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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17321, 22 May 1918, Page 3

TO TBI KDITOH. Sib,—l was surprised to note in reference to the tug Dunedin that the Harbour ■Board had cabled Home with a view to obtaining a new boiler, for I know the high class of boilers that have been built in this town. Boilers of suitable dosign for the tug are in use here every day, and are giving such entire satisfaction that ropeat orders from far afield have been received and executed. The condemned boiler has failed like many other similar boilers, not on account of bad workmanship. The aHll and finish put into the boiler are of the highest order. Tho boiler failed beoause, in my opinion, the shell plates were too thick and heavy. Iho design of boiler to which I refer has shell plates of only j|in thickness against l£in thickness in the condemned boiler for the same pressure. Further, if the boiler vei-e made .locally the furnace tubes and boiler tubes and mountings' of the condemned boiler could be used in. the new boiler, so that a great saving in cost could bo_ effected and the construction of tho boiler could bo started at once, with the result of a sawing of time.—l am, etc., Marine Engdjeeb. [We take this opportunity of modifying tho statement to which our correspondent refers to the extent that the cable Home was not sent by tho Harbour Board but was despatched by a local fiim.—Ed. O.D.T.]