OPENING OF THE CALLIOPE DOCK.

Evening Star, Issue 7448, 17 February 1888, Page 4

OPENING OF THE CALLIOPE DOCK.

The Calliope Graving Dock was opened yesterday by Sir William Jervois under the most auspicious circumstances. The suburb of Devonport, on the northern shore of Auckland Harbor, where the dock is situated, mode an imposing display, two triumphal arches, with appropriate mottoes, being erected, numerous streamers and strings of flags being prominent. The shipping in the harbor were brilliantly dresssd, and festoons of Dags were also suspended across the streets. The vicinity of the dock was thickly dotted with small craft, filkd with spectators. Such an assemblage, indeed, has seldom been seen in Auckland. A guard of honor, consisting of upwards of 200 of the .Naval battalion, was present. Shortly after nine o'clock the ceremony of opening the dock by the docking of two warships, the Calliope and the Diamond, was prodded with. Steam had been got up on board the vessels, atfd as the Calliope, which entered first, steered close up to the dock, hawsers were run ashore from both sides. These lines were manned by men-of-warswep, and the Calliope was in this way guided into tha dock. Across the entrance there had been stretched a silk ribbon of navy blue with white edges. The Calliope snapped the ribbon in twain as she slowly glided into dock, amidst loud cheering. The Calliope was drawing a few inches less than 21ft, and forward tbe draught of water was less, whilst on the sill of the dock it waa over 32ft. The Calliope was moored at the northern end of the dock, and the Diamond then approached under slow steam, and was slowly guided into the enclosure, the work of docking being thus completed without a hitch. The caisson was then closed, and His Excellency, standing on the caisson deck, addressed the assembled multitude, declaring the dock open, and congratulating the people of Auckland on the successful result. The Goveraor called for three cheers, which were enthusiastically given, cheeiing being renewed for His Excellency and Admiral Fairfax. , While the dock was being pumped *rv, the s.a. Britannia, with the Governor, Admiral Fairfax, and party, proceeded on a brief trip around the harbor, and on returning a luncheon was given in the building on the ground. Mr ■Waddell (chairman of the Harbor Board) pre■siiiW, having on his right the Governor, the Attor*3y- f 3eneral (Sir Frederick Whitajcer), Captain gammell (of H.M.S. Nelson), Major■Ceneral Wjiitmore, and Archdeacon Dudley; and on his lejf t His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. .J3. Devore), Major Jervois, Captain Bosanquefc (of H.M.S. Opal), Hit Justice Gillies, and Bishop Luck. His Excellency, in responding to the toast of fais health, said that the of the Calliope Vepk was a matter of historical inierest to Auckland, for it was a dock unsurpassed in these Southern seas. It showed the enterprise of those wh* undertook the work, *nd enormous credit was reflected upon thoso who satisfactorily carried it out, The work had an indirect bearing upon the prosperity of Auckland which could not be over-estimated, a,ni which might render the place the grand ceHtre of naval enterprises in these and surrounding seas; for in £he days of wars and rumors of wars it was of toe greatest consequence that there should exist a. dook where Her Majesty's ships might be repaired and refitted. „,,„,, t. .*. * Jn responding to the toast of " The British ff*yv " (proposed by Sir F. Whjtaker) Admiral Fairfas saia: Gentlemen, I thank you for the kind way in which you have received the toast <rf the service to which I have the honor to belong. It is A great pleasure to me to be here •with the squadron on this occasion, and to tako -part in the ceremony of opening the Calliope jjioek. During the early days of New Zealand,

as Sir F. Whitaker has mentioned, you saw much of the Navy, and ever Bince that tune the most cordial feeling has existed between us.-(Loud cheers.) I am especially pleased to have taken part with the squadron in tie opening of this dock, as it is the largest u. the Southern Hemisphere The Robinson Dock at the Cape of Good Hope is about the same length, but it is only GSft at its enhance and only 2fiffc in the sill. I admire very much the energy and enterprise and judgment of the HarbL Board in deciding to make tins (lock capacious enough to take in oho largest man-of-war and ocean steamers. There is a great tendency to increase the length of s earn vessels, as it is the only way to obtain speed at a moderate cost. I congratulate the engineer of the dock on his design. I also congratulate the contractor on the excellence of his work The Board's arrangements seem to be all that could be desired, and, I think, altogether it is a most creditable work.-(Loud cheers.) The Admiralty have sent out a surveying vessel (the E"rift), one of the largest in the service, to survey the route between Auckland and Vancouver 'lsland-(cheers)— and I have no doubt that within a few years we shall have steamers running between Auckland and British Columbia, as you now have between San Francisco and Auckland. (Applause.) I think it is not unlikely that we may before long have eteamcrs coming direct from England via the Panama Canal.— (Cheers.) It will give me great pleasure to report to the Admiralty the completion of this great work, and the use it will bo to Her Majesty's ships, especially in time ot war, when they can be docked, securely protected by your torts and torpedo defence. In conclusion,! will only say that I sincerely trust that this < great undertaking may be a financial success if not at once, at least before long. I trust it may be the means of drawing to your hue harbor the men-of-war and ocean steamers of all nationalities, and thus add to the wealth and prosperity of the beautiful town of Auckland. —(Loud and prolonged cheers.) His Excellency proposed the toast of Success to the Calliope Dock," responded to by MtM. Niccol, who spoke at the request of Mr \\ addell, chairman of the Harbor Board. Addresses were also delivered by Mr J. T. Campbell (U.S. Consul), Mesas J. M. Clark and Devore (the dock engineer and contractors), and Messrs Errington and Lanigan respectively.