ARRIVAL OF THE S.S. RANGATIRA CAP TAIN J. MATHESON, FROM DUNDEE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1917, 8 September 1863, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE S.S. RANGATIRA CAP TAIN J. MATHESON, FROM DUNDEE.

The s.b. Raugatira steamed up into harbour yester il.iy moiiiing horn tho K.v wan, where she at rived on Thursday night last, at eight o'clock, and anchored vi Uoiiaocorde Bay, for the purpose fixing her screw. .She loft Waterford with eight forecastle hands, the captain and mate, ten in all, on the 23rd April last, with tho wind at N/V., and earned favomable winds until falling in with the N ti trades, on May 7th, in Int. 23* 40' N., long. 22' W. Crossed tho hue on May 22nd, in lone; 23 # 38' W. ; caught the S. E. trades in hit. 6* 5' .S., long. 24* 3.? W. ; passed tlio inoicdian of the Cnpe on the 30th July, in lat. 3b' 13' S. ; ran down tho longitude between the parrallela of 36° and 41* 60' ; passed thiough Boss's Stiaits, sighting Wilson's promontory, on August 23rd ; sighted tho Thiee Kings on the 31st August, and was abreast of the North Cape on September •2nd. Several vessels were seen during the passage. On the 18th August spoke the ship Whirlwind, for Melbourno; and on tho 260H boarded the brig Au-tralia bound to Wainambool. The R ingatira come* out in command of Captain J. Matheson, of iho nun of Kattiay and Mathesou. Mr. Matheson left th s colony for England last year, for tho pnri)i)so of pin chasing a bteumer, uiid bunging her out ; nnd t u »t gentleman has shown great judgmeut iv tho selection of ono which is admirably adapted in every wuy for the work she will have to perfoi in, besides making a handsome addition to our merchant fleet. Some account of thw steamer lias abeady been published, but as it may not be fresh in our readers minds, wo give the following : — She was built to Mr. Matbeson'u order, by Messrs. Gonrlay Biobhers, of Dundee, and is described as follows : Length, 144 feet 8 tenths ; main breadth to v outsi le plank, 20 feet 6 tenth* s depth of hold to ceiling amidships, 9 foet 7 tenths; gioss tonnage, 217*71; register, 174 70. She has 2 engines of GO horsepower, direct acting, and fitted with all the latest improvement*; and at the tiinl tiip at Dundee she attained the speed ot 10 knots. Steam on that occasion was got up iv 40 minutes. She has 5 water tight compaitinents, and draw? now, with a full cargo, 8J feet For tho voyagp out the screw was unshipped, and the fore-and-aft ng changed to that of a topsail schooner, which will now again be reduced. The standing gear is wire, and, as is the universal plan adopted now iv building steamers, the stem is straight, a bowsprit being dispensed with ; and when standing on deck no distance can be seen any way along her sides, each iron plate bearing its proportion of the curve. Her hold is very spaciom, capable of atowing 50 head of cattle ; and besides, the bulwarks are fitted with eye bolts, for the convenience of running ropea round when carrying live stock on deck. Sho has a full poop, and the saloon is right aft. The sleeping cabin being at the foot of the cabin stair*, one of them only opening into the saloon. Theio i» cabin accommodation for 22, including a ladies' cabin, containing 6 borths. Round the saloon, in a semi-circular form, runs a sofa, forming an arm-chair in the centie aft, cushioned on tho seats and back with green leather cushions, the top fiS'» mounted with a neatly executed wood carving A'x'vo the sofa, at tho sides and stern, there is extra Sloping accommodation, and curtain rods are fixed, 50 that cut tarns may be drawn at night, and for the accommodation of those who occupy those place* wash-hand basins are' fixed at each cud of the cabin table, the end of the table lifting up, and disclosing them. The sides and ceiling of the cabin are pannelled, tho former grained and the latter painted white with a gold beading ; tho whole has a very agreeable appearance to the eye, and while uUvly inil U"te. comfort has not been forgotten. The whole of the crockery, cutlery, &c , is marked witli the vessel's nama. The fwWP }\ M the name "Kangatira, Auckland," in a gaiter, afctu tree and flax bush occupying the centre. The fore cabin will accommodate 12 person! — this was purposely made small so that the dimensions of the hold might not be interfered with. Captain Matheson report* that the vessel behaved admirably throughout the whole passage. She wan deeply laden ftfc lOiWig, but novertiieloKx made a capital run to tho line. H«d but for the light wind* experience.! all tho way from the Cape, she would have put some of the large ships to shame. As it is she b»» made a very good run, viz , 102 days from Wat,erfpr<!, wider canvas. It was not until late on Saturday uighfc last that the sciew wh properly «hlppfld. and as the Captain was anxious to get up to Auokkutd, her bottom did not get the overhaul which it stands much in need of. Still un ler this disadvantage she steamed up yesterday in good style, dointf thp dis tance between Wangiipowa and lUngitoto Reef u» an bonr and five minutes. On arriving sho came alongside the Wh»rf, where she now lies. She is well worth an in«pectfo», Passengeks.— Cabin t Mr. and Miss Dewer, Mrs. Cootes, Mrs. Smith, Ma«fcer Garrick. JTora-eiibiu : Mr, and Mrs. Stewart, Mr. Stewart, lU. Q&rwn. Caiioo. — 23 packages, 38 casks, 3 bales, 61 boxes, Crnickshank, Smart, and Co.; 67 boxes, 31 bales, GilKllan and Co.; 477 boxes, I bale, 50 casks, older ; 2 boxes, A. J. Alexander; 1 box, 2oftMks, J, Inglis ; 11 conks, 31 drums, J. H. Hall ; 5 bales, T«rnmill ; 10 drums, U.iLusk; 17 casks. J. Molfiweu ; 2 boxes, 7 casks, J. W. Crosbie j 142 boxes, 52 casks, Brown, Hall, aud Co.; 3 casks, Thompson. Keith, and Co.; 16 casks, W. Jlobson ; )3 box,es, 43 bales. 100 casks. Derates, Crniokshank, Smart, and Co.; 14 boxes, 6 bales, 8 casks, 16 packages, T.Martin; 3 tons anchor chain, 2 tons zinc, 4 casks, 13 packages, J. Matheson ; 1 box, Kattray »i>d Matheson ; 1 box, 28 packages, A. Clarke' and Son,