MAIL NEWS. London, April 24.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 53, 7 June 1884, Page 3

MAIL NEWS. London, April 24.

An iron tug-boat, named the Awarua, and built for the Bluff Harbour Board, was successfully launched the other day. Her dimensions are : Length, 110 feet; breadth, 20 feet j depth in hold, 10 feet ; draught of water, with 30 tons of coal in the bunkers, 6 feet 6 inches. She is classed 100 Al, and built under special survey. She will be rigged for the outward voyage to New Zealand as a topsail schooner, the paddle-boxes being removed. Messrs Shaw - SavilPs long - promised Arawa is at last in the frame, and will positively be launched in June. Mr and Mrs Chalker and 3 children are going through to Wellington, via San Francisco. They sailed for New York by the Servia, s., last Saturday. Messrs Ogle, Withers, and Hailing, three gentlemen connected with the National Bank of New Zealand, are going out to Otago in the Doric. Amongst other passengers of note by the same vessel may be mentioned Mr A. E. Potts, a gentleman of »ome means, who thinks of settling down in the Waikato, Mr Mclntyre, a cousin of the Rev. Mr Mackie, of Auckland, and Miss Hawthorne, of Christchurch. Mr, Mrs, and Miss Walrond will be through passengers to Auckland by the P. and O. Paramatta, s., sailing to-morrow. Bell's Variety Company, a party of theatrical folk already known in your part of the world, go out by the Westmeath next week. Messrs F. H. Nash and"L. Davies will be passengers to Wellington by the ship Lastmgton. Mr Vincent Bock well, a passenger for Christchurch by the steamer Bombay, goes out with the intention of starting a cheese farm on a large scale. Messrs Win. Ashby and Co. have been instructed to engage the saloon of a New Zealand sailing vessel on behalf of a party of 16 ladies who wish to make a long sea royage for their health's sake. Wellington or Auckland will probably be the ship's destination. The Firth of Donnock, Glenmore, and Wanganui were loading at London for Auckland when the mail left. The tonnage loading on the berth at London on April 17th for Australia and New Zealand amounted to 47,951 tons Messrs Staley, Radford and Co. quote sailing vessel rates from London to Auckland : Rough measurement, 30s ; fine, 40s ; weight, 30s ; cement, 5s per cask. Steamer : Rough measurement, 45s ; fine, 555. Freights from London to New Zealand ports by steamer are quoted at 30s to 40s. Mr A. K. Peacock leaves for Auckland per Ravenna, P. & O. s.s., to-day. One of Capeman's patent seat-rafts has been placed on board the Doric. The following N.Z. passengers sailed per Orient, s.s., on the 16th :— Mr F. G. Brooker for the Bluff, Messrs D. G. Edwards, W. Griffiths, and C. S. Western for Auckland, Mr and Mrs T. G, Hellyar and family fcr Port Chalmers. This is the complete list of first saloon passengers per Doric, s.s. : — For Auckland : — Miss Cooke, Mr A. Ingram, Miss Crump. For Lyttelton : Miss Ashton, Mr L. L. Curo, Dr. Cobbett, Miss Cobbett, Mr Gouring, Mr Higginbotham, Mr Olney, Mr Shaw, Mrs and Miss Whitton. For Wellington : Mr Becher, Mrs and Miss Campbell, Mr and Mrs St. Hill, Mr J. T. Jardine and family (4), Mr F. E. Linklater, Mrs Linklater. For Dunedin : Messrs Hartley, Ogle, Withers. For Timaru : Mr Monckton and 73 in the second cabin.