Yachting in the Sounds . . . A HOLIDAY TRIP. FOB THE FREE LANCE.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 29, 19 January 1901, Page 13

Yachting in the Sounds . . . A HOLIDAY TRIP. FOB THE FREE LANCE.

THE spirit of pioneering is strongly implanted in the born New Zealander. It is probably that same spirit which induced our fathers to emigrate from their native country in the Old World and colonize these fair islands. The sons, however, are, unfortunately, denied the scope that was afforded their fathers. There is now no new country to be discovered, in all its natural beauty inviting the bold pioneer to run his prow on to its sandy beacbei and take possession. With what joy must the Maori emigrants haVe hailed the shores of this land or promise and plenty after their hazardous journey in canoes. Their undertaking can best be imagined and admired in comparing their frail craft with the ocean liners now doing the same journey. But to our subject. That the spirit of travel and pioneering is still with us is evidenced by the general exodus from the cities as the olidays approach. From the ten-year-old schoolboy to the "veteran" of thirtyfive, ,ail hasten to get under canvas as speedily as possible. It was with this intent that a modest party of members of the S.B.C. banded together to "do" Queen Charlotte Sound last Easter" modest only because there are now no new discoveries to be made. , r Many of us had been before, under the guidance of that most experienced of Sounds pilots, . "Billy J," *s he iB famili&lj fnp'wd in Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds. It was with the greatest disappointment that we learnt he would not be able to take the helm on' this occasion. Our crew was made up of tr.rl.xJ., A.W.N., W.E.8., W.H.M., H.E.R, W.D.H., andH.G.A., and our craft, a serviceable two-ended pilot boat, "warranted fl<?t to leak." After a delightfully calm passage across the Strait in the Takapuna, Captain Spence kindly slowed up off Dieffenbach, and dropped us in the Sound. That it was raining heavily but added zest to the proceeding, for so do Englishmen take their pleasure. Our Scotchman, the genial Alick, had not yet joined us, haying gone to Picton some days previously ; but we had arranged for him to be brought down to TTly Bay by the steamer on her way to Nelson, and in the meantime we pulled ashore and pitched camp. This being done, wTe fftaiiiied the boat again and palled to the fairVay to await the steamer. Presently, the lights appeared, and, as the vessel drew nearer, she looked, with Tier numerous lights burning brightly, like a small town. Captain Spence ranged his bie vessel alongside our dimmutive one witjiout so much as scratching our paint, and a great commotion arose among the passengers as to the cause of the stoppage. We have reason to believe that our usually unostentatious passenger himself circulated the report that "the Governor was on board, and intended camping ashore for the holidays." However, he soon was seen, hanging perilously over the side, on the end of a rope, scorning a rope-ladder which the chief officer had kindly put ready for him. "Cast off !" and "Good-bye !" and the steamer forged her way on to Nelson, while we headed back for Fly Bay. This was reached at 1 o'clock on Friday morning, under very depressing circumstances, rain falling heavily, and everything dark, dank, and miserable. But, as we had never known it otherwise on the first night of our previous trips, we took it philosophically, and proceeded to light fires and pitch camp. Soon the odour of pork sausages scented the air, and the- fires and illumined tent cheered the aspect of affairs considerably. Supper (at 3 a.nO was announced, and short 1 - afterwards all hands bunked down. The next morning broke beautifully fine and warm, and our spirits recovered with a sudden jerk from the depression of the wet night before. Busy hands set to work to get breakfast, Tvhile some bathed and gambolled in the water in the usual fashion. That prince of commissariat officers, G.H.8., who, on the darkest night and moment of greatest stress, can put his hand on anything required, had the table laid ■betimes, and Beven healthy appetite 6 made a dismal wreck of it in as many minutes. The navigating officer announced Ship Cove as our destination for that day, and we manned the., oars for our twelve-mile pull. It seemed hard to realise that in a few hours we had been whirled from the dusty, windy Empire City to this calm delightful spot. How we revelled in it ! and # wished our time was longer. Seated in the stern of a whaleboat, with a good pipe, a day such as this, all cares and troubles and intri«acies of ledger and journal banished

for the noace, this is the beau ideal holiday. May we have many such! "Sun over the tore-yard," announces the steward ,and all hands come aft for a morning "tot." The old hand* point out places of interest, and the ch£rt is produced by G.H.8., who pricks off our position. Bursts of song relieve the monotonous plying of the oars, and so the day passes pleasantly. Off Gula Gula Point the Takapuna, back from Nelson, rushes past us, and we greet her witH our terrible war cry. As we neared our destination rain again came on, and we entered the historical cove just as night set in. Pulling slowly in, we gazed with the greatest interest on the place which had been the rendezvous of that great and noble navigator, Captain Cook, and landed on a nice sandy beach at the head of the bay. We now had a repetition of the previous night in pitching camp in the rain and darkness; but all hands went manfully to work, and soon had things bright and cheerful again. , ( . After tea the traditions of the place were discussed, and some extracts which G.H.B. had provided from Judge Manning's book, "Old New Zealand," were eagerly v read. The earjy history of the country ing's book "Old N.Z." were eagerly read. ,JThe early history of the country i$ of ijwOrbing interest to all born New Zealatiaers. Years ago this place was teeming with Maoris, and one could not but feg^et that all trace of that grand race of savages was completely gone. A few settlers' houses dot the various bays, and steamers ply on sordid trade intent where once only the stately Maori held undisputed sway, paddled his whaka, and built his wonderful fortified pah. It is said that Cook careened his vessel in Ship Cove, and refitted for the return to England, and we looked eagerly for relics of the expedition — a bit of copper, a nail, or a broken pot would have been worth its weight in. gold. But no ! time and the aforesaid wily savage, or, perhaps, the vandalizing tripner, had removed all trace. One could only let the imagination run riot, and conjure up the scene as it probably appeared more than 100 years ago ; the quaint old square-sterned ship lying out in the bay, surrounded by canoes, the marines keeping a watchful eye on them, while the old-fashioned sailors, with their Dig-tails and knee breeches, landed the Btores and dismantled the ship. Cook's tent was probably pitched on the very spot where now our modern 10 x 12 was gracing the scene. And so we mused on till a doch-an-dhorris "tot" was announced. Good-night, immortal Cook! we, who were then two generations unborn, hail your memory with reverence. — B\ w.e.b. (To be continued.)

generous encouragement. It is not so long since the colony waß bluntly told the authorities did not need the services of volunteer corps in inland country v places. Now, however, that embargo has been removed, and country corps have sprung up like magic here, there, and everywhere . Ine circular just issued to officers commanding volunteer corps, and captains of rifle corps, by the chairman of the New Zealand Rifle Association, also brightly reflects the changed condition of affairs. Instead of the despondent note which pervaded former gatherings, there is a ring of triumph in LieutenantColonel Sommerville's language as he declares: — "The j.i,ifle Association is now a national affair, and will in future have a definite position, both in pecuniary assistance and also m having a permanent home, the Government having purchased Trentham as a rifle range." * * ♦ More than that, the Defence Minister is quoted as having said, "Volunteers or rifle clubs are no use unless they can shoot," and it is expressly stated that the Commander of the Forces is anxious to see the 1901 meeting a great success, and that he will give every assistance possible in order to encourage snooting amongst the volunteer forces and rifle clubs. This is a welcome change from the indifference of the past. The volunteers deserve well of their country. They give up much valuable leisure in their workaday lives to acquiring tae skill and training that will fit them for making good soldiers should their services ever be needed. And when the call to arms sounds they have given abundant proof of their readiness to respond. We do not share Sir Robert Stout's fears that there is any danger of too much militarism in the colonies. But we do recognise a real danger in any serious attempt to discourage and weaken the volunteer spirit. That is why we gladly hail the disposition that is now manifest to offer every facility for .je rising manhood of the country to learn military exercises and become proficient marksmen