3-021-694 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The twin-screw steamer John Penn, for New Zealand, 1868. 'The John Penn, double-screw steam-vessel, is built for special service on the west coast of New Zealand, where the dangerous entrances of the bar harbours require the handiest kind of vessel. She has been specially constructed, from designs by Mr. Geo. C. Mackrow, N.A., with a shallow draught of water, and with the double screw, to give handiness in manoeuvring; and she is fitted with a sliding keel, or centre board, to enable her to keep off a lee shore when running between port and port. She has accommodation for seventy first and second class passengers...The officers are berthed in spacious cabins on deck, over which is the platform bridge, with steering- wheel, placed before the funnel, so as to command a good look out for the helmsman. There is also provision made in the hold for cattle; and most of the west-coast towns will be supplied with live stock by this means, as the mountainous nature of that part of the island renders communication difficult by land...The engines are of 52-horse power, and made by Messrs. John Penn and Sons, after whom the vessel is named...She has been built...[by] the Thames Ironworks, Shipbuilding, Engineering, and Dry Dock Company, of Blackwall'. From "Illustrated London News", 1868.