The Patiki.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3832, 9 April 1881, Page 2

The Patiki.

Yesterday morning a good number of ladies and gentlemen responded to the invitation issued by the directors of the Thames Biver Steam Navigation Co. to celebrate the launch of the new steamer by a trial trip up the Thames river as far as Turua. The weather was splendid, the water calm, and a most enjoyable run to Bagnall's mill was made. Turua was reached about one o'clock. Here a large number of the visitors landed, and rambled round the settlement, some inspecting the machinery and timber cutting apparatus, while those whose hobby lay in a more bucolic sphere discussed the merits of the pigs, bees, &c, and expressed their admiration at the neatness and order that pervades the little town»« ship, occupied by persons employed on the timber cutting industry. After the Patiki had got under weigh again, the ladies and gentlemen assembled in the cabin, where any amount of provision had been made for responding to the various toasts.

His Worship the Mayor was in the Chair, and Mr L. J. Bagnall officiated as vice.

After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been proposed and duly responded to, Mr Bagnall proposed the toaat of.'.' The builders, Messrs Price Bros." In doing so he expressed his sense of satisfaction at the excellent manner in which the firm had completed the new steamboat, and hoped that such an industry as ship-building would attain a large development, necessitating the employment of a considerable amount of skilful labour. He trusted that the Patiki would not be by any means the last iron steamboat built for the use of the Thames River Steam Navigation Co. As settlement increased in the up country, the requirements for extra steamboat accomodation will become greater.

The toast was drunk with cheers

Mr Price briefly responded

Mr A. Brodie proposed the toast of the day—that of success to the T.U.S.N. Co. In doing so, he said he hoped that the company would soon be able to have all the trade between here and Auckland. A few years ago the Union Steamship Company had only one boat—the Maori— while now they had the monopoly of all the intercolonial trade. He did not expect that the T.R.S.N. Company would be able to do that, but thought that in time the company would be a great one. He trusted that those gentlemen who had made money on the Thames would stay and spend it amongst their fellow citizens, and not leave them single-handed to advance the cause of any project.

The toast was diunkwith three cheers

The Mayor responded. He said it had been proposed to call the new vessel the Alpha, but the reason that name was not accepted was because they were afraid there would be no more boats built for the company, and it would be the Alpha and Omega as well. He thought the Patiki a good name for the boot, notwithstanding the fact that someone had declared that " Patiki " meant " flat fish." and that as the flat fish went to the bottom, the steamer might go there to. Mr John Brown proposed the toast of "Local Industries," coupled with the name of Mr Ehrenfried.

Mr Ehrenfried responded, saying that he should like to see a woollen factory, a tannery, and other local industries started.

Dr Kilgour proposed the "Legislature of New Zealand," saying he hoped the time would come when we should have lady legislators. Mr Speight, M.H.R., returned thanks, saying he wished the duly qualified ladies in the House were turned out, and the ladies present in the cabin were in their places. Although the I hames continually grumbling against the Government, it had much to be thankful to that august body for.

Mr Hogg proposed the " Captain and Officers of the PatiUi." In doing so, he remarked that more able men than Mr Moore (the captain), or Mr Holmes (the engineer), could not be found.

The Mayor responded on behalf of the Captain.

The Mayor proposed " The Visitors." Messrs Lawlor and Comer responded. Mr Gibbons proposed " The Local Governing Bodies." The County Chairman, on behalf of the County Council; Mr Bagnall, on behalf of the Harbour Board ; His Worship the Mayor, on behalf of the Borough Council; and Mr Carpenter, on behalf of the Parawai Highway Board responded. The list of toasts was concluded by that of " The Press," proposed by Mr H. Mcllhone, and responded to by Mr Newton.

The steamer arrived at Shortland wharf shortly after four olclock, and the visitors left her all unanimously praising the Patiki, and expressing their enjoyment of the trip to Turua.

The bomb with which the Czar of Russia was destroyed was probably one of those "infernal machines" now so well known in Europe. By come they are sailed " Orsini bombs," after the Italian who attempted the life of the Napoleon 111. There are several patterns, but the simplest and most effective is thus described:—The bomb is a pretty little globe of brittle iron, about as large as an orange, or perhaps rather larger, which is filled fur action with gunpowder or some other explosive. It is bored all over with small screw holes, and into each of these is inserted an odinary gun-nipple. When used, each gun-nipple is capped, and the bomb, being filled is fit for use. It is thrown from the band, and in whatever way it falls.it drops with considerable force upon at least one cap, which explodes the bomb, That used by Orsini inflicted a hundred wounds and destroyed several lives. Many sueb. bombs have been seized at times and it is believed that they are usually made at Bk* mingham, and secretly transported to the Continent.

Fancy constructing a railway for £1090 per mile—less than the cost of a macadam' ised road. Yet that, remarks the Sydney Mail, is the amount per mile of a tender for 32 miles of railway iv Queensland.