THE S.S. RUAPEHU.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1210, 29 July 1884, Page 3

THE S.S. RUAPEHU.

Yesterday (says Monday’s Press), soon after 11 a.m., the New Zealand Shipping Company’s magnificent steamship Ruapehu left the harbor for Rio de Janeiro, Plymouth, and London. She was unavoidably detained from the previous evening. In point of punctuality in the despatch of these direct steamers little complain t against this Company is possible, however. Indeed, the feeling of the public may rather be said to be one of agreeable surprise at the way the Company have kept the promises held out in the advertised time-table for the running of these direct liners. When the very short stay the steamers make in the colony is considered, and the enormus amount of work that has to be done with them, the discharging and loading of great cargoes and the coaling for the home voyage, the surprise referred to need not be wondered at. As a matter of fact, it may be mentioned, in connection with the departure of the Ruapehu, that the steemer was not clear of her inward cargo until ten o’clock on Friday night. Some thousand tons of dead-weight cargo, chiefly iron, had been stored in a particular hold, and the last of it was not discharged before the hour named. Before ten o'clock on the following night, however, upwards of 6000 sacks of wheat, besides other cargo, were put into her, and the loadiug of the steamer was finished by 11 p.m. on Saturday. The coaling alone is a considerable item, and in the case ol the Ruapehu amounted to 1780 tons, the bulk of which was put on board whilst the steamer was working cargo at this port. The reference to coal suggests the remark that in establishing this direct service the Company becnm* at once a very important and very pmcucai supporter of local industry, The 1789 tons of coal put on board the Ruapehu consisted of the product of the Westport mines exclusively. As showing the desire of the Company to send the vessels away “to time ”it is worth noticing that, if necessary, gangs of men are put on to work day and night from the time the steamer is berthed until she is finished. In the case of the steamer which has just left, not only was this done for a portion of the time she tvas in port, but no stoppages were made from the adjourning from “ to refreshment.” The steamer took away a general cargo. She had on board 12,924 carcases of frozen mutton, and 937 pieces, “arms, legs, and wings.” The passenger patronage was not large, there being but some sixty-eight passengers on board in all classes. She could have taken also a great deal more cargo, and would hare had a transhipment of hops from the s, s. Rotorua, had the goods been here according to promise. It may be mentioned, whilst referring to the'cargo, that a small trade is springing up between this colony and Rio de Janeiro, and ere long it may quite be expected that some business will bo done in the way cf carrying cargo and passengers from the port of Rio homewards.