THE UTILITY OF THE OAMARU BREAKWATER.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2156, 22 January 1881, Page 3

THE UTILITY OF THE OAMARU BREAKWATER.

An interesting little ceremony took place at Oamaru on Thursday, the occasion being the departure of the Ardentinny for London. The charterers, Messrs Sumpter and Hassell, together with a party of gentlemen, proceeded on board the vessel, and after assembling in the saloon, Mr Sumpter said— Captain Millar and gentlemen,—Mr Hassell and myself hardly thought it right you should be allowed to leave the port of Oamaru without asking a few friends to drink your health, more particularly as the departure of this vessel will mark a new era with regard to the port of Oamaru. It is now about thirteen years since we exported wool direct from here to the Home Country, and at that time very serious difficulties arose as vessels were wrecked —there being then no breakwater—and since then very great efforts have been made to make this a port where vessels could take in wool and other produce with safety. You have been able to accomplish what has been sought, and your fine vessel has been loaded alongside the wharf here with a valuable freight. We wish you a successful and pleasant voyage home, and hope that next year you may visit us with a much larger ship, and be able to carry home such reports about the excellence of our harbor that there can be no fear on the part of owners of vessels, masters, or insurance companies regarding the loading of vessels at this port. You have taken by the Ardentinny one eighth of the wool produce of Oamaru, a freight valued et over forty thousand pounds. I have touch pleasure in presenting you with a small memento of the event. The testimonial consisted of a handsome silver cruet stand with cut glass bottles, and bore the inscription—engraved at the shop of Mr M'Oorkindale—“Presented "to Captain Millar by Q-. Sumpter and J. Hassell, junr., charterers of the Ardentinny, first wool vessel loaded at Oamaru wharf. January, 1831.’’ Captain Millar responded, and remarked that he was much pleased with the port of Oamaru,