THE LAUNCH OF THE " LITTLE AMPTON."

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 61, 19 May 1877, Page 3

THE LAUNCH OF THE " LITTLE AMPTON."

TO THE EDITOE. Sir, — It must be distinctly understood that this vessel is what the builder calls " a Hadrniralty yacht." Whatever may be the connection between the Loi'dsof the so-called Hadmiralty and the Little 'Amptoii, youi* cor respondent is unable to state ; his information is derived from the builder, who seemed riot to know also ; yet, with the exception of eleven or eight occasions, he has unshaken faith m said builder's veracity. This apology, or punt, had better be described at once : suffice it then to say she is of totara,' 27 feet m length, being about five or six feet too short for ordinary purposes, depth 22 inches, 10 of which are unhappily under Water, and about nine feet beam. . Now you have the full conception, I must get back to the main object of my communication — the launch. The vessel,' dug-out, tub, box, e'ouin,orwhatever yon m your supreme discretion may be pM'se'ct f 6' form 1 Hiteiy #;<'«■ M$ 6k si S'erres*

of planks, which had been previously greased (I hear a sheep uncxpectcdl}' paid the debt of nature to supply the fat), and Mr Aquatus, the ferryman, and his oft'sider wer* 1 m attendance wiih ropes, tackles and so forth ; iheso tackles | were benl. to the ship, and a turn of the ' rope taken round tin* builder's house, to j prevent a sudden slip. At about 1 o'clock the builder stood on an eminence and cooeved for all the j assistance he could get, and commenced i to become generally exciied. A lapse I of an hour brought all the forces to boar, and after a canvass fore and aft. Mr Aqualus was deputed to hold all the \ weight m the event of a sudden slip, j Now the work commenced — The Go- \ vcniment Engineer was roost t-d m a tree to view all, and as is usual say nothing, and the builder, who was somewhat I shaky, from, I think, an overdose of oatmeal porridge, stood ready to knock away the shores. " Are you all ready ? " said that functionary. "We are," responded one of the volunteers, without consulting anyone. " Then let her went." said the builder, at the same time, m his excitement, drawing his valuable person away out of range of a probable disaster. Then, amidst a din of cri."--, such as "'Eave," "'Old," " 'Leggo." "D— ," "She's lopsided," "No s';e 'aint,"'*Go to 'ell." he stepped m a ■; I knocked the last stick away, and oi? she slid for a period of about hair ;i chain. The " Little 'Amp ton " seemed boiv to be endowed with common sense, for like a thing of life, she slid off the ways and bid fair to collapse altogether. Things now began to look serious, and the builder for the information of all hands said "he knew very well she would stick," but hardly was the last word out of his mouth, when, through the energetic leverage of Mr Aquatus and a few friends the vessel commenced to slide to the no small astonishment of the individual aboard, and her bosom cleaved the waters of the Man awn fu amid the ringing cheers of the builder and a boy. High above every one's voice was heard the eminent builder, who had forgot his Lindley Murray for the time, saying, I knode she'd go. D— if I did'nt. The Little 'Ampton was then towed up to the wire which is to be the leader of her future operations, and all hands went up to the Otangakei Hotel, where Host Mekenzie dispensed comfort to all connected with the affair, and after wetting our whistle with a small decoction of the concentrated essence of conteutment we all parted, most to goto their l'espective labors, I to that most faithful and confidential service, the allowing the public to take part (m the spirit) m the convivialities of the day. — I am, &c, Aquatps' Off Sideu.