NOTES FROM LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 811, 27 January 1877, Page 3

NOTES FROM LYTTELTON.

For a wonder, all that is said by the papers about the Waipa is true—she is tho most painfully clean ship I ever saw. To a reflecting mind ,it is quite terrible to think of the amount of elbow grease that must have been lavished on ev. : ry plank on board. What horrible torments that individual must have suffered who inadvertently dropped a spot of grease on that pure deck. One can fancy if such a horrible catastrophe occurred at the commencement of dinner, how the unfortunate would writhe with impatience till the meal was concluded, in order that he, like the ship, might become a wiper (Waipa).

I hcai' that we have lately been honored by the presence amongst us of an authoress of no mean repute, and that she intends to look Mr Phillips up, if she has not already done so. She appears to be a lady of some weight, and X do hope that her opinions will not be entirely given to the Queen of the North, but that she will publish an account of what she has seen, with her opinions regarding it, in one of our local papers. It is good for us occasionally “To see ourselves as others see us,” and I am sure that descriptions of our Gaol and Orphanage, &c, as they appear to one from the North would bo read with avidity, in fact, devoured opiums should be.

The very moderate and sensible letter of Shellback pleased Portonian very much, and led him to think and enquire more on the matter. Freights during the past year have been very low. One can fancy a banker, requested by an owner of coasters to make advances on them, replying in the famous words used by another of his craft when requested to advance money on the security of a station and sheep at the time wool was so low, “Are those your only liabilities.” Many vessels are not paying for running, and owners have suffered, as well as those they employ, by the depression. I am sure of one thing, and that is that they would only be too glad to give £6 a month, could they afford it, and I hope in a short time they will be able to do so. Thirty shillings a week is little enough in all conscience for the work that men have to do aboard the small vessels, It is not

like a big ship, where many hands make light work. On the little craft the three hands are always at it, and besides that, the risk to life and limb is considerable. Those who are married and have families to support must indeed find a difficulty in making both ends meet in an expensive place like Lyttelton, even if every penny they earn is given to their wives and children, and many of them when they get behind with their payments become reckless and go to the bad, and not only injure themselves ; but the tradespeople who supply them, the landlord from whom they rent their cottage, and all others concerned are also sufferers. So I do sincerely wish that owners will be able shortly to comply with the demands of tho men, which are not unreasonable, and that instead of seeing, as at present, a fleet of small craft lying idle for want of remunerative work, we may have plenty of bustle, fair freights, and £6 a month for the sailors.

Of all the many places on the New Zealand coast to which we send vessels for that timber which is so scarce a commodity in Canterbury, the one of which captains most complain is Kaiapara, The trade with this port has increased to an immense extent. Vessels from all parts of the Australian colonies visit it. Only the other day an order for several million feet was sent from Dunedin alone, and it is that, even allowing for a great increase in tho demand, fifty years will elapse before _ the timber to which easy access can be gained will be exhausted. Such being the case, one would think that every precaution would be taaken to make it it a safe port; but such is not the case, as the fate of the Melanie, Stratlmaver, and other vessels testify. Kaipara, too, is a bar harbour, and the bar is a long way from the entrance of the river, and in fact, in rough weather, it breaks from fifteen to seventeen miles out to sea. A house, flagstaff, and beacon have been erected, but, as there is no signalman, they are of course useless. Even were anyone placed there they could do little good, as they are so situated that there is great difficulty in making them out from seaward, more especially as they are painted red—-the worst colour almost that could have been chosen, being a similar tint to the rusty fern and foliage of the surrounding hills. The channel is not the same as when laid down in the charts, and this helps to embarrass tho stranger and lead him into danger, as there is great difficulty in picking up the beacons, which are not high enough, and, as I before remarked, of the wrong colour, There is plenty of room, the channel being half a mile wide and seven-fathom deep, but there are great dangers on either side. There is one bank the water on which in calm weather seems as smooth as tho river, but let the least swell got up, and immense rollers chase each other over its deceitful surface ; it has been named “ Roaring Tom,” and richly it deserves the name. All danger is passed when the pilot comes aboard, at the month of the river. Many of the seamen visiting this port are Lyttelton husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons, and so we are all deeply concerned in this matter. Let any misfortune happen to a vessel in crossing the bar, and there is no one to lend a helping baud, the nearest house being the pilot’s, eight miles off and hidden from sight by the hills. The captain of the Strathnaver, in telling me the history of the loss of the vessel, in which it will be remembered part of the crow were drowned, said, “ When we left the vessel, and got into the boat, I would have given ten thousand pounds, if I had had it, and left myself a pauper, to know that there was a human being within signal distance who could have directed and helped us ; we were saved by a miracle.” Surely then this is a matter requiring immediate attention; all agree that if tho house beacon and flagstaff were painted white it would be a great improvement, as they would be more easily seen, but signalmen should be stationed there and other precautions taken. It has been proposed that a memorial should be drawn up to the Government regarding the matter, and sent to the Collector of Customs. All the captains visiting Kaipara are eager to sign it, and no doubt, if presented, it will meet with tho attention such an important matter deserves.

There was a social gathering the other night at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lyttelton, | which, as all Portonians know, is situated ! opposite the Wesleyan Chapel, at which j latter place a Home Missionary Meeting was being held. One of our nautical heroes had \ promised faithfully some of his lady friends J that he would go to hear the speeches, and \he was demurely walking into the Chapel jj door when the sound of a fiddle struck upon 5 his ear: he hesitated, stopped, and turned ; towards the fence. That man’s good and f bad angels had a hard struggle for him there, I but we are sorry to say the bad one con- * quered, and at midnight when Portoniau I looked in, that sinner was careering round v the room in a wickedly energetic manner.

The Standard is published at Rangiora, and possesses means of procuring informaunknown to its humble Christchurch contemporaries. In its issue of the 24th is the following leader:—“Some people there are whose keenness to scent good things from afar is perfectly marvellous. When the newly constituted Lyttelton Harbor Board met last week for the first time, the gentlemen present were very much astonished (or perhaps some of them were not) to find a whole pile of letters before them containing applications for every possible billot conceivable, which the applicants were sanguine enough to think would immediately bo created for their special behoof. That of clerk to the Board was evidently the most coveted, and the bone upon which a quarter of a hundred applicants together precipitated themselves. Naturally enough, the new Board had something else to do than take into consideration the good things at its disposal. A chairman had to be elected, and other routine work to be gone on with Perhaps the twenty-live gentlemen, or so, who hurried on so hastily their claims for employment may not be aware that the rule, in cases of this kind, is for a corporate body to advertise for application for whatever officers they may require, and we have no reason to think that the usual custom wilt be departed from in this case. The applications for the clerkship already received arc not only numerous, we believe, but also emanating from very high quarters. An ex M.H.R. for Lyttelton, whose name appearfin the almanacs as a member of every conceivable legally-constituted body, is one of them, and close upon his heels appear the Lyttelton representatives of the two powerful organs published in Christchurch. As

8 far as the ability and necessary qualifications ! are concerned, we would back these forlorn | members of the Fourth Estate at very long J odds indeed. Unfortunately, in these days 'of official “scratch me, and I’ll scratch i you,” the old saying -Fu tuna favet fata is, : but too often applies. Long odds are given j on .a certain young gentleman from Welling- | ton.” Bravo Standard! How you can scent j out things. I wonder who was your mia- | informant? The fact is only two gentlemen j applied for the post you mention, and neither ' of them were M. H.R.’s, members of tho J Fourth Estate, or gentlemen from Wclliug- | ton. The mocto of the Standard is i\ec, j tevierc. neo timiie, sed recte. How about j the sed rcctc ? Portonian, who called attention to the matter weeks ago, was delighted to hear Or Cunningham’s remarks in reference to lighting Lyttelton on tho dark summer nights as well as in winter. The imaginary moon which former lighting committees must have supposed illumined Lyttletou streets in summer time has at last disappeared, and wo are to have gas. It is rather hard on the doctors though, for there will be fewer accideata, I wonder if they put in a claim for compensation, whether the Council would allow it. Portonian has much to say regarding the Oxford street and Monkey Town squabble, | but he must reserve his opinions till next week. PORTONIAN.