NEW LIGHTHOUSE SHIR

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1930, Page 9

NEW LIGHTHOUSE SHIR

MATAI REACHES WELLINOTOM CREW PRAISES SEAWORTHINESS UNUSUAL LINES. OF STEAMER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The new Government lighthouse fiteamer and' vice-regal yacht Matai, which was berthed at Wellington today, has rather, unusual lines, being riJoed as a two-masted schooner with a "clipper- stem and cruiser stern. .The single funnel is painted yellow; otherwise the vessel is all white and. .prob* ably will not be ; altered. _ Except for a slight blow in lish Channel the Matai had a good trip tc New Zealand. ; The officers could not speak too highly of the sea-going qualities of the ship under any condition*. They said, the Matai rode the seas beautifully and shipped no water during the voyage. About the only respect in. which the ship has yet to be tried is with a following sea. The Matai burned fuel oil on the voyage to New Zealand and probably .Will continue to do so, although.JP r °vfeita is made for the use of coal if desired. On the voyage the Matai used an averX of 6.9 tons of fuel a day and "the average distance covered was 210 sea miles.° On the best day’s run 251 miles was logged, and the' lowest waS 14% miles. ... /■ -. ’ • - • The voyage was made at an average spaed of 8.89' knots, but the ship was not pressed and. steamed at.little more than half speed. It is stated.on boardthat Government officials will probably be agreeably surprised when the Matai steams “all out,” when a speed of about 14 knots can be expected. The ship was designed for a speed of U| knots, which is -reported to. have been slightly exceeded on the trials.. (-.The..Matai Was brought to New Zealand by-Captain C. Manning. Among the ship’s appurtenances are a wireless direction-finder echo depth-sounding apparatus which is believed to be the only one of ife type at present installed iri a ship.. The life-saving appliances are up-to-date and in addition to surf boats a fast motor launch is carried. There are special derricks both for dealing , with buoys and for handling the ship’s boate. The fate of the Tutanekai, .which the Matai is replacing, is uncertain, but it is scarcely probable the Tutanekai will see any more, active’service. • • .