deal of work to Great Britain, which could be executed much better and at less cost in Dunedin workshops. We are afraid this short sighted conduct is not confined to the Government, but that the ignorance, and prejudice perhaps, of capitalists throughout the. Colony often operate most injuriously against the interests :of many . important industries struggling to establish themselves in our midst. > It may be urged that the circumstances attending the con straction of the Fairy do not say much for the ship-building facilities existing in Dunedin. It may be pointed out that ehe is small; that she had to be carried a considerable distance through the streets of the city to the water ; and that when launched, her speed was nothing to. boast of. But it can be answered, that, if required, Messrs Kincaid and M'Queen could have at once constructed a much larger steamer than the Fairy, and one capable of attaining a: higher rate of speed ;, while anyone who knows Dunedin knows very well that there are, most suitable .'sites.: available for ship-building yards all round the harbour. S-i far as we are able to learn, there would not be the slightest difficulty in building at Dunedin steamers suitable for the coasting trade of the Colony, and those small -steamboats which are in considerable: demand in parts of the North Is-land;-'The''Fairy is a screw steamer, built of iron. . She is 70 feet over all; length of keel 65 feet. Her breadth of beam is 13 feet, arid, depth of hold ■ 6 feet 3 inches. , Her engines—on the direct-acting principle—are perfect models for compactness and^easy working. They are of l&hprae. power (nominal), arid capable of working up to 27 h.p., with a pressure of 501bs. of steam. The registered tonnage of the Steamer is 30 tons, b^ut 'it is reckoned that she will carry about 50 tons of cargo. She is rigged as a ketch, and in a favourable breeze will be able to display an effective spreadi of canvas.: Messrs Kincaid and M'Queen commenced the: work on August'2Bth last, and the steamer was launched in the early part of October. She has been built to the order of Captain Campbell.and Mr S. E. S. Richardson,; wlip! intend her for the, trade between Napier, Wairoa, and, Poverty Bay. . .y - ■/•.-,■.;...,•,= .■■ .-•■ .. '--~- : ...■.•■•'■ ■ ~'-, Fully an hour before the Fairy started, the J^attray,street wharf was crowded 'with visitors invited by Messrs!Kincaid and M'Queen, and with citizens desirous of witnessing the start. The lively appearance of ;the wharf in the vicinity-of the steamer reminded one of the pre-rail-»way periods—the good old days of steamboat excursions, down^lie harbour. At 11 o'clock exactly,' the riioorings were unfastened; and amid, hearty cheering the steamer wWnt down the channel at halfspeed, crammed; from stem to stern with lady and gentleman visitors, and Messrs Kincaid and MfQueen's employes, accompanied by;, theirv,wives; A yioliifrjand violoncello - made their appearance in the hold, and awell-known "negro minstrel" favouredavery numerous audience with an appropriate sailor's hornpipe, which, to use aiechnicarphrasei "fairly brought down the house." As soon as the retaining wall was cleared '' full speed " was the word of comriiand, and the little boat, sped down the Harbour .at a rattling pace. The minstrel having, danced, himself out of breath, the engine-room soon became the dentre, of attraction. Those learned in machinery declared that the engines were working beautifully; while'the almost total absence ef that terrible vibration so painfully associated with ordinary ideas of steamboat travelling,..must,.have,,.,im- ipatted a feeling, of supreme comfort to. every land-lubber aboard.' Alb least such was the feeling of one land-lubber. Black Jack's Pomt1 was passed about 20 minutes past 11 o'clock. With a pressure of 481bs of steam, 160-revolutions to the minute werp counted. Forty mimitesafter the tinie pf starting BurkeV Brewery was passed, the indicator showing a pressure of 501bs. JL .very: stiff head yind was encountered for the reriiainder'bf the tfip to the Port, which; was rfeiclied about iO'minutes afterwards, Observation Point beinsi; rounded at 0.20 p.m. The trip from Dunedin to, thei Ptirt /by the:,short channel was thus aocoinplislied in :an. hour and twenty iniriutes. , We are informed that on the previous Saturday, under more favourable circumstances, the Fairy made much better time, doing the 9& miles within the hour. Considering, however, that she had '■ to contend against a strong flood tide and head "wind, her performance on this occasion was highly; satisfactory. Notwithstanding her extremely heavy deck load of passengers and want, pf ballast; the little steamer never exhibited the slightest tendency to roll. A prolonged stay-was made at Port Chalmers, and at twenty ; minutes to two a start'was effected. The steamer proceeded down the " lower harbour a considerable distance, the sailors on board the home ships lying at anchor heartily cheeririgthe excursionists they piassed: The Harriet Armitage^ anchored,in the stream, was rounded,' arid the return trip commenced. AT few minutes after two o'clock Observation Point was again passed, and a course was steered for the opposite side of the Harbour. About twenty minutes to three Macandrew's Bay.was,reached, and the steamer moored alongside the jetty. Several pleasant-looking hampers were brought on deck arid conveyed to an ample grassy slope ■at a convenient distance. Four stalwart youths elevated a large barrel of the best Dunedin brew on to their broad shoulders, and made their way to the aforesaid grassy slc-pe, closely followed bjT the whole of the excursionists, not forgetting the minstrel and the fiddlers. After the various good things, liquid and solid, had been disposed of, the violins weie set to work, and those who felt inclined enjoyed a good dance, while others indulged in a quiet walk along thebeach. His Honour the Superintendent strolled over the hills to learn the cause of the invasion ; and having ascertained its peaceful character, he inspected the new steamer under the guidance of Mr M'Queen. After remaiping at the Bay for about an hour or two, another start was made and the Rat'ray street wharf reached about six o'clock. The passengers were safely landed, the only mishap being the loss of a few hats overboard ; and all went their way praising both the workmaßship and the hospitality of Messrs Kincaid and M'Queen.