Wastwater - Launch

The following appeared in the Evening Mail, March 1889:

On Saturday, March 2^nd, 1889, Messrs. Edwd. Withy & Co. launched from their yard at Hartlepool, a large steel screw steamer, built to the order of James Huddart, Esq., of Melbourne. She is a large vessel, measuring over 330ft in length, constructed throughout of Siemens-Martin steel and built to the highest class at lloyd’s. She has a long raised quarter deck, short poop, long bridge house, and topgallant forecastle.

The holds are fitted with iron grain divisions and iron cargo battens; all decks, deck erections, skylights, bulwarks, bulkheads etc. are constructed of steel and iron. In the main and after holds the vessel is built on the web-frame system which gives great strength and dispenses with all hold beams, thereby enabling the ship to carry cargoes of the bulkiest description.

The cellular double-bottom is fitted all fore and aft for water ballast (Withy and Sivewright’s patent). The greater portion of the plates are in 24ft lengths, making the structure of the ship very strong. Four steam winches, three donkey boilers, patent steam steering gear amidships, screw gear aft, direct steam patent windlass under forecastle, patent stockless anchors hauling up into hawse pipes, and all other modern appliances are fitted for the handy working of the vessel.

The saloon and cabin, providing accommodation for the passengers, captain, etc., is well finished in polished hardwood, with painted panels done in oils by the decorative staff of ladies employed by the firm. The steamer will be rigged as a two-masted fore and aft schooner, with steel pole masts, derricks, steam coal whips, and all other appliances for the expeditious handling of cargo.

The engines have been constructed by Messrs. T. Richardson & Sons, Hartlepool, and are of the triple-expansion type, with two large double-ended boilers, built for a working pressure of 160lbs per square inch. The hull and machinery have been constructed under the personal superintendence of J. Wotherspoon, Esq., of Port Glasgow.

On leaving the ways the vessel was gracefully christened Wastwater by Mrs. Henry Withy, of West Hartlepool.

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