LAUNCH OF THE NEW STEAMER AORERE.

Colonist, Volume XXX, Issue 4556, 9 October 1886, Page 6 (Supplement)

LAUNCH OF THE NEW STEAMER AORERE.

For some time past Messrs Gilbertson and Sons have had on the stocks building a steamer, intended principally for the J^ay trade and ou September 15, the handsome vessel was successfully launched. She had been moved across Wakefield Quay to the edge of the stone wall on the previous day, and yesterday morning all was in readiness. The ceremony of christening the ship was gracefully performed by Mrs Fell, wife of his Worship the Mayor, in the presence of a large concourse of people, and indeed the Quay presented as animated an appearance as it is wont to do on regatta day. Shortly after ten o'clock, the tide being at the full, the chocks were knocked away, and though it seemed as though the bow was about to slew forward, the vessel, which was launched sideways, took the water most beautifully, and sat thereon like a duck. As she rapidly glided down the ways, Mrs Fell hurled a bottle of wine at her bows, and christened the steamer the " Aorere " amidst the almost deafening cheers of the spectators, and which were succeeded by the best of wishes for her success, and the prosperity of her spirited and popular owners, Messrs Gilbertson and Sons. The dimensions of the vessel are :—Length on keel, 76ffc; overall, 88ft; beam, 14ft 6in: depth of hold, 6ft. The frames are of birch, the planking on the bottom is red pine, while the t p sides and deck are of kauri. She is strongly fastened throughout. Her engines, which are by Messrs Hutson and Corbett, of Glasgow, are compound surface condensing of 16-horse power nominal, and have two cylinders of lOin. and 20in. respectively, the piston stroke being 12in. The boiler is a round multi-tubular one, 6ft. Gin. by 6ft. 3in., the furnace being 2ft. 9in. by 4ft. long, and is built of mild steel. Her carrying capacity will be CO tons on a draught of 6ft. She will be fitted with a powerful steam winch, capable of lifting 30 cwt. with a single purchase, which will be placed on the deck. Her saloon is 14ft. by 14ft.. and is situated on deck amidships, under the bridge; the ladies' cabin, which is on the starboard Bide, will be fitted up with six berths, and will have all the necessary conveniences, and the port side will have open berths for gentlemen, the remainder of the space being devoted to a dining room. The cabin aft has been fitted up so that it can be used for passengers when necessary. The crew will be quartered in the forecastle, which contains six berths. It is intended to employ the steamer in the Motueka and Golden Bay trade, with an occasional trip to the Pelorus Sounds, and we hope that the owners will be amply rewarded for their pluck. After the launch she was towed to the Railway Wharf by the pilot boat, where her .boiler will be put into her. We bear that she is to be commanded by Captain Gilbertson, and that she is already chartered for a pleasure trip.