BLUFF NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 23527, 6 June 1938, Page 2

BLUFF NEWS

TRAWLER PURCHASED BY NORTHERN FIRM COWAN WILL REPLACE THE MURIEL Owned by Urwin and Company of Bluff since 1925, the steamship Cowan, which, as an oyster trawler, operated for many years with the Bluff fleet in Foveaux Strait, has been sold to a northern firm. Its buyers are Ferrin and Sons, Christchurch,' and the vessel has been purchased to replace the fishing trawler Muriel, which was lost at Sumner Beach several months ago. Built in Sydney in 1914, the Cowan was employed there for a number of years as a water tug. Later she was sold to the Auckland City Council and was used as a trawler. Her days as a tug were not finished, however, for she was acquired by the Zorab firm in Wellington and was put to her former use. In 1925 the Cowan was brought to Bluff, having been bought by Urwin and Company, fish and oyster merchants. She became an oyster trawler, replacing the Rita, which was subsequently used for fishing. For the next few years she operated in Foveaux Strait with the fleet until in 1931 the Dominion felt the effect of the depression and she was laid up in the harbour, where she has since remained. In the Christmas of 1928 the Cowan left Bluff for a New Year pleasure cruise of the West Coast Sounds. The vessel, which was under the command of Mr E. Jurss, left at daylight in excellent weather with a party of excursionists from Invercargill. The holiday cruise, the only one made by the Cowan, was very successful. The Cowan was built by Woodleys, Ltd., North Sydney, but her boiler and engines were made by Ross and Dun- i can, Whitefield Works, Glasgow. She has a length of 88ft, her draft is lift and she has a beam of 18ft. Her net tonnage is 30 and she has a gross register of 60 tons. The Cowan will leave Bluff for Lyttelton this week. She will be commanded by Captain G. Mouncer, of Christchurch, and her engineer will be Mr W. Morris. STREETS AGAIN LIT The streets in Bluff, which have been wrapped in darkness at nights since the shortage of water at Monowai caused the electric power supply to be rationed in the country districts, were again brightly illuminated at the weekend. The unlit streets, combined with the recent period of stormy weather, have given the town a sombre and uninviting appearance, but on Saturday night the aspect was changed and lights glowed brightly in every street. FLAGS AT HALF-MAST Flags were flown at half-mast on Saturday from the Bluff Harbour Board’s tug Awarua and from the office of the Union Steam Ship Company as a mark of respect to Mr Ben Thomas Johnson, who died at Bluff on Thursday. The oyster fleet remained in port on Saturday to allow those concerned to attend the funeral. PERSONAL The Hon. Mr Justice O’Regan, of the Arbitration Court; visited Bluff during the week and was the guest of Captain and Mrs C. Bradshaw, Onslow street.