This, the eighth cargo and passenger vessel which the firm has undertaken to construct, is 110ft in length, 22ft in beam, and 10ft in depth.
Her draught is to be of the least possible, and not to exceed 5½ft when the vessel is fully loaded; consequently she is being built, as several other of the company's steamers have been, without a keel.
So far construction has proceeded in the firm's yards, the framework, plates, etc., being fitted and bolted together, but this part of the undertaking now being complete, the parts are being taken asunder and numbered with a view to being shifted to a site near the cement works, where the vessel can be put together and launched.
A member of our staff visited the foundry yesterday to have a look at the vessel.
Of course, there was nothing to be seen but the framework and iron plating, with the men at work busily unbolting it for removal.
It is apparent, however, that the work has been done with the same skill shown by the company in its construction of the ferry boat Waiareka, the Lake Wakatipu steamer, and other vessels already turned out.
Messrs McGregor and Co. are themselves constructing the engines, and have them now almost completed.
The steamer is to be fitted with twin screws, and each engine is of 300 indicated horse-power.
All the pumping gear is independent of the main engines. McGregor's patent boiler is being installed, practically a duplicate of that supplied to the Waiareka.
The speed, with fully loaded vessel, will be about nine knots and three-quarters.
The vessel is designed to carry 60 tons of cargo, with passenger accommodation for about 60 people.
She will be a very complete ship, fitted with electric light, steam-steering gear, steam hoisting plant, the latest type of life-saving apparatus, including Mills's patent disengaging boat-launching gear, etc., and fine cabin arrangements.
The crew's quarters will be in the bow.
Trimming tanks are being provided fore and aft to reduce the draught to a minimum.
When the vessel will be completed is, of course, hard to say.
Considerable inconvenience has been caused by the war delaying some of the material, particularly piping.
One part actually found its way to Samoa, to which place it was traced only after some time had elapsed.
Altogether the Waipu, as the new vessel is being named, is a credit to Dunedin engineering, and when completed will, no doubt, do something to increase the knowledge of northern people of the splendid equipment possessed by the Dunedin foundries and the skill at their disposal.
• The Y.M.C.A., as the representative of the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, is conducting the social service work at the Coast Defence camp at Waitati.
The general secretary (Mr Hughes) has been in camp with the men during the week.
The large marquee, 66ft by 36ft, has been fully occupied by the men each evening and during the day when the men have been off duty.
There are about 250 men in camp.
The men are making full use of the writing and reading facilities, and such games as ping-pong, bagatelle, quoits, draughts, etc., are frequently played.
The piano is seldom quiet, and the sing-songs each evening have been well attended and much enjoyed.
At the close of the evening's programme a short service is conducted by Chaplain-captain Saunders.
The camp will terminate on Tuesday. - ODT 6.3.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
