SHAW-SAVILL AND ALBION COMPANY'S S.S. COPTIC.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4065, 1 August 1884, Page 2

SHAW-SAVILL AND ALBION COMPANY'S S.S. COPTIC.

. The arrival of this splendid vessel in our roadstead on Wednesday -afternoon w&s naturally regarded as an event in-the history of our port. It seems but • since the meeting of the the New Zealand Shipping Company at Christchurch, when it was determined to add steam vessels to their sailing fleet. The proposal met with great opposition, as it was thought to be a most hazardous experiment, but the end has abundantly justified its adoption. It Avas impossible then for the oldest shipping , company connected with the Now Zealand trade to allow itself to drop behind the times, and the amalgamation of Messrs Shaw Savill's company ' with that of the Albion Steam Shipping Company followed quickly on the heels of the New Zealand Shipping Company's new enterprise. Notwithstanding tho establishment of a double Hue of direct steamers to Englandj it was hot thought that we in Napier should derive anything more than an indirect advantage from the increased facilities-of communication with tho old country. It"* , was certainly never supposed that wo could offer sufficient inducement to receive a visit from one of these great ocean liners, more

especially as we had no harbor accommoda-

tion, without which wedid riofcthinkwe could participate in the advantages of the frozen meat trade which was then opening to this colony. It was reserved for the enterprise of Messrs Nelson Broa. and Company to prove that Hawke's Bay could not only cut into that trade, but that, without a harbor, we could get the largest and best steamers to put into our roadstead and load up with frozen meat. Great good' fortune has hitherto favored the success of this industry; and it has so happened that,' in the loading of the ships Turakina and Northumberland, and the steamers Bombay and Coptic, the most beautifully calm weather has aided in. their rapid despatch. It stands to reason

that an open roadstead is at the mercy of the elements, and it is no argument against the need of a harbor that in the loading of .the above named vessels quicker despatch has been shown than in ports where * every facility is afforded. On the contrary, it is ah additional reason why every means should be adopted to retain and enlarge a trade that depends so much upon the rapid transit of the article exported for its success. To show, however, what can be done in fine weather with the means at the disposal of Messrs Nelson 8r05. , , we may mention that the Weka makes seven trips a day between the wharf and the s.s. Coptic, '. taking each time 600 carcasses'. Work is continued day and night, and thus in the twenty-four hours it is possible to ship 4200 carcasses. At Wellington, where the vessel lies alongside the wharf, no more than 6960 carcasses, or 290 an hour, can be put on board in the day. We have thus very clearly before' ue the difference between a harbor and an opgn roadstead without taking weather into consideration. " . "

The 5.6. Coptic is the first of Shaw-Savill and the Albion Company's passenger liners that has called here, and. her visit.attracted the greatest curiosity. This magnificent vessel is 2857 tons register, or 4367 burthen, and has sumptuous accommodation for 390 passengers. She was built for the, celebrated White . Star line of North American _ packets, and ranks'amons't the fastest vessels afloat. Knowing full well the beauty of the. steamer, and the pleasure it would give to inspect her, the agents, Messrs Kinross and Co., and Murray, Roberts and Co., with their customary hospitality, issued nearly one hundred and fifty invitations to a luncheon on board., Accordingly a laro-e party of gentlemen assembled at the breastwork yesterday, and were convoyed by the launch Boojum to'the Coptic, Captain KMleyreceived his guests at the head of the gangway, and a thorough, inspection of tho ship followed. The smoking room and ladies drawing roop were firyt visited, two very roomy and coinfortablo apartments, luxuriously fnrnished and elegantly fitted up, and these remarks apply to the whole of the interior of tlie vessel. The saloon, the sleeping cabins, tie second saloon accommodation -' : were all inspected, and biifc one opinion was expressed, that a more comfortable boat for a Voyage to England could, not be imagined." Luncheon was served at 1.30 p.m., and when this was concluded, Mr W- Nelson proposed the toast : of "The Shaiv-SaTill and Albion Company.'-? In doing 80, he > said the fine vessel in which they we then met was a fair specimen of the Company's steamers, and of the class which in future would bo sent to Napier. He attributed the success of the frozen meat trade to the enterprise of the Company in agreeing to send their steamers to this port. ' - ■'

Mr Kinross, in responding, hoped that the Coptic would be the forerunner of a regular Me "ol: steamers, for it meant increased trade and increased population when such facilities for transport were at the disposal of the port. They must all acknowledge the enterprise of the, ShawSavill and Albioil Company, and; they..must admit that with''steamers of the kind they were then in the Company were showing that they were resolved to keep pace with the times. The Coptic in this roadstead signified' the-inauguration of a new departure. Hitherto the trade of Hawke's Bay had been carried on by means of sailing vessels, but they must inevitably give place to steamers. Mr Settle proposed the health of Captain Eidley, which was drunk with musical honors. ; " -' ; ? i ■ -i Captain Ridley responded, and wished every success to Napier, and_ then proposed an adjournment to the smoking room, where coffee and cigars were to be had. The Coptic is supplied with three freezing chambers in;the fore, main, and after holds, and capable of taking respectively 4000, 14;000, and .6000,. carcasses each. _ Ihere aretnree oi Bell and Coleman's refrigerating machines worked by the ship s boilers, which to some extent reduces the speed of the vessel when under steam, but in the vessels building for the company there will be sepefate boilers for refrigerating purposes. The Coptic took on board at Dunedin 5600 carcasses, 450 legs of mutton, and a ton or two of beef; at Wellington, ahb shipped 6682 carcasses ; at Napier she will take on board 8682 carcasses, 582 legs, and two tons of beef, and she will fill up the balance of her space at Lyttelton. After an exceedingly pleasant arternoon the launch Boojum returned with the visitors, who on rounding the bows of the Coptic gave three hearty cheers for the captain. '