LEAVES FROM THE JOURNAL C PASSENGER PER SOUTHERN CROSS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 70, 3 May 1873, Page 3

LEAVES FROM THE JOURNAL C PASSENGER PER SOUTHERN CROSS

(Conclusion ) Friday.—At noon wo hoard tho cheering sound of the captain’s voice, ordering tho anchor to be heaved; and although some of us expected to be sea-sick, we were all of ns glad not to spend a tenth day in the Kawau, of which wo began to get heartily tired. Outside the harbour the sea was running pretty high, though not. nearly so oad as I expected. I must here testify to the good sea-going qualities of our little steamer, who rose beautifully over the waves without aa much as a jarr, and without shipping a bucketful of water, 9 p.m.—-Came on very dark and rough, i nchored in Tryphona Uav, where wo found the schooner Mary Ellen and the cutters Elizabeth and ivatio. I lie skipper of the Elizabeth came aboard, and told us ho had been at Tryphona for fourteen days and was living on schnapper. During the night there was a verv heavy down* fall of: ruin, and wo woke up on Saturday morning to find a fair wind (westerly). At 0.40 a.m. wo weighed anchor and, with sails set, steamed out of Tryphena on our way to Mercury Bay, which latter place we reached a little before 1 p in. Hero wo had two or three hours to spare, as the captain had to deliver the mail and got in a fresh supply of water, that which wo had on board being a little brackish. Wo accordingly yveut ashore and took a walk over the settlement. At Mercury Bay we found the inhabitants celebrating the last night’s flood, which had enabled them to bring down logs for the saw-mill. At 3 o'clock we started for Tauranga, which wo reached without further mishap, with the exception of being aground for about a minute in the harbour. As wo neared Tauranga. tho passengers—to show their appreciation of the civility and atlentiQM of our worthy providore and Steward, Mr Elliott raised among themselves a email purse o some £8 or £O, to help to defray hie unusually heavy expenses. bundtiy, 2 a.m.—After a comfortable supper at Mac a 1 close my journal, with an internal thanksgiving that I arn once more safe at home. Tho wmd is piping up again, ami promises plenty of ’nocking about to any unfortunates who may be Out at sea this morning.