STEAM GUNBOAT AT THE WAIKATO.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1897, 21 July 1863, Page 3

STEAM GUNBOAT AT THE WAIKATO.

We have for some time been aware that the New Zealeand Government were having 1 built I at Sydney, at the works of the A.S.N. Company, I a steam cupola gun-boat for the Wiiikato river, but, for reasons which will readily suggest themselves, we did not think it prudent to mention the circumstance. The time for maintaining any secreoy on the subject is now passed, I and we shull therefore give the particulars of ' this formidable craft a 9 furnished us by a gentleman who saw her in the course of building, six weeks ago in Sydney, and obtained on the spot the fullest description of her intended character. The boat is 140 feet long, with 20 feel beam, and her hold is six feet deep. Her bottom is perfectly flat, with a draught of water not exceeding thirty inches when loaded. She will be propelled by a paddle wheel at her stern, and her steersman, as well as all persons on board, will be protected by a cupola roof. Of course the boat is built of iron plates, sufficiently strong to resist rifle balls, and rising above her deck are two iron towers, pierced for rifle shooting; it is by these towers only that access to the interior of the vessel can be obtained. To guard against boarding, an apparatus is constructed by which a constant discharge of boiling water can be maintained, for a quarter j of an-hour together, from, her sides : and she is in addition to be fitted with two Armstrong guns. She is calculated to carry 200 persons under her decks. The cost of constructing this vessel will be £9,000, and she is to 'steam eight knots an hour. The builders expected that she would be ready for sea by the end of this month, and, in order to enable her to make the passage to New Zealand, she was to be fittetd with a false keel. This boat, on arrival, will be able to carry troops into the heart of Wuikato,and we n^ust presume that the Governor, in sanctioning the expenditure of so large a aum of money as he r construction and fitting

will cost, hasresolvedtoputan end to the foolery of Maori kingship, by striking at its root. Tbe Waikatos, however appear disposed to precipitate iction, by threatening tbe out-settlements of Auckland ; and it will therefore he an important object for General Cameron to assail the enemy in ihpirrpßv by m~ins of this gun-boat in the WaikatO rifer.— Nilson Examiner.