EXCURSIONS BY WATER.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 240, 4 February 1888, Page 1

EXCURSIONS BY WATER.

The Queen-street Wharf was en fete this morning ab the time fixed for the departure of the larger steamers on their excursion trips. Brass bands were playing merrily on the decks of the vessels in question, and gaily coloured flags fluttered in streamers from their decks. Several showers of rain which fell in rapid succession had, in conjunction with the threatening appearance of the sky, a very depressing effect, and restrained many of the more prudent from venturing any distance by water. The Jubilee Steamship Company's Stormbird was the first to get away, and took a fair number of passengers for Kawau, and she was soon followed by the Clansman, under charge of Captain Amodeo, for the same place, and the Wellington for Mahurangi Heads. Both the latter boats were fairly well patronised by excursionists, the Clansman as usual having the preference. The effect of competition was shown by the fact that the fares for all these trips were fixed at 2s each. The s.s. Rose Casey took a Band of Hope picnic party to I'utiki Bay, Waiheke, and trips to the various pleasure resorts in the harbour were also made by other steamers. The grocers also had a picnic ab Motuihi, whither they were conveyed in large numbers by the p.s. Osprey.