THE PAKURA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18594, 3 January 1935, Page 11

THE PAKURA

CONVERTED TO MOTOR-

SHIP

CONCLUSION OF WORK-

FUNCTION AT LYTTELTON

Tlie completion of the work of converting the coastal vessel Pakuva irom a steamer to a motor-ship was marked by a gathering on board at Lyttelton last Saturday of shipping officials and others interested, at the invitation ot Messrs. Richardson and Company, Limited, the owners of the I’akura. Sir Cyril Ward, manager of Messrs. Kinsey and Company, agents for the owners, who provided, said that the I’akura had been a coal-burning steamer and the. owners bad decided to convert her to Diesel engine. The whole of the ■work had been completed by Andersens, Limited, end had involved a large amount of structural alteration. This had been done while the engine was on its wav out to Lyttelton. When it arrived it had been installed, together with new auxiliary machinery. “It was a very big job,” said the speaker, ‘'the biggest that had been attempted in Lyttelton, and, I think, the biggest of its kind in New Zealand.” The reason for the owners converting the vessel was that it was very difficult to make profits. The shipping community had been very hard hit —increased competition iiom road and railway had to be met—and ship owners had had to look around to find means of meeting the competition. The chief results of the conversion were that the Pakura could now carry approximately 220 tons more cargo, an extra hatch had been added, which would mean that cargo could be handled more cheaply, economy in running costs, and additional speed.

BOARD’S CONGRATULATIONS Qn behalf cf the Harbor Board and of other guests, Mr. E. Howard, M.P., congratulated the owners and contractors on the successful reconstruction of the ship at Lyttelton. “-There is u certain amount of sadness, a.s,well as of joy,” said Mr. Howard, “in the replacement of the steam engine by a Diesel engine, when we realise that New Zealand is a coalproducing country, and that hundreds of skilled miners are standing idle.” They must look to the scientists to devise a means of converting coal to oil. He congratulated the owners on their enterprise, especially because they took on the job when coastal shipping in New Zealand was in the doldrums. He thought the trade had now reached the edge of the doldrums and that the ships were just about to spread their royals to better weather.

In proposing the toast of “Richardson and Company, Limited,” Mr. H. Anderson, said that-it was no secret that an Australian firm had made a bid for the contract, but Richardson’s had decided to keep the money in New Zealand, and had placed the contract with his firm. The engine which has been installed was of 850 horse-power, whereas the largest previously installed in New Zealand was a little more than 400 horse-power. New hatches had teen) built and the auxiliary system completely remodelled. The contract had kept 55 men employed for more than six mouths, with considerable overtime, and an increased staff during the last few weeks. This must have a direct effect on the prosperity of the port. In replying on behalf of Richardson and Company, Limited, Captain Coldicutt said the relations between the owners; and the contractors had been most cordial. The trials of the ship had been very satisfactory. They had received every consideration from the Harbor Board, and the appliances and plant were equal to the best in any other New Zealand port, whilo the electric cranes were the best on the coast.

The visitors were afterwards shown oyer the ship. The engine is an Atlas Diesel, six-cylinder, single-acting, 850 horse-power driving a single screw. A dohkev boiler, burning oil fuel, is installed to provide, steam for the winches and capstans. At a trial the Pakura did 0.8 knots at 15 per cent, below normal capacity.