Motor Boats in Otago.

Progress, Volume V, Issue 6, 1 April 1910, Page 210

Motor Boats in Otago.

Launch of the " Moturata." The "Moturata" (Rat a Island), lately launched from the yard of Messrs. Miller Bros , of Port Chalmers, is a handsome little craft, powerful and seaworthy built for the river excursion traffic between Henley and the mouth of the Taieri River She was built to the order of Mr. MeKegg, the well-known launch owner,

who has made this picturesque resort so popular. The boat is 60ft. long x 13ft. 6in. beam, and sft. deep, with a maximum draught of 3ft. 9in. She is driven by a 30 h.p'. Globe 4-eyele oil engine, sh^e steams up to eight knots, and can carry 180 passengers, for whom there is both deck and cabin accommodation, and there is cargo space

Taieri mouth and back) recently, with sixty passengers, all of whom were hospitably entertained by Mr. MeKegg, the journey each way taking an hour. Messrs. Miller are the builders of the. "Kelvin" (launched, in December last) for Mr. MeCulloeh, whose win in Otago Harbour is de-

engine, also nearly ready. To give some, idea of the extent and activity of this boat trade, we may mention that within three years this firm has built to order on an ' average five boats every three months, for Kaikoura, Oamaru, Moeraki, Timaru, Karatane, Dunedin, Nuggets, Bluff, and Macquarie Island.

Davidson; nine 4% h.p. engines for Messrs. Dickson, Finey, Manning, Tanner. Tattley, Holland, Macartney. Nay] or and Lomey; two .3 h.p. engines for Messrs. Bradley and Erickson Messrs Wilkinson, Eoss and Cox, makers of the "Nelson" engine, lepoit sales. — One ]fl lip. marine engine foi Mi b. Loyland, Auckland; one 10 hp. do. for Mr T. N. Brocas, of Hokianga.

Messis B.ulcn and Lowe liavo just built- — 221t. Miif launch loi Captain Skinner; 35ft x 7ft. (mi Tuck si em hum eh "Countess for Mr. E. A Rdgecombe, Paiuell; 38ft. x Bft Tuck stem launch "Tempest" foi Mr. A. Banfoid. Messis T. M Lane and Sons, Ltd. aio building a Jltl k Sft. ciii go launch for Mr. Me Kay, of JMongonui, l£2i t \ ofi. 3m launch, to be fitted with ,i 4 h ]) Scnbbs engine. Messis Colhngs and Bell have just completed the launch "JlazeJ" foi Mi. E B. James, of Ponsonby This boat is ,?ott. long by Bft.

beam and is fitted wilh a 20 lip. Doman engine On the stocks are two launches one 28ft x 9ft . for Mr Stuart of Xapier, to be fitted with a 10 h.p. Dom.in engine; the other a 16ft * !3ft Gin . for Mr. Smith, of New Plymouth, to be fitted with a 3 hp Perfection eng'ne

besides She was designed bv Mi. W. Cutten, buili bv JVTessis Miller Bios, and engined by Messis S. Tonkms-on and Co, of Dunedin. Hei seagoing qualities have been fully tested, and she has given an excellent account of herself. She was taken to Henlef by way of the open sea fiom Port Chalmers on her own power, passing Taiaioa Heads on a certain well-remembered Saturday afternoon, and leaching the bar at the mouth of the Taieri Eiver at 6.30 p m. the same day, after piaetieally a non-stop run. The "Motmata" made her fiist tiip (Henley-

sciibed on page 190. Since then they have had many inqunies, and will probably during the year add a few moie of this type to the Otago fleet which they have practically created. They have at present on the stocks several boats, among the rest: — A launch for Messrs. Tonkinson and Speight, 33ft. x 7ft. beam, cavel built with an 8 hp. Viking engine, manufactured in Dunedin by Messrs. E. S. Tonkinson and Co; a 23ft. seine boat for Mr. W. Heath, of Karatane, which will soon be ready for launching; a 22ft. whaleboat, to be fitted' with a 3V> h.p.