A TRIP TO WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1920, Page 3 (Supplement)

A TRIP TO WELLINGTON.

(Hector Garner, Boys' High School, New Plymouth, aged 12'/ 3 years.)

The Christinas of I<>lß found my pa-rente and 1- on a visit to Wellington. Though I had stayed in the Capital' several times before this, the first Peace Christmas for four years was easily the happiest and most interesting one I had spent.

As everyone knows, a great deal of shipping is dealt with at the and consequently these were one of my chief attractions. Many an hour hail I spent watching the liners and coastal cratt either discharging or loading and inspecting them when it was permitted.

One particular day, my father said that ho would accompany me on one of my periodical excursions, as he wished to see about a cabin he had booked for | a gentleman who was sailing on the Rimutaka for England. With unusually good luck we struck a day when several very interesting steamers were in port. First and foremost was the ship that had carried Dr. Livingstone's body from Africa to F.ngland. She was also the-first steamer to enter and pass through the Suez Canal when it was opened, in the presence of the Emperor of Austria, the Empress of France, the Viceroy of Egypt, and other distinguished -personages in 18(19. This shows that she was a very old boat, and it is indeed surprising that she was not broken up or sold long before this. Her tonnage was about 2,000 tons, and no doubt sho; was considered to 'be a large ship in those past days. Secondly there was a hospital ship which had berthed only that morning bearing with her a precious load of sick and wounded heroes from France.

Thirdly, an American collier was lying at the Railway Wharf, and this ship furnished an interesting illustration of one of the various ways that were resorted to, to try and replace the losses that allied shipping lines had inflicted on them during this ww. She had formerly been a sailing ship, but for some reason or other had been cut down for a coal hulk. After being used for this purpose for some, time she was refitted and installed with engines, so that she could be used as an ocean going coal boat. This experiment had proved' very successful, and this was her fifth voyage. Last but not least, was a wooden ship, which had been also built for the same purpose as the collier mentioned in the last paragraph. I had the pleasure of inspecting her, and was very interested in the construction of her hull. Besides this, there were also the usual coasting craft and several wellknown mail boats.

That afternoon we witnessed the departure of the R.S. Remnera for the Old Country with a joyous crowd of passengers.

Thus wo concluded what in try opinion was the most intereayng d*v I had