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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 106, 13 January 1853, Page 2

Launch.—The clipper schooner, which has been for some time building at the yard of Mr. Henry Nicol, Mechanics' Bay. was ushered into her new clement on Saturday morning, iii the presence of » considerable number of spectators. Shortly after eleven ofclock, the tide being at the lull, and all the arrangements, complete the last link that bound her to earth was withdrawn', and, wi'tli her lower-masts and bowsprit rigged, the "Waitoiat*," (after which she is named)—glided smoothly and grarcfnllyinlo the yielding wafers. This new and hand- , some addition to the shipping of our port, , has been constructed after a modified adap- . tatiou of the far-famed Aberdeen build. Her entrance and run are both line; and, ! with a somewhat flat floor, her lines arc al-! together exceedingly symmetrical. Her i principal dimensions areas follows:—length of keel, 60 rcet; length or deck, 08 feet; length over all, 73 feet 0 inches. Extreme breadth, 18 feel 2 inches; depth of hold, 7 feet 0 inches. Size by builders' measurement, 97 tons. Since the year 18'.'.), Mr. Nicol has launched 017 tons of "shipping from his yard; and, as the performances of all these vessels have been fully equal to the. beauty of their appearance," we have no doubt lhat greater examples of the constructor s ability have yet to come. We give the nanies and tonnage of Mr. Nicol's vessels in the rotation in which tliey were launched. Moa, brig, 281 tons; Ilawkhead, schooner, 22 tons; Eliza, schooner, Sit tons; Julia Ami, culler, 28 tons; Rose Ann, schooner, 30 ions; Favourite, schooner,2Btons; TeTerc, schooner 27 tons; Waiiemala, schooner, 97 tons, l'ive half-decked boats of from 10 to 18 tons, Another launch took place al Brickfield Bay the previous Thursday '. The. vessel to which we allude is called 'the 'Sisters,'.and is a sound, substantial, good looking schooner of 41 tons builder's measurement, belonging to Mr. Binns. There, are also two remarkably sightly vessels being built in Commercial Bay by Mr. Howie; one of about 50, and the other of 20 tons. Tlielatter,whichisforMr. McKaskillor the Thames, is nearly ready for launching ; —the former, which" is well on towards completion, is being built for the active and energetic natives of the East Coast. We cannot conclude this brief notice of our small craft, off and on the stocks, without' a passing word in commendation of our numerous and noble fleet of cargo boats. These vessels are an honour to Aucklandstout, stanch, safc. and always in admirable order. It is quite a pleasure to look at them at their anchors of a Sunday. They average from IS to 20 tons, and are as well and as handsomely put -together as vessels of that description can be. We have hoard them

compared to tlic cargo boats of Table Bay. In our opinion tlicy arc infinitely superior, being quite as stiff under canvas, and much, more buoyant. Indeed there is no port in the world in which the small craft of Auckland can be surpassed—if equalled.