THE KIA ORA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 20, 25 January 1897, Page 2

THE KIA ORA.

ARRIVAL IN PORT.

Captain A; MacUrkgor's new steamer Kia Ora, 220 days out from Greenock, under Canvas, arrived in porb at 10.15 p.m. ■ ua Saturday, in bow of the Nautilus. She was berthed ab bho Quay-street Jetty to discharpo her cargo. Lata as the hour was, a number of people wore waiting on the wharf, aud throe hearty cheers were given as bho Kia Ora oame alongside. The Kia Ora is rigged as a three-masted schooner carrying a large single topsail and. square foresail on tho foremast, and fore aud afb sails ou the main aud mizzen n.atits. The masts were 73 feeb high, the mainmast being an extra stick fitted in. the place bhe funnel will occupy when the 1 vessel is under ekeam. Being nearly flab i bottomed the vessel was .fitted with a false keel about 2 feeb 6 inches deep bo make her sail bobber. She did nob have nearly enough canvas, and could have carried nearly twioo as. much had ib boen possible to spread ib. It was found also that very little canvas could be earned on the mtzzen masb, as it affected the steering, so bh.»b the mizzanj which was a vei-y large ont', was rarely used. . Captain J. M. Roberts, lato chief officor of the Rangubira, is iv charge ot the vessel, and his subordinates are enthusiaabic in prai.ie of their skipper. Though his patience was often sorely tried by bhe slowness of 'the voyage, he nevor losb hearc, and always did his best bo encourage the others, while a more capable navigator ib would have- beea hard to find. The chief officer is Mr C. F. Chapman, lato of the s.s. Mataura, and the seoond, Mr R. H. Warrander, of tho ship Loch Tay. Five hands and a cook made up bhe ship's complement. Captain Huberts was accompanied by Mrs Roberts. She found the voyage very pleasant on tho whole, but admitted thab towards the ond it became very wearisome. Ib wa«9 a greab disappointment bo her not to arrive hero before Christmas. The life was quiet, of course, bub not unpleasant. Mrs Roberts had a good stock of books, and passed most of hbr leisure hours in reading or sewing. The captain tilled in hia spare tame by building a libfcie model of tho Kia Ora, a very clever place of work, and wonderfully complete in detail. The crew got on together splendidly, and there was nob tho slightest unp'easautnesß bhroughout the whole seven months. All wero hard-working and willing, and the captain could not have wished for a betber set of men. Ib genius sbrange bhab the Kia Ora was nob heard of oftener in Auckiand during the voyage, for the captain made a point of signalling every vessel that passed close enough. Many of them,, however, seemed bo fighb shy of the strange-looking schooner, and only one,' a Russian barque, expressed any curiosity or friendliness wifch regard to her. She came along quite clone, and asked a numbor oi questions aboub tbe Ki-i Ora.

Captain Roberts spanks in terms of highest praise of the faithful and workmanlike manner in which the builder.?, the fiirnous firm of Robert Duncan and Co., havo carried out bheir contract, A description of-the vessel appeared in last Wednesday'sissue. She promises to be a rao_t useful boat, admirably suited for our coastal trade. The cabins are largo, airy, and beautifully finished, while the engines aro of tho very latest pattern and very powerful. We congratulate Captain M_tcCregor on tha laudablo enterprise he has displayed, and wish the uew steamer evory prosperity.