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Otago Daily Times
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Maiden voyage to namesake city
Ocean-going motor ship Port Dunedin is launched at Belfast. — Otago Witness, 5.5.1925 Considerable interest is being taken in the coming visit to Dunedin of the new motor vessel Port Dunedin, which left London on June 26 on her maiden voyage. A wireless message received yesterday from the captain states that she is experiencing bad weather on the final stages of her voyage, and will not reach the lower harbour until Monday morning. The Port Dunedin is carrying a large general cargo for discharge at this port, and she also has a fair quantity to land at Lyttelton and New Plymouth. The Port Dunedin is a unit of the Commonwealth and Dominion Line, and is the first motor vessel to come from London to New Zealand with cargo. To mark the arrival of the first ship in connection with the new cargo service between London and South Island ports, a function will be held under the auspices of the Otago Importers and Shippers' Association during the Port Dunedin's stay at this port. Novel engine powers ship London, June 11: During the week several small luncheon parties have been held on board the new motor ship, Port Dunedin, and an opportunity has been given to certain interested people to inspect the Commonwealth and Dominion's latest acquisition. This is the first vessel of the Diesel engine type built to trade between New Zealand and Great Britain, and it is one of the first vessels to be fitted with the Doxford type of engine. Engineers will be greatly interested in the engines, where the new principle of two pistons in each cylinder is introduced. The explosion in the cylinder takes place when the two pistons are almost together. The end of each piston is hollowed so that when they are together there is a spherical space wherein the explosion occurs. Oil is injected at such high pressure that it explodes inside this temporary sphere without ignition spark. One piston goes downward, the other upward, and both act on the same screw shaft below the cylinder at the same time. When the two pistons are at the extremities of the cylinder, an air stream at great pressure enters at the bottom and drives the gases out at the top. When the pistons come together again the explosion is repeated — thus there is an explosion for every sweep of the piston, unlike other internal combustion engines where the explosion occurs at every second sweep. The engines are started with compressed air contained in three large cylinders in another part of the engine room. A special engine keeps these air cylinders charged. The main engines then propel an air pump for each set of four cylinders, the air pump being used to clear the cylinders of gases after each stroke of the pistons. Fumes are carried off through insulated shafts to the funnel, which acts as a silencer. Thus the main engines do not create a very great noise. The oil fuel capacity is 1758 tons and the vessel burns 20 tons a day at a speed of 13½ knots when fully loaded. A steamship of the same tonnage would need to carry a staff of 39 for the engine room. The Port Dunedin will carry ten engineers, two refrigerating engineers, three electricians, three cleaners, one donkeyman and one storeman — 20 in all. This reduction in staff and a certain economy if oil remains at a reasonable price, are the main factors which should make for economy in the ship. — by ODT London correspondent — ODT, 31.7.1925 Compiled by Peter Dowden
Otago Daily Times
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Young athletes show promise
The Port Chalmers to Dunedin road race handicap winners (from left) R.M. Stevens 1, C.R. Hubbard 2, C.O. Gallagher 3. — Otago Witness, 7.7.1925 New regular cargo link The 17th race from Port Chalmers to Dunedin for the Hooper Cup was held on Saturday last. The road was in fairly good condition although it was certainly very slippery in places. There were 46 starters, and only three failed to complete the journey. The winner was R.M. Stevens of the Civil Service Club who was on the 4min 25sec mark. He had a comfortable win at the finish, and as he is only 18 years of age he should develop into a more than useful distance runner. C. Hebbard, of the Caversham Club, who was on the 4min 30sec mark finished about 50 yards behind Stevens. Hebbard is also a very youthful performer, being only 17 years of age. This is his first season running, and he is showing great promise. Those two runners were well clear of the others at the finish. Gallagher, the third man, was fully 80 yards behind his club mate. J.C. McAra (Pacific Club) ran very well, finishing fourth off the 1min 55sec mark. The fastest time was put up by the scratch man J.W. Tapp. His time was 42min 36sec. He finished fresh and full of running and is fast coming to his very best form. When the cross-country championship is decided Tapp should be running at the top of his form. A number of the other competitors ran equally good races but were not in the picture at the finish. This is one of the most popular inter club events of the year and deserves to be better patronised by certain clubs. More than ordinary interest is attached to the sailing of the Commonwealth and Dominion Line's new motor ship Port Dunedin from London on June 26 for Dunedin direct, inasmuch that she is the first motor ship to leave London for New Zealand, and the first vessel to load in connection with the now direct cargo service to South Island ports under the arrangement entered into by the Commonwealth and Dominion Line, the New Zealand Shipping Co, and the Shaw, Savill and Albion Co. The Port Dunedin was launched two months ago, and is coming out via Panama Canal, expected to complete the voyage in 38 days. The vessel should reach Dunedin on August 3 with a large cargo for discharge at Dunedin. This would indicate that local importers fully appreciate the new service, and are taking full advantage of the first direct steamer from London. Sailings at three-weekly intervals thereafter from London of steamers representing the three oversea companies named above will prove of immense benefit to importers and merchants of the South Island. Down with this sort of thing The effect of the war upon morals was referred to by the Hon G.M. Thomson in the course of the Address-in-Reply debate in the Legislative Council. "Many of the lessons of the Great War seem to have been lost on the rising generation," observed Mr Thomson. "Dishonesty, for example, is rife to-day. That dishonesty which means that a man does not give fair value for the money he receives for his work." The motto of the employee should be: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do with all thy might." Mr Thomson was also of the opinion that the modern young girl had too much freedom, an amount which would have shocked her grandmother. The girl in employment was getting more money than was good for her. The majority of girls spent their money foolishly. On juvenile crime he advocated more birchings as a corrective measure and less moral suasion and reformative treatment. — ODT, 2.7.1925 Compiled by Peter Dowden
