ARRIVAL OF THE STAD HAARLEM.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 397, 18 April 1879, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE STAD HAARLEM.

The magnificent steamship Stad Haarlem, from Plymouth via Lyttelton, arrived in our harbotf early this morning, and was safely berthed at the middle southern T of the Queen's Wharf at 0 a.m. The report of her passage out to Xy tteltoa i already has appeared in our Column^ She left Lyttelton yesterday afternoon, casting off from the wharf at 2.30 p.m., but Wit took some time to clear the breakwater, ice, she did not actually start full speed ahead .unlit 4.20 pm , clearing the Heads at 4.40.- Light variable winds and moderate seas were experienced during the hlghf. No 'canvas was set, but the ship steamed splendidly, doing over 13 knots an hour with only 52 revolutions per minute, and making the run from Godley Head to ;Ctpe Campbell in the very quick time of ton hours, so that Wellington could have been reached easily in about twelve ..hours, but on entering Cook Strait the dntfines were slowed so as not to enter the harbor before daylight. The Stad Haarlem then steamed slowly up tbe bay, finally berthing alongside the wharf as above. She is by far the largest ship that has ever been berthed ¦t-tlie mjddle T of the wharf, although not so Targe as the City of New York and City of San Francisco, which came alongside the outer T, nor is she so long by nearly 50ft as the Australia and Zealandia, both of which were safely warped to that T, her length baing 350 ft, »s compared with their 394 ft, but she has 6 inches more beam than they, and her net registered tonnago is just one ton smaller, being 1714 tons as against their 1715, while the gross tounage, 2780 tons, is the same in all three vessels. The City of Now York and her sister boat, however, are considerably larger, having a gross tonnage of 3010 tons, and engines of 600 horse-power nominal ; tbe Australia's and nZealandia's engines are 500 horso- power. The ~~Stad Haarlem has superb compound engines ¦ bf 450 horse-power nominal, working up to SOOO horse-power indicated, and steams 13 knots without any pressing. She carries a fair spread of canvas, being barque-rigged, with Cunningham's patent-reefing topsails at the fore and main, also courses and topgallant* sails, large trysails, jib, and fore staysail. She is steered from a deck-house aft, with steam steering-gear, and there is instantaneous electric communication between the wheelhouse, the watch deck-house, and the bridge, which last is raised very high above the hurricane deck, so as to give a clear* View. The passenger accommodation is exceptionally fine and comfortable. There is a spacious and most attractive deck saloon, handsomely furnished, and supplied with an excellent piano. The dining hall is a large square saloon extending the whole width of the ship, and richly fitted in birds'-oye maple, violet velvet, and electroplate. The sleeping cabins are exceedingly commodious and well arranged, a special feature being that each upper berth is approached by a handy little ladder. Tbe lavaton.j, closets, bathroom, &o , are all on a /try complete and extensive scale. Tlio usual arrangements necessarily bad to be considerably modified to suit the requirements of nearly 700 steerage passengers ; hence tho ship is only just beginning to resume her customary aspect. She has to discharge 1000 tons of cargo at this port, including a large quantity of fail way iron, and also to load some wool and tallow ior London, and is expected to leave again for Lyttelton about Wednesday next. We have to express our acknowledgments of the courtesy of Captain De Boer. Mr. Selwyn Smith, Captain Rose, and the officers of the Stad Haarlem in showing the ship, and in furnishing all information. The ship after boing thoroughly cleaned and painted will be thrown open to public inspection, and we understand that a grand luncheon will be given on board. *

The inhabitants of Madagascar are dying to get hold of an American ship-captain who nas sold them 10,000 quart cans of tomatoes an a new kind of gunpowder. Their old blunderbusses wouldn't bo off. Sold Husband.— A French paper records a murder trial in which a witness testified that he heard two pistol shots on the staircase and sent bis wife to see what was the matter. "You did not go upstairs yourself?" "No, 6ir ; I was afraid of tho revolver." Northern Vermont has a female dancer who wears an eleven boot. She is called " Queen of the footlights," and when she dances the superstitious country folks for miles around say: "There! Hendrick Hudson has got his old bowling-alley agoing again."— American paper.