SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 642, 10 July 1876, Page 2

SHIPPING.

. PORT OF LYTTELTON. S Weather Eeport : July 10—8 a.m. : calm ; blue sky, Barometer—3o.4o; thermometer, 32. gHiGii Water: To-morrow—Morning, 7.17; Night, 7.38. ARRIVED. July 10—Taranaki, 5.8., 209 tons, Lloyd, from Port Chalmers. Passengers Mrs Helms, Messrs Thompson, ami Coombes, 27 for North. CLEARED. July 10— Taranaki, s.s., 299 tons, Lloyd, for Northern Ports. Passengers—Twentyseven original. SAILED. July 10— Jannette,ketch,41tons, M'Donald, for Okain's Bay. MESSRS AGAR AND ROBERTS' NEW STEAM LAUNCH LYTTELTON. We have to chronicle another advance. A new steam launch, with accommodation for fifty or sixty people, has been added to the local vessels at Lyttelton, and has been appropriately nam d after the port where ib is to be hoped she will long continue to be a great public convenience. Such a vessel was much needed, and great credit is due to Messrs Agar and Roberts for their enterprise in having her built. After many yearß' experience of rough weather and wet boats, of hard pulling and missing trains, they resolved to endeavor to procure something that would be, comparatively speaking, independent of the weather, and yet could be kept up at a cost which would allow of its being hired at reasonable rates. No doubt, they argued, as Lyttelton increases, many will prefer residing on the opposite side of the bay, and it has been the want of regular communication which has prevented this taking place hitherto. After mature consideration they resolved upon sending for a steam launch as most suitable for their purpose, and so in March, 1875, the order was sent home. There was to be no stint in the expense, the launch was to be as good a one as could be procured from the best maker, and when we state that the cost of the vessel was £1350, it shows that the undertaking was no light one for persons in the owners' position, but represented many years of patient labor. Messrs Yarrow and Co, of Poplar, London, were entrusted with its construction, and completed the work last September; but a difficulty then arose, as, owing to the great bulk of the launch and the Class of vessels trading here, no means of transit could be procured for twenty-three weeks. At the expiration of that time it was shipped on board the Desdemona, and arrived here in excellent order. The launch is of iron, 50ft long, with lift beam, and a depth of 6ft 4in, and only draws 2ft 9in, and is therefore capable of visiting auy part of the harbor. She has accommodation for between fifty and sixty persons, and there will be none of the dirt flying about as usual in vessels of her class, as the engines in the centre of the boat are bulkheaded from the fore and after compartments where the passengers are accommodated. She has a half deck, with a lOin combing fore and aft, and has twin screws worked by double engines of nine-horse power. No time was lost by the spirited proprietors when the launch arrived. Immediately she was gotjoffthe ship die was placed ■"ira'Miller's slip at Corsair Bay, and properly prepared for taking in her machinery. On Mondaj, June 2Cth, the launching took place, the vessel being named the Lyttelton by Miss Kate Agar, who broke tho bottle of wine across the bow in the orthodox style. Coming to her moorings, the Lyttelton took in her machinery as it camo to hand from the Desdemona's hold, and everything was fitted by Mr Bruce, the engineer, who seems to have accomplished his part of tho work in a most tradesmanlike manner. The lauuch being ready for service, it was determined to have a preliminary trip on Saturday last, and invitations were issued toanumbcr of gentlemen residing iu Christchurch and Lytteltoi. About fifty availed themselves of the invitation, and a start was effected shortly after the arrival of the 2 p.m. train from Christchurch. The event caused quite an excitement in Lyttelton, and nearly all the old identities were amongst the voyagers. After taking in stragglers, the Lyttelton steamed away for the Governor's Bay wharf, arriving there in twenty-six minutes from the time, of starting from the boatman's steps. The vessel ran three miles and a half in twenty-five minutes, but during a portion of the trip was going much faster, quite nine knots. The whole party landed at Governor's Bay wharf, and partook of refreshments provided by Messrs Agar and- Roberts, and; after drinking the Lyttelton's good health the party scattered, some wauderins fern gathering, while others took a walk amongst the •fields and talked about agricultural -pleasures. In this way a pleasant half-hour was sp'entj when the warning whistle was heard and a return made to the launch. The weather was beauti&l, the sea, calm, and in spite of the rapid and exhilarating motion, there was little or no vibration. As the Lyttelton arrived off the breakwater the Ringarooma steamed out, and the launch whistled a defiance as the big steamer bowled away for the Heads, whereupon Captain McLean stopped the ejigio.es and let the Lyttelton come alongside, when hearty cheers were interchanged, after which the launch's head was turned shorewards. When inside the breakwaters, Dr Donald callei for attention, and the engines slowed, and the health of the Lyttelton drank, he spoke as follows.—He said he had been on his travels lately, and had experienced much sympathy and kindness from old friends whom he had met with. From the pleasure he had experienced in this way he knew what a cheering thing a.nei<jhbour's sympathy was, and he thought this a fitting occasion for them all to sympathise with, the work that Messrs Agar and Roberts had-completed for their convenience. They had seen how fast and "Slso how well the Lyttelton could go, and he looked upon the fact of their steaming in such a boat as a mark of progress. He remembered the time when the sight of a cutter rounding the point drew the whole population of Lyttelton to have a look, but the old settlers had lived to see many new things, and; now a dozen vessels might come in without cheating much attention. The steam launch they were travelling-in was a new thing, and he believed wouhi prove.a great convenience to Lyttelton. His, friends Agar and Roberts were amongst tht>'j C people who went a little ahead of the tinr- 8 i n order- to provide for the comfort of otho' „ * h c hoped they would meet with every succey in their venture, and that the confidence the hod shown hi the future progress and prosperity U rZtMhnn would he well rewarded with ' <■.% tSSS? (Cheers) Mr Agar (who W' V.dlv K£d) thanked Dr Donald for his - fla tcrinspeech, the more so as h.O If compliment, but was real' , " <lw kt ,1 to keep the Lyttelton ■ a ** ie th "'' ma kand to endpnvonr t,r> imabhv u P t 0 tuc mant, una \u cu the " late tl,c P nbllc - and he hopc ' l do their beTt -upport them, as they intended to aotneirne.lv- gain * their COU | i( ience and to keep wifoHM*' ttelton then steamed alongside the ,S* s jetty, and after wishing thepjopvietors SjaJJSf j good-bye all Reparated, the Christchurch I y jts being landed just in time to catch the 4.25 r ja. train.