S.S. GO-AHEAD AT MANAWATU

New Zealand Mail, Issue 15, 6 May 1871, Page 15

S.S. GO-AHEAD AT MANAWATU

[Feoh cue OwnlCobbesfondbnt.] The B.s. Go-Ahead, Captain Doile,j arrived at Foxton last Friday afteinobn at 4 o'clock, and was as usual visited by a large nhmber of the residents of the town, who seem yet awhile not to tire of such an occupation. It is also an object of astonishment arid admiration to fh<* juveniles—to many of whom it is an event in their lives, to see a real *« life'? steamer, and to be '"made of note of" accordingly—(a la Captain Cuttle) and who are always and at nearly all times to be seeu in large numbers around and upon the vessel. He brings 25 tons for this port, and some passengers' —one of whom is a well known Wellington man, Mr Edward Mills who has started in conjunction with Mr G. Snelson a large store up at Prlmerston. The Captain reports a very good passage up from Wellington, with fine smooth water, and also speaks well of this river —having been able to cross the bar before high water, neaptide, while drawing 6 feet 9 inches. In the evening a meeting was held on board at 7 o'clock, to consider what steps should be taken by the residents in this district to secure this steamer as a regular trader and to get some shares taken up. Owing to such short notice being given, and from the condition of our roads at present very few of the settlers met, but sufficient did however so that the report given by the Captain on the Company's affairs and the chances of the steamer paying, will be able to be widely spread. Amongst those present might be noticed Messrs F. Robinson, J.P, A.Gray, E.Thynne, Morgan F.Robinsonjun, Mills, Martin, Langley, Collins, &c. Mr Thynne was called to the chair, and he briefly explained the object of the meeting, and trnsted if they considered the report of Capt. Doile satisfactory, they would testify their appreciation in the most efficient manner by taking shares in the company. He then called upon Capt. Doile, who explained that the capital of the company was to be £5500, in £2 10s shares, ten shillings of which was only to be paid on allotment. The company was under the Limited Liability Act. The steamer was purchased for £3500 about half of which was under mortgage, which would be due in August next. The working expenses were estimated at £3OO a .month with cost of insurance extra. There was one drawback to the vessel at present in the mind of the company, and that was, that her power was insufficient, and to obviate this, it is contemplated to put new engines into her, on the compound , principle, which they reckoned would give her higher power, with less consumption of fuel—and at a cost'of £SOO to £6OO (including what the nresent engines would fetch) —and would only cause a delay of three weeks. As an instance of the advantage to the vessel and shareholders the employing of a stronger power engine would be, the captain stated that he should be able to leave Wanganui and come into this river in one tide, whereas now he has to wait for another one, thereby losing some hours at the best of times, and perhaps, from that very cause, losing a day or two, if bad weather se* in. With this alteration, it is considered she will be one of the fastest and handiest boats in the coastal trade. She will carry 120 tons of cargo and about a dozen passengers, or she can 40 head of cattle in her hold, and 160 sheep on deck. In Taranaki about £2,000 had been taken up in shares—and £SOO in Wanganui, but very little in Wellington. In answer to a question, Capt. Doile stated that should no shares be taken up in this district that he could not promise to trade here regularly, as he of course must do the best he could for those who supported his vessel. This I think fully bears out my last correspondence to you on this subject, and will prove to you, to say " I think your cor-"j respondent is also mistaken in stating that the s.s. Go-Ahead was not intended by the company to run regularly here unless a certain amount was guaranteed in shares, that I was correct." After the statement of the captain's, those present intimated their readiness to take up shares, Mr Robinson setting the example by taking fifty shares, followed by Mr Gray for a similar number, till about about 140 shares were subscribed

for. The captain in true nautical style insisted upon having refreshments in, and to drink the success of the steamer Goi Ahead, and long may she, &c f No doubt in the course of a few days a much larger number will be taken up, as a good many who. were at the first meeting had promised, to take some, were from many causes prevented from attending this one. It is a matter of congratulation to find the settlers coming forward and supporting ah enterprise of this character, it being one which will be of an immense assistance towards the further development of this fine district, and one which has been long desired. It further shows that we are willing to help ourselves, if we are helped at times, and that we can appreciate those improvements and enterprises which will tend to make communication from one part of the province to the other cheaper and'quicker. We have much" to thank the present Ministry for, both on account of their liberal policy, and their schemes for the development of the country districts, but we regretted to hear from Captain Doile that he had experienced great difficulty about the subsidy which was advertised for the running of a steamer on this coast, I hope this matter will be looked into, as to all the districts on this West Coast it is a matter of considerable importance —the securing a steam communication with Wellington—and, as I believe a subsidy has been given to a steamer trading on the East Coast, it seems but fair that we should at the commencement of our enterprise obtain like assistance.