'Lady of the Lake' being made shipshape for centennial

TSS Earnslaw, Queenstown's popular tourist transport, was winched out of Lake Wakatipu yesterday to begin five weeks of inspections and maintenance before its centennial celebrations in October.

Earnslaw and Walter Peak operations manager Angus Small said that among the jobs on the ''to-do'' list were exterior painting, deck timber replacement, saloon refurbishment, engine overhauls and the recertification of lifeboats and liferafts.

Earnslaw owner Real Journeys will operate a modern boat on cruises to Walter Peak highcountry station until the ''Lady of the Lake'' is carrying passengers again.

The project will cost about $500,000.