EXCURSION TO KAPITI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5327, 24 April 1878, Page 2

EXCURSION TO KAPITI.

A party of excursionists numbering twenty, who had agreed to make’ a trip to Kapit! during the Easter holidays, left Wellington on Thursday evening by. Prosser’s coach, and with tents and provisions embarked on board the steamer Osprey at 11 p.m., in the commodious harbor of Pdrirua. For the information of people who do not know the Osprey, it may be as well' to say that she is a paddle-boat possessing peculiar properties. She has a flat bottom, a small steam power, and, a habit of going where she likes; that is, in anything approaching rough water.-■ Having been intended to voyage in smooth and shallow waters her build is,hot that of an, ocean-going steamer—and. late oh 1 Thursday night and early oa Friday morning her pleasure-seeking passengers became well acquainted with her eccentric motions. It was not very rough, but there was a head windi although not a strong one, and after a six hours’' trip "Kapiti was reached. Soon : after,daylight a lending was effected at Rangatira Point, and preparations were made for breadfastiug. Hot cross buna were held to he almost common necessaries of life on Friday morning, but they ,were not forthcoming. Thanks to a French cook, who was of the party, some excellent pancakes were made with condensed milk and preserved eggs, and a cross having been made upon them, it was considered that the buns had been superseded. The day was spent by some in fishing, by others in shooting, by others in looking round and doing nothing in particul..r. The sportsmen on shore shot goats and pigeons, the' former being plentiful and the latter scarce. The fishermen caught sohuapper readily, and had to be content with a few hapuka. At night, in the encampment, which consisted of four tents, there were told some extraordinary camp-fire yarns. Songs were sung, and a fiddle and fife in skilled hands supplied good instrumental music. On Saturday there was more fishing and shooting. Sunday was spent in walking, in examining portions of the island back from the coast, in looking for geological and botanical specimens, and in fishing and shooting. The camp was struck at noon ou Monday and a move was made to Mana Island. The party lauded at half past three, walked about, and examined the lighthouse and apparatus now no longer used. There was more fishing, and Borirua harbor was reached at about 9 p.m. An adjournment was made to McGrath’s Hotel, and although there had been plenty of tucker, the excursionists longed for what one of - their number called “ a good square meal,” and they eagerly asked for tea, supper, or both. This they had great difficulty in getting, and not until after a detachment had taken partial possession, of the kitchen were they promised something. Oae of the party, in describing their troubles, said—“ Mind you, there .were any amount of people drinking and carrying on in the bar, playing billiards, or what do you call it, ou a small table but when legitimate travellers wanted, tea they could not get it. They had not any bread in the house, and at last they gave us boiled potatoes and butter, cold pork and tea.” After supper a start was made in one of Prosser’s coaches for Wellington, and the city was readied at half-past 3 o’clock. ’ The trip was greatly enjoyed; and it is probable that something like it will be organised in tbo next holiday time, for such an excursion is; a, great relief to people who are closely engaged in business, and it has one advantage, 'that, of.ecouo.my ( ,jtb,q. I to4al cosLbeing under £2 per head. Coming down -the Ngahauranga ..gorge the coach was stopped by a barricade of bonlders, the result of a slip, and all hands had to turn; to and clear the road. As they did this they were, eoustautiy .startled by some stones ratling down the hill, but the coach at last gdl o-afely Tby; ... .1. - ■ M 1. ■ '