THE EUTERPE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 78, 1 March 1929, Page 6

THE EUTERPE

OLD SAILING SHIP. LINK WITH LOCAL SETTLEMENT By reason of the fact that, tn dr StiStf cat Society’s inquiry in connection with : SMTSi. SASSf-JUS Feilding and district, and that many cf their descendants are still local res - Interesting details of the old sailer are gleaned from the Auckland S of March 8, 1924, the late Sir Heniy Brett having penned an article whic St a<Hn'—the early ’sixties there were two ships sailing the seas beaiing Hie name of Euterpe. lho one which traded to New Zealand was a fulhiigged ship of 1197 tons, built at Ramsay Bay, Isle of Man, in .863, by Gibson lor the Shaw Savill Co. in 1873 the Euterpe made her first voyage to New Zealand, arriving at Dunedin after a lengthy passage of 111 days. She was one oi the siovvest beats afloat, her best run at any time from 1873 until 1898, twenty-five years, being 103 days to Dunedin under very favourable conditions. On one occasion, in 1894, the Euterpe sailed from Glasgow to Dunedin on December 4 and encountered a fearful gale shortly alter leaving the Downs. Captain Streeter, who was in command, put into Belfast and sheltered there for four days. She again met heavy weather, which induced the captain to-run back again from Holyhead to Belfast. This was eighteen days after leaving Glasgow'. Tile ship filially cleared the Irish Channel on January 1, 1894, and arrived at Fort Chalmers 116 days from, her final departure from Belfast. “A passage out to Lyttelton in 1879 occupied 143 days, and on this trip the Euterpe was again detained by stormy weather in the Channel. She sailed on August 2, 1879, and it was 19 days before slie got clear of the land. She sighted the. Snares oil December 12, and seven days later had only reached as far as Nugget Point, owing, it is stated, to the continuance of north-east winds. “In 1884 the Euterpe met with further troubles. In proceeding down the Channel she collided with tile steamer Canadian and was compelled to put back for repairs which occupied ten days. “In 1892 the Euterpe had another rough experience oil the passage out to Port Chalmers. She sailed this time from Glasgow on August 13, and encountered severe gales right across the Southern Ocean. Her progress was also impeded by having to reduce canvas when passing through a large iiekl of icebergs. “The Euterpe was eventually sold to Chili, when she was rigged as a barque, and again sold to the Alaska Packers’ Association of San Francisco and renamed the Star of India. The old ship was still afloat in 1923.” PASSAGES TO NEW ZEALAND.

INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION. Further particulars of the old vessel were supplied, to the “Standard” by Mr William Aliwright, of Ashhurst, who served before the mast when the siiip made a voyage to Wellington in 1574. Mr Aliwright states that the ship was very slow —possibly one of the slowest afloat at the time—and was difficult to handle. On this voyage a man was lost overboard, while the deaili occurred of a child. Water ran short and the ship put into Capetown. Of the 400 immigrants, many came out under the Eeilding Corporation Settlement Scheme, and it was likely that there wdfce several, or their descendants, still in the district. Two passengers were Mr Saunders, senior, of Ashhurst, and Mr C. McCraw, of Palmerston North. “The ship did not possess any features different from the immigrant vessels of those days,” added Mr Allwright. “The officers’ quarters were under the poop, the single girls’ abaft the wheel; married couples were quartered between the mizzen mast and the foremast. Single men found quarters in the forecastle. The" single men and women had bunks, but the married people had divided cabins, access to each of the quarters being gained bv separate hatchways. Cargo was stored under the ‘tween decks. Meals were served in the separate quarters, and the rations were not of the best. Unless the construction was altered, if one followed the cabin construction of tlie early immigrant ships it would be found to be the same as that of the Euterpe, as the design was commonly followed. There were no outstanding features of design and the ship was of a quite ordinary full rigged type.”

The New Zealand Alpine and Rock Garden Society, ’ with Mr Hope B. Gibbons as president, lias been formed at the Lower Hutt. _ The objects for which the ‘society is formed are: To foster the art of rock gardening and the cultivation of alpine plants, both native and exotic; also to encourage the preservation and cultivation of tlie native flora both in the native habits and in public or private gardens; to stimulate public interest in the setting aside and preservation of areas of native bush as sanctuaries for plants and birds; to promote the interchange of seeds and plants, and to co-operate with other societies, bodies or persons, in any part of the world, who may bo working along similar lines; to arrange for or carry out experiments in the- acclimatisation of alpine and other plants suitable for rock gardening; to build, construct and maintain in the Riddiford Park, Lower Hutt, a rock alpine and bog garden, which shall be known as “The National Rock Garden of New Zealand.”

Sailed. To Auckland. Arrived. Captain. Days Aug. 20 Dec. 12, ’86 Hoyle . 113 _ To Wellington. Aug. 30, ’74 Phillips . 114 — Aug. 10, ’95 Banks . Ill Oct. 25, ’80 Feb. 8, ’81 Banks . 105 Nov. 3, ’88 Feb. 19, ’89 Banks . 107 — Oct. 23, ’94 Streeter . 101 — Jly. 29, ’95 Banks . Ill Aug 2 To Lyttelton. Dec. 24, ’ 19 Phillips . 143 Dee. 7, ’72 To Dunedin. Apr. 4, ’73 Phillips .. 117 Dec. 17, ’76 Apr. 4, ’77 Phillips .. 106 Jly. 7 Oct. 20, ’78 Phillips .. 104 Apr. 9 Aug. 1, ’84 Hoyle .. 113 Aug. 13 Dec. 3, ’92 Streeter .. Ill Dec 4, ’93 Apr. 26, ’94 Streeter .. 142 Jne. 22 Oct. 4, ’96 Banks .. 103 Nov. 25, ’97 Mar. 27, ’98 Longmuir .. 121