MOKOIA'S CRUISE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1016, 4 January 1911, Page 5

MOKOIA'S CRUISE.

IN MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS. SMOOTH WATEB ALL TEE'WAT. .When the Mokoin's merry party of some-'. 240 excursionists' arrived back at Wellington from the Marlborough Sounds cruise 'yesterday morning the general ; opinion . expressed was that the time, had bean all too short. . "Such a lot to do and such a iittlo time to do it in" were the words of oii'o lady as she. stepped on to the Queen's Wharf. And, judging by the smiling faces coming down the gangway at the time, it seemed that everybody agreed with her. The run across Cook Strait on Saturday was made in beautiful'weather, arid Tory Channel-was entered at 3.25 p.m. After ; a delightful trip' up Queen Charlotte Sound the vessel berthed at Picton at 4.40 p.m. R.Here the 'Hokoia remain-ed-until New Year's, morning. By this time all on board had'become known to one another, and a pleasant spirit of bon camaraderie, prevailed all round. It need hardly.be stated-that throughout the excursion the beautiful scenery of the Marlborough fiords was much admired. On Sew Year's morning the Mokoia steamed, through Queen Charlotte Sound ' and calied ■ at . Bay . of Many Coves, Endeavour Inlet, and Ship . Cove. Here the excursionists .were landed in launches specially taken over ..for the trip, assisted by the ship's boats. The historic associations of the cove, dating back to the time of Captain Cook, added to the interest and. charm 6f the visit, From here the Mokoia -steamed into Tennyson Inlet, through Apau Channel', and anchored for. the night." Parties .from the'steamer again landed, and-some-fishing was indulged in. Next morning (Monday) the anchor was hove .up, and .the vessel steamed through Tawhitinui Reach into Pelorus Round to Kcnepuru Sound and out bv Pelorus Sound into Crail Bay. Clov'a Bay, and again out to sea to' Guard's Bar, where the: anchor was again dropped for the night; It. was intended to organise a dance -on board, this being the last night of the trip, but, owjnf to rain, the project had to be reluctantly given .up. Howevr, an impromptu concert, which proved to be very enjoyable, was arranged. Those who 'took' nart were Miss L. Putnam, Miss Bland, Miss Putnam, and Miss Stevens,. Messrs. E. C. Adams. Duncan, E. Etheridge. ' W. Fraer, mu! Wicks were the orchestra.' Mr. P. E. Burns presided; Indeed, music was generally, in evidence on board the steamer the whole time the was away, and operatic and other selections were played by Mr. .A. J. Wicks's orchestra at luncheon, dinner time, and on other occasions. The total distance run was, ronghlv sneaking, 270 miles, and the actual steaming time Was 23J hours. The outstanding feature of the trin was the fact that it was carried out in perfectly smooth water. . On the'excursion the -Mokoia was 'fommand'd bv Captain I). M'Lean. he having the following "flicks associated with him—Chief, Mr. He'ider; second. Ifr. J. A. Sutherland; '.bird,. Jl>. .T. "Dhumorc"ml Messrs. J. Bh-th. ,T. Clark, nnd TT Bwisor aa extra officers. Mr. 4. Jf'Tjrido was'ehicf en-in«er. and Mr. 0. Ncl™ n ."■eoid. Mr. V. Tlnff was purser, and Mr C. Carter chief steward.