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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 359, 11 February 1863, Page 2

Up to this date the exports of wool for the present season consist of 1117 bales — representing, at a low estimate, upwards of £20,000 in value. Of this number 881 have been shipped from Napier and 236 taken off the coast by the Esther and Sea Serpent. There are now in store on the Spit upwards of 800 bales ; Capt. Blair • has furnished us with a list of settlers whose wool he is to take off to the extent of 613 more; and dray loads from the interior are still arriving in town. We do not suppose that, on the whole, the value of our staple export this year will be less than £60,000. i Another source of wealth to the province is to be found in its fat stock. It is estimated that, of wethers alone, there are 25,000 in the district fit for the knife. A good market is to be found both North and I South, and all that is wanted to develope the export of stock is a more efficient, more frequent, and more reliable means of shipment than the province now possesses. The Local Steam Navigation Co. has i started into being at a most suitable time for the requirements of the settlers, and we trust that the efforts it is making to supply a great want will be crowned with complete success. We are happy to learn that a steamer, expected to arrive at Auckland in the course of three pr four months, is likely to be open to purchase by the company ; and, from her description, which we subjoin as extracted from the Southern Cross, she would seem to be .in all respects suited to the Napier trade. "We are glad to be able to state that a new and powerful iron steamship has been purchased in Scotland for the -East • Coast trade : out of " Auckland. This new steam vessel is to be named the

Rangitari, and has been built by Messrs. Gourley, Brothers, the eminent iron ship builders of Dundee. She will be launched not later than the 31 st of the present month, and goes round by the Caledonian Canal to Glasgow, where she will load for Auckland. She may be expected to sail from the Clyde early in March, and, allowing for a four months' passage, may be looked for here about the beginning of July. The purchase of this vessel ;was effected while she was in course of building, by Messrs. J. Cruickshank & J. Matheson, both of Auckland, and the builders contracted to have her completed at the end of January. Her dimensions are — .

She is to be propelled by marine engines, of 60 horse-power (nominal). It will be seen by these particulars, that the Rangitari will be a noble addition to the fleet of steamers in the Australian waters, and will do credit to this port. She ia about equal in size to the White Swan, the loss of which to our trade was so keenly felt, Like the Claud Hamilton, the Rangitari will have the commander's cabin on deck. Her cabin accommodation will be excellent, giving space for twenty-two ; and there will be berths for eighteen in the steerage. The ladies' cabin will be specially commodious. The cooking galley, &c, will be amidships. The Rangitari is modelled on the lines of the Great Eastern, and will combine the latest improvements in vessels of her class. She will be commanded by Mr. J. Matheson (of the firm of Rattray and Matheson), who will have the honor of bringing out to his adopted country the finest steamship belonging to any New Zealand port. We wish him and his new command a prosperous voyage to Auckland. The Rangitari has been bought on account of Messrs. Cruickshank and Smart, Mr. D. Graham, Mr. A. Watt, Messrs. Rattray and Matheson, and Mr. Wm. Taylor, who commissioned Mr. Matheson to go to England, and purchase a steamer afloat, if possible. This fact bears testimony to the enterprise of our fellow-citizens. It is pleasant, in these times, to have anything tangible to congratulate our readers upon. The facts we have mentioned, with the prospects consequently opened, make us moi-e hopeful for the future of the Province.

Length of keel 144 feet. Breadth of beam 21 feet. Depth of hold 10 feet. Builder's measurement 297 tons. Carrying capacity in hold 200 tons.