BUSY YARDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26410, 14 March 1947, Page 6

BUSY YARDS

SHIPBUILDING AT PORT CHALMERS NEW PLEASURE LAUNCH Complete except for the installation of an engine, the 25ft pleasure launch at present on the stocks at the shiprights’ yards of Miller and Tunnage, Ltd., Port Chalmers, is the first boat of its type to have been built there. The hull was finished in October, and the builders have been awaiting the arrival of the 90 horse-power American engine, which was expected to reach Auckland on Wednesday. The craft, which is called a water car, is being, built to the order of Mr J. Stone, of Queenstown, for passenger trips on Lake Wakatipu.

This type of launch was Resigned by Mr A. J. Collings, of Auckland, and upholstered seating will provide room for six passengers, besides the driver. The estimated maximum speed is 22 knots. She will be named the Meteor.

Seven orders for the construction of trawlers have been placed with Miller and Tunnage. - Two are for Port Chalmers, two for Bluff, and the other orders are from Timaru, Oamaru, and Greymouth. Mr Miller said yesterday that his firm was finding the problem of getting skilled labour extremely difficult to solve, and with the work .in hand the present staff would well be doubled. There were many who would not embark on a skilled craft because of easier jobs offering and others who had left for more remunerative wages. The keel has just been laid for a 60ft trawler, which is being built for Mr D. Millar, of Port Chalmers. Twoinch kauri planking will be used for the hull, and the 120 horse-power engine will be housed amidships. Ac-commodation-for the crew will be forward of the engine room and the fish hold aft of the engines. Also on the stocks—at a more advanced stage—is a trawler for Mr J. Wilson, of Greymouth. She has been designed as a sister boat of Mr A. J. Black’s Sea Rover. A start has been made on two 17ft standard Sea Scout boats. •