LUNCH ON BOARD THE ALBION CO.’S SHIP DUNEDIN.

Evening Star, Issue 3601, 7 September 1874, Page 2

LUNCH ON BOARD THE ALBION CO.’S SHIP DUNEDIN.

On Saturday, by invitation, a party of gentlemen were entertained at an elegant cold collation on board the Dunedin, Captain Whitson, now lying in Port Chalmers Harbor, with her homeward loadingnearly completed. The Dunedin is the first of the tine new vessels built for the JSew Zealand trade, at the in'tauoe of Messrs Patrick. Henderson and Company. She is of 1,201) tons burden, and is elegantly fitted for passenger accommodation, and with every modern improve ment for efficiently working the vessel Among the guests were hj s Honor the superintendent, his Worship the Mayor, Mr *'• B. Cargill, long commercially connected with Messrs Patrick Henderson and Co.; Captain Logan, resident agent for the Albion Company ; many of 'be leading merchants of Duneiin, and the chief officers connected with the Harbor and Hailway Departments The party left the town by the 12.30 train, and the Golden Ag- 1 was in waiting to convey them to the Dunedin. After inspecting the vessel, with the fittings, arrangements, and cleanliness of which every one expressed himself highly pleased, lunch was served. Captain Whitson was in the chair, and Captain Logan acted as croupier. On the cloth b<-ing drawn, the Chairman proposed the health of the Queen, at the same time expressing the hearty loyalty with which every sailor regarded her Majesty. It is needless to say the toast was loyally responded to. Mr B. B. Cargill said it was many years since Messrs Patrick Henderson, and Co. sent out their first vessel from England. They bad been instrumental in sending many emigrants to our shores, and had always sent them our, in the best manner. Ho believed the intelligent way in which their transactions with the Port had been conducted had reflected great credit on Otago and tbe Colony at large. To this care was mainly attributable the success that had attended their efforts. The immigration arrangements of the General Government contrasted very unfavorably with those of the Provincial authorities, under whose control the only generally respectable class of immigrants had been introduced. The owners of the line of vessels to which the Dunedin belonged had had the greatest satisfaction in working with the Provincial authorities, through their having been men of strict business integrity. They felt it to have been an immense advantage to maintain business confidence with the Provincial Government, and desired to express their appreciation of the good faith and courtesy in which, throughout their long connection, business had been transacted. Ho might observe that, throughout the whole of their transactions, they had had to do largely with hia Honor the Superintendent, and he believed be was not mistaken in saying it was through him that the first arrangements were made with the firm, and that they were largely indebted to bim for the business transacted with the Province. He felt much pleasure in proposing the health of his Honor the Superintendent of Otago—Mr James Macaudrcw—the Executive, and the Provincial Council.

The Superintendent*- said he should like to have replied at some length to the toast, but he was obliged to abridge tbe remarks he could have made On behalf of himself and his Executive, he could say that they desired to promote the interests of the Province, and had done their best for that purpose, whatever might be said to the contrary. He thought it possible the value of the Council would not be properly appreciated until experience had been had of the doings of that public body that would take its place. He was glad to be present on board so fine a ship. Mr Cargill had alluded to tbe dealings he (Mr Maeandrew) had had with the Albion line, and that it owed its origin to him. His only regret was that he was not owner of the fine vessels hel.mgiag to it. It was seventeen years •since the hrst transactions were bad with it, and ;t was a great satisfaction to him that it had laden into the hands of so respectable a firm. He did not know that he could point to any hue of ships that bad traversed the ocean to the same extent so free from accident. This he considered was owing to the excellent management of the line. The only accident that had taken place, he was reminded, was to the Grassmere. It must be gratifying to see the progress the Province *a'd made daring seveatefo years, It

appeared but as yesterday since the whole place was in a state of nature, and now every nook resounded with the hum of business. He believed we were only dfi the threshold of our prosperity, and when the railway system was more fully developed, and the interior of the country opened up, Dunedin would have ships loading and unloading, not only at the Port, but at Dunedin. . He sincerely hoped that the Albion Shipping Company, that had done «o much towards opening up communication with the Mother Country, would continue to enjoy the lion’s share of the trade. He might say that the Dunedin was one of eight vessels built expressly for the ‘ tago trad'*, and so tar as he was capable of forming an estimate of naval architecture, ha did not think a finer class of vessels could be picked in any pa fcof the world. He proposed “Success to the Albion Shipping Company,’’ Captain Logan briefly r< turned thanks. He said he knew Mr Galbraith, manager of the company, fully intended to give the same attention to securing the future successful working of the line, as had marked their past effor-s. He not only acted up to. the letter, bub to the spirit of every agreement entered into, and to that strict honor he attribute! the success with which they had conducted their share of the passenger traffic with the Colony. Mr Tolmih, M. H. R., said eight years ago he was present on a similar occasion on board the William Davie, which at that time was considered as fine a specimen of naval architecture as was then known. He did not wish to disparage that excellent vessel, but he preferred that on board of which he the* was. He trusted in a very short time to see the shipping at Dunedin. Ha proposed tho| ; hea!th of the chairman, Captain Whitson. Captain Whitson returned thanks. He would simply confine himself to that, for he never knew a sailor a good speechmiker. Mr George Hkpbuen made seme interesting remarks, in which he related a few anecdotes illustrative of the changes that have taken place during his twenty-four years* residence in the Colony, and concluded by proposing ths healths of Captain Logan and Mr Gibb?. Mr Gum briefly returned tbankq, The Superintendent propose! “His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin, Mr Keith Ramsay.” He alluded to the proposed deepening of the harbor, and pointed to the possibility that the next similar gathering to that in which they were taking part, might be on board a like vessel alongside Rattray s erect Jetty. He did not think that Pork Chalmers would be injured, but would absolutely be benefited by that being done. The Mayor of Dunedin, after returning thanks, said he should be glad to see one of the Albion Shipping Company’s vessel alongside Rattray street Jetty, which might bo done in a short time if the Government supported the Harbor Board iu their efforts, do far as he could see at present, but little time was needed to create Dunedin a port for the largest ships. Mj E. B Cargill, in a few appropriate remarks, proposed the “Harbor Board,” coupled with the name of Mr I'ewaley. Mr Tewsley, ‘on behalf of the Harbor Trust, felt convinced the Superintendent and Executive would give every help in their power to render the efforts of the Harbor Board successful. Before his arrival iu the Colony he frequently heard Mr Maoandrew’s name associated with the Province of Otago and coupled with its progross. He hoped iu six months from this date Melbourne steamers would bo lying alongside Rattray street wharf, and whatever number of vessels were brought up to Dunedin, he considered the trade of the Port would increase so rapidly that Port Chalmers would derive equal benefit. He agreed wita the Chief Harbor Master, Captain Thomson, who said he believed in fifty years vessels would ha lying the whole distance between Port Chalmers and Dunedin. Pew believed iu the increase that would necessarily take place in the trade of the Port with the increased facilities proposed. The Golden Age was in attendance to convey the party to the Port in time for the train at 4 o’clock, and the guests left highly pleased with the hospi ality and attention received from Captain Whitson.