TOPSAIL SCHOONER HUIA

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1931, Page 6

TOPSAIL SCHOONER HUIA

ARRIVAL FROM MELBOURNE. RECORD TRIP RECALLED. More than thirty years .ago the topsail schooner Huia crossedthe Tasman from Sydney to the Kaipara in four days and a quarter, shattering all previous records. To-day the trim little vessel is still very much afloat, and her long-standing record is recalled by her arrival at Auckland this mornmig with explosives from 'Melbourne. There is at least one man in Auckland to whom, the presence in port of the Huia recalls probably the happiest days of his life. He is Captain George McDonald, a veteran master of ships,, who is spending the evening of his life on shore, and he was master of the Huia when she sped from ’Sydney to Kaipara in six hours over four days. He remembers that her arrival set local shipping circles agog. On this trip the Huia was loaded to her Plimsoil with a mixed cargo, but the weather conditions were all in favour of a speedy voyage and shewas under full sail almost from the time she passed through Sydney Heads until she dropped her anchor in the Kaipara. Captain McKenzie has known many ships, but he confesses the Huia will always hold the warmest, spot, in his-heart. “She was a doll to •sail,” he said -to-day. “It’s no use me teiiling von all. about her, for no one would believe me. She was my baby. If. you were giving her too much sail or if you -were"not giving her enough she would, tell you, but she never complained if you treated her right. If I was in mV bunk I could tell if she was not at her ease.- J don’t know how she did, but she-always told me. Mind you,” added the veteran skipper, “she would squeal it she wa.sn t handled properly.”

Built at Aratapu in 1894 by Mr James Barber to the order of Air (now the Hon. Sir) Edwin Mitelie)son, the Huia frequently logged from 14 to 16 knots under sail alone. One one occasion, when commanded by Captain M.caKenzie, she nearly ran down a Newcastle passenger steamer, only 12 feet separating the vessels, when they passed. The incident happened late at night, when the Huia was reeling off over 14 .knots. After making a number of sensational runs the schooner was fitted (with auxiliary power, and for a number ; 0 f years now she was sailed under the flag of the Nobel Explosives Company, her present owners.