THE S.S. RARAWA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 225, 20 October 1903, Page 2

THE S.S. RARAWA.

EUtt KIHST VMT TO NKW PLYMOUTH. Ix was a»'nappy and kindly thought on the part of the Northern Shipping Com pany to invite a number of r,ht> laidiujr 'townspeople to lunch on the Ruawa oil the occasion of her firsii visit to

NrW Plymouth, and, needless to s&y, chat everyone who could took advantage of the opportunity to be there, i special train was run from town, and on arrival the visitors were received by Captain Korhuay and Mr W, D. Webster, the local agent of the Company. At 1 o'clock the gong sounded, and the tables in the handsomely fitted-up and spacious saloon ■vrre soon well filled, with Captain in the chair and Mr W< D. Webster in the vicr-chair. Amongst those present were: Messrs K M, -'mith (she member for Taranaki), J. B. Oonnett (chairman) and N. King (raemb ir of the Harbour Board), if, 0. Bobbins (Mayor of Hawora), W. Bawley (chairman Taranaki Chamber of Oommfcrce), Morgan (manager Union s.S. Company), Dr. Leatham, H. Buokleton (manager Bank of New Zealand), N. K. MacDiarmid (manager Bank of New S jutb Wales), A. J. Mcintosh (manager Bank of Australasia),E. 0. Mannering (manager Union Bink of Australia), ,T. Paton (manager New Zealand Insurance Company), D. Barry (Berry & Co.) W. Burgess and M. Fraser (Burgess, Fraser & Co.). A. Oldham (L. D. Nrithin <fc Co.), G, Ramson (Sargood Son & Ewen), Ab. Goldwater (Goldwatar Bros.), H, Goodacre (Egmont Boot Factory), J, S. McKellar (secretary Taranaki Freezing Company), J, Sergeant (Importer, ELiwera), F. E. Wilson (chairman Hawera Chamber of (.ommercß), F. Holdsworth (Chief Postmaster), J. Hampton (Collector of Customs), H. Okey (chairman County Council), —, Jay (New Zealand Express Company), 0, Samue', J. B. Roy, F. P. Oorkill, J. E. Wilson, J. Quilliam, S. Shaw, W, L. Newman, 0. Weston, H. Bedford, W. Courtney, W. Morey, and a number of others.

After fastice had beon done to a splendid cold luncheon, provided and admirably served by the chief steward and his assistants, a short toasi list followed. Captain Norbury proposed "The King," which was very heartily responded to. Mr 0. Samuel then proposed " The Northern Steim Shipping Company," coupled with the name of Mr W. D. | Webster, the New Plymouth agent. Ia doing so Mr Samuel said they had hoped to have seen Captain Anderson, the Chairman of Directors, and Mr Ransom, General Manager of the Company, present, so that they could show how the company present appreciated the enterprise of the Company in placing such a splendid ship as the Rarawa on the New Plymouth-One-hung* service. Nothing had done so much to help forward the prosperity of the colony as the energy and enterprise of the shipping companies, and there was no doubt but that the splendid shipping facilities afforded bad been a very great factor in developing the commercial enterprise of the people. Mr Samuel went on to eulogise the enterprise of the Northern Company in connection with the Rarawa, and tixid he was sure the public would not be backward in patronising such a splendidly appointed vessel. Mr

. Samuel want on to to the value' i < f tha services of Mr W, D. Webster > in looking after the interests of Tara- ' naki and securing such splendid vessels i as the Ngapuhi, and now the Rarawa, to do its trade" He spoke of Mr Webster's long connection with the shipping interests and the high esteem in which he was heU by all classes of tbe community. The toast was drunk with musical honours. Mr W. D. Web3ter, who was heartily applauded on rising to reply, read apologies from Captain Anderson and Mr Raneon of the Northern Shipping Company, Messrs Nolan and Wrigley, of Hawpra, and several others. He

said it afforded him V6ry great pleasure to see so many old and new friends present, and he was sure his company would be pleased at the hearty response to the invitations sent and the favourable opinions expressed regarding the Rarawa. Mr Webster then went on to refer to his long connection with shipping interests and reltted home of his experiences. He had been a shipping agent in New Plymouth for 50 years and expresst d the opinion that the losses m'ido by Shippicg Companies in the early days was because they did not realise the necessity of putting on a good class of boat. They had learned better now and both Companies trading here recognised that only the best would do for the trade. He thanked them in tho name of himself and the Company for the way tho toast had been responded to. Mr Quilliam, in a tew well-chosen words, proposed the health of C:<ptain Norbury, commodore of the Northern

' 'ompany's fleet. The success of the New Pismouth-Ouehunga trade was largely duo to the popularity of Captain Norbury and the confidence the traveiling public had in him an a skipper. He would not attempt to say half the good things of Captain Norhury that he deserv. d. tin would, however, Hue to say that the Northern Company had never lost a life during the whole of its care r. The toast was diunk with enthusiasm and musical honours.

Captain Norbury briefly replied, saying ho was proud to command such a fine ship as the Itarawa and would do his bast to earn the good opinion of her piißScntrers. Mr E. M, Smith, M H.R., proposed the " Harbour Board," He agreed with all that had been said in praise of the noble steamer in which they wore met, but she was nothing to what they would sea whin th" haibjur improvements were effected, and New Plymou;h <varf as it should be the fhs'. and last port of cull fur Australia. Hs i ulogieed the good work done by Messrs ■ Oonnett and King and the other pro-1 «rea.-iv;i members of the Board and was! very severe in his con<i;-muu.tion uf tha I Government f..r a member ooHti'e to progress >t" such an important juncture. With tue p.istorul commercial and mineral wealth possessed , by Taranaki, the harbour must go on and would go on in spite of all and ovary opposition. Ho drew a glowing picture of the elidct est 'bl shii.g f.he iionsat'd works would have on the harbour and sa»d New Plymouth would yet be tbe largi-st and most important centre in New Zealand. Tbe toast having been vary heartily lespotided to t Mr Oonuett, Chairman of the Board, , said he was placed in a very peculiar ] position. The health ef the Board; f hid he- n drunk but. the opponent* • f' j hi..d beeu eondnan-.d, so ths-ij, *«** prtaunivd only the progressive part}, us. »vprodt>atwd by Mr King and him- i

s- If, were included. He had |lwnyß been in favour of progress in harbour matters, and as a member of the old Provincial Couui.il had done nil in his power to forward a i-chem . h'irbour improvement. He wm pr.paiei to fis?bfc O/i, and ftls l iii'.' i.lnt <b.,y would in th> eod benucc t*'ul in souring a harbour that could accommodate the 'argest class of »t&-.rafcris. Mr B'icklotcnl ;a n:jger of the Bank of New Zealand, proposed " The Commercial Interests of Taranaki," and said it was the progress made as a commercial centre and the increase in their imports and exports which enabled the shipping companies to put on such a splendid class of steamer as the ftarawis. He pointed out that there wa« a large area in Taranaki still undevo'i - ]! mid urged a more vigorous pol i-y i - re/ard to roading he back blocks, !Ia c upled the toast with the name of Mr Newton King, who had prob.slly a one more to develop the eoiiim-rchl resources of Taranaki than any one. The toast having been drunk with musical honours Mr King thanked those present for the hearty way his health had been drank, and referred briefly to the great progress that had been made since Mr Webster used to send him to Onehunga in the Go a-head. Referring to harbour matters, he thought the delay in going on with the improvements was only temporary. He knew of his own knowledge that the country eettl«ra were largely in favour of it. They recognised that a god harbour was a necessity, at.d he had no hesitation in saying that a hirbour they would haive in spite of all opposition. Mr Paul, in a few exceeding complimentary remarks, proposed the press, and considered the services they had rendered the cause of the harbour was beyond all praise. The toist having been drank with mu«ical honours.

Mr Penn, fditor Taranaki Herald, thanked them for the hetrty way the toast had been drack. He had hoped the press were to ba let off on that occasion, for ss they all knew, he w&i always teady to help in harbour matters. Mr Allswor'.h, editor Daily News, paid he was glad to have the opportunity of assisting to forward the improvement of the harbour. As Mr King hid said, in spite of all opposition the work must go on, and he thought it a pity they had not got all the opponents of the harbour there that day, as a visit to such a fine f hip would help to educate them on thu harbour question. He thanked them for the way the toast, of the press had been received. , The party thea preceded to view ♦he vessel, and returned to town by special train.