THE NEW STEAMER, "QUICKSTEP."

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 573, 22 January 1876, Page 3

THE NEW STEAMER, " QUICKSTEP."

A largo number oF persons assembled at the Qmy ypsterdiiy evening to witness the arrival 0/ Mr C C* Quids new steamer, tho " Quickstep," and considerable efitoinent prevailed, when u steamer coming round tho point below the town BLi.j h'»d all tho appearance of the Wuiiuto. It was at once Surmise J tliat tiifre hid been a r.n-e between the two boats, though such ojii burdly bo said to hare been the envo. Tho first arrival was indeed the Waikato, but not a quarter of an Lour afterwards tho Quickßtop whs at her moorings. It appears th»t th«v both left Mercer about tbesanv time, tbe Waiktto a httlo earlier of the two, and passed and repasied each other on the river, the Quickstep bating to call in at •aeveral places which the Waikato di 1 not visit. The latter arrived at Ngaruawahi* a few minrtes • earlier than the Quickstep and loft lthmodiatelr, but the latter vessol remained throe quarters of an hour at Ngarutwahia and hence her late arrival at Hamilton. Capt Oullera, who seemed ,proud of being the first up of tho two, freely .admitted the superior gpoed of his rival. Tho Quickstc 1 .3 eggentia'ly a pwsenger boat •tout i« capable of carrying a fair amount of «cargo. She hod indeed no less than nine tons of •coal on board during her trap and then loaded •as *he was drew only 20 inch 23 forward and 22 .inch.'S astern. Her cabins both foro and aft ate •very comtnodiously and elegantly fitted up and ithoro is evoiy accommodation for ladies thut .need bo desired, and when we say that she did •the distance from Ngaruawahia to Hamilton in tn hour and three-quarters, some id 3*3 * can be conceivod of what she cau do when fairly pnt to ■it. In leaving the Manukau heads for the ''Waikato heads, a distance of nineteen miles was accomplished in an hour an hour and a quarter with a rough sea, and for a consumption of 35 cwt of coal. The Quickstep brought up somo fifteen passengers some of whom, -amongst thorn ithe Honorable tho Colonial Secretary and Mr ; Stewart, CE, were landed at Ncaruawhia. We Jjp^glad to welcome up to Hamilton among the "through passengers Mr Fraser of tho Auckland ■firm of Fraser and Thine, The Quickstep coma: /up in command of Capt Boss.