LAUNCH AT THE NORTH SHORE.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1498, 28 November 1874, Page 2

LAUNCH AT THE NORTH SHORE.

The new topsail schooner, built for Captain Lewis and Mr M. Niccol, of Custom-house-street, by Messrs Niccol and Son, at their shipbuilding yard at the North Shore, was launched successfully this morning at halfpast ten o'clock. The fineness of the morning brought together a large concourse of spectators. The yard presented a very busy appearance from early morning, for it is the case in shipbuilding as in other things, that when the day for an important event arrives, however hard the master may have worked to keep work close up, much is sure to remain to be done at the last moment. By the time it was high water, everything was ready and a start was made to knock away the blocks and shores. The vessel was decorated with flags and pennants and presented a brave appearance. Her lines were universally admired, and there is no doubt that as a model of a good, useful craft with powerful sea qualities, and great carrying capacity combined, she is among tho fleet of Auckland what her name declares, " Peerless." When at last the word was

given to knock away the only remaining hindrances to the vessel's progress to the sea, she answered at once, and seemed to spring with eagerness towards the arms of her future lord, '' the ocean old." The waysbeing placed at a steep gradient, the graceful craft swept swiftly down, and without a check settled dowu on her keel evenly and steadily. A general cheer was the spontaneous result of so successful a launch, and Messrs Niccol and Son were congratulated all round on such a splendid finish to their work. The Peerless received her name from Miss Sarah Niccol, a daughter of the head of the firm, who performed the usual ceremony of breaking a bottle of champayne on her bows in the descent. The vessel was launched with all her masts, and rigging set up. Her dimensions are as fo-1 lows :—Length 76ft. breadth of beam 19ft. 9in, depth of hold 9ft. 3in, tonnage about 78 register. She is expected to carry quite 1130 tons of cargo. Immediately after

the launch, Capt. Lewis, who was on board at the time, had the jib hoisted, and sailed over to the Gore-street jetty, where she was at once moored to commence loading for h.t first voyage, which will be to Lyttelton with timber. She is intended for either the southern or island trade. Captain Sotham, - of the Waitangi, and Captain Ralls, of the,^ City of Auckland, witnessed the launch, and^ both of them complimented Mr. T. Niccol ■ • the designer, on shaping such a sightly vessel. The business of the morniDg over Messrs. Niccol invited a large party up to their residence, where refreshments were laid out and many congratulating toasts were diunk in sparkling champagne. Captain Ralls proposed "The Builders." He alluded to the success which had attanded he building and launch of the Peerless, and expressed a wish that they might always have their hands full of similar -work. Mr Niccol Sen., responded. The health of the owners, Mr Malcolm Niccol, and Captain Lewis, were proposed by a visitor, and responded to by Mr M. Niccol, who on doing so, paid a graceful tribute to his elder brother's skill, . exhibited in the design. The company returned to town by the half-past eleven boat. We v nderstand that it is the owner's intention to sail the Peerless both in the Lyttelton and Auckland regattas.