THE HARBOUR : WATER EXCURSIONS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4785, 27 December 1872, Page 3

THE HARBOUR : WATER EXCURSIONS.

The fineness of the weather yesterday,especially suitable for water excursions, induced a very large number of our holiday-seekers to spend the day on the water. v Every description of vessel from a cutter's dingy to a trading schooner was, brought into requisition, and each with a picnic party on, board was to be seen sailing about the harbour or safely moored in some one of ithe toany snug littlebays, their occupantsoashoreenjoying to che utmost the change from' the business and toil of the city. The many trading steamers belonging to 'the port were'alao fully employed, chartered., by either the Masons, Oddfellows, by the Catholic Young Men's Improvement Association, .or by some private parties. The ferry steamers to the North Shore were also kept hard at. work carrying over passengers to this always favourite place of resort. - At 8 o'clock sharp the fine steamship ' Golden t Crown' took her departure on an t-xcursion trip to the Thames,, where she was to officiate as flag-ship. . The steamer was crowded with excursionists. She returned again shortly loefore eleven o'clock last night, everyone l on board Jaayingi i apparently thoroughly enjoyed the trip. A band accompanied the steamer. At 8.15 the p.s. f RoyaiffeAlfred' left the wharf ' for Corom*ndel, a]so crowded with passengers. At •bout 11 o'clock she returned) again ' safely^ all on board having spent a *very pleasant day. The Band of Hope Band accompanied the steamer. Shortly 'after 9 o'clock" the p> s. i *Peyonpoyfc,' utfder charter to" the Catholic Young Men's Improvement Society, andwith a full complement of .'^excursionists; 11 proceeded to^Motuihi. The p.s, 'Enterprise,' p.s. 'Challenger,' ands.a. 'Jane' also steamed for the same island, the former steamer having a Masonic picnic party on board. an,d I the s.s. • Jane' the Volunteer 'Engine era' picnic party. The p.s. « Challenger ' went with a private party! On returning, s the s.8. 'Jane,' by some \fay or other, ran foul of the Bean Rock Lighthouse ; fortunately, no serious damage wai done, although the steamer was very mnei crowded with excursionists. TJte p.s. « No. 2 ' also yan foul of the Qaeea.rtreet Wharf <m her

return from Motuihi, smashing » portion of her bulwarks, and doing other slight damage. The new twin-screw steamer ' Lily,' with about 50 excursionists on board, left the wharf shortly after iO o'clock, and, after cruising about amongst the islands of Motutapu and Motuihi, returned again shortly before 7 o'clock. With jthe exception, of the' two accidents mentioned above, we have not heard of any others having occurred o,n' the water either on Ohristmas-day or Boxing-day.