Cruise of the Ngapuhi.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7754, 4 March 1905, Page 2

Cruise of the Ngapuhi.

A DEUGHTFI'L EXCIKRION. (From N.Z. Herald.) The Northern Steamship Company's steamer Ngnpuhi returned on Satur- I day night from an eight days' cruise to the North. She left Auckland on Friday, February 'l7, her passenger j list of 54 including visitors from Sydney, Wellington, New Plymouth, ' Napier, Wnnganui and Nelson, t () - ge-tfcr with a goodly numl&r Iron: Auckland and Waikato. The evening was delightfully calm, and all were in the highest spirits at the prospects of a pleasant holiday. Quitting the wharf at ten p.m., the steamer proceeded t.i th- ''real .Itari'wr Island, th", nnt'hor \-\-.--v. lowered at the I'igec n Itoc!;s, for i; -ipuka fishing, and a numLcr o. ii.csi! fish, together with an ;v,[:;t v I ■ schnappcr, Uu-racoula, and blue cud, were secured. After two hours of this sport, the steamer proceeded to . Whnngnparupara Harbour. Hubsequently a start was made for Port Fit'roy, the steal! v i ntering thro'igh the Governor's Paw. the vessel an- . choring for a couple of hours-, to ! give passengers an opportunity to rim on shore. The steamer proceeded on to Whangarei on Monday morning!, and tennis of bowlers from, among Hie passengers played against representatives of tho local club, ami the remainder of the party rested for an hour or soi and then resumed their journey by buggies to W'hangarei Falts. At this lovely spot an hour very <]uickly passed. Returning to Whangarei, the party proceeded to the bowling green where they were hospitably entertained at afternoon tea. A siKjcial train at six p.m. took ] the parly back to the steamer, which left at eight pVnv for the Hay of | Islands. It woirid be scarcely possible to imagine a more beautiful scene than that which was presented I to the excursionists next morning, as I the Ngnpuhi steamed among the islands' and entered the quiet port of | Russell. Hero the parly were on historic ground, for every bay and headland had been associated in some 1 way with the struggles of the early colonists for mastery over a powerful savage race. Flagstaff Hill was visited, and the place was pointed lout where Captain Cook landed, | and the Rev. Marsden preached his first sermon to the Maoris on i Christmas morning in 1814. F.arly on Tuesday morning the | steamer left for Whangnroav entering , the port about half-past seven a.m. The attractions of Whangaroa are 'great that the programme provided I for a second day in this port, which was to be devoted to a grand trip to a kauri forest. Crossing the har- | tiour, the party entered Wiggles which I were waiting to convey them over an excellent road to the foot of a. range of Iritis, a distance af five miles. Leaving the buggies, a climb of (iOO Ifeot up a grafcsy slope brought them jto the top of the range. Descending j tho other side for a short distance, .they came to a magnificent kauri .which Messrs Campbell Brothers, the 'Owners of the forest, had agreed to cut down on arrival of the visitors, .The tree was- so situated as to make |a splendid spectacle. Afler a space of, : twenty minutes, the huge tree began jto sway, and, amid the cheers of the - pectators. fell with a thunderous crash down the gully. Another min- • 'ute's walk brought the visitors to a ' large dam, which was full of water. Mrs R. Mitchelson, one of the party, •was invited by Mr Campholl to pull the cords which opened the gates. . The effect was magnificent, a roaring . torrent rushing down the creek, ond t carrying all before it with irresisti- . bile force. . | Enrly on Friday morning a depar. ture. was made for Mangonui, and [ at hailf-past nine o'clock the party . left by buggies for the cable station at Doubtless Bay, where Mr and Mrs '. 'J. L. Hertslct treated them very . | hospitality. The afternoon was filled . up with a regatta,, to which country I visitors had come from many miles around. The following arc the re- | suits of the different events :—Ladlies' Pair-oar Race : Misses West wood and Smith, 1, Swimming Race (for • I crew) : Wilson, 1 : Champion, 2. j Gentlemen's Pair-oar Race: Messrs Laurie and McCnllluni, coxswain Miss Adams, 1. Lady and Gcnli.'s Tair- ] oar Raco : Mr and Miss Cooke, 1. ( Crew's Pair-Oar Race : Champion .and White, 1 ; Quintal and Fraser, 2. I Leaving' Mangonui on Friday evening, the steamer arrived a s Kawau nt eight a.m. on Saturday. In the i afternoon two hours were spent at iWaiwere, and t'ho Auckland wharf I was reached punctually at half-past seven p.ltt. I When Hearing the harbour, all the I pussongers met on deck for a finn'l | ceremony. Mr M. Frasor, of New ,' Plymouth, expressed, on behalf of the passengers, their satisfaction with I the manner in which the excursion had been carried out, all having j thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and !>eing sorry that it hud come to an i end. Mr J. J. Kcr responded on behalf of the company. Mr K. CJillon. of Whangarei, then proposed the health of Captain Stephenson, the | officers, engineers, and stewards' start of the Ngapuhi, Captain Stephenson | responding. All then joined in singing " Auld Lang Syne "t with groat spirit.

| Event succeeded event with such ) rapidity, and {he arrangements for f the entertainment of the visitors at every port worked out with such 1 precision, that the effect was that of - ,11 seri'es of delights and surprises. iThe courtesy with which the passeu- ) Igors were treated by every officer t and employee on board was the subject of common remark. The excursion throughout was under the mani of Mr J. J. Ker, of the -iNorther Steamship Company's ofllce. > One of the most pleasing features i [was the unbounded liospitalrty of the -,Northern settlers. At every port the (heartiest welcome awaited'the visitors. In one place a special road for | the occasion had been made for the | 'buggies in order to avoid a steep incline. Many of the partv have declared their intention of booking for : next year's trip, so that it may now be looked forward to as an annual • event.: