NORTH SHORE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 643, 4 December 1865, Page 5

NORTH SHORE.

11 TBI? OF TffE KFjW STEAM PERRY I ENTERPRISE. North Show must he regarded as tho Birkoni of Auckland. Its configuration 110 less than I p* ?ess P«'uliar advantages. A tongue I 'f land or promontory, stretching almost into the I satre of on? of the finest estuaric* in th* world, and J o na " ' ,llt ona s *' 10 80a ' whether I != rdin" the gr«*t matter of public health, or tho I ' antf enjoynunt of leisure, a most valuable upI ::: g3 to a p'irely mereantilo city. The wonder is list the«e .i-vuiteos h id not been at a much earlier appreciated, or if appreciated, as they could fail to !llTL ' ,vpn ' they should have "beon o rccentlvnii'lf availal le. Eighteen months ago wori ; n ot half-a-dozen houses of any pretension [ || l 5 i{ r . r th Shore- Three years ago tho signalmn was almost as soli tan- as Kobinson Cru?oo. The \oith' Siiori' va* looked upon as a pretty place, dmir-bly suited for pie-nics and sentiment ; ,-ivr we have plt aiuro in recording that it contains hou<« in hmnwn?. g«"d substantial buildings, many oft'"*® highly omament-d dwellings, tho germ of , Vpi>uildinsf > :lnl :,t wl jj ch sbips °f the very largest ionnaire can io overhauled and repaired, a first-class hotfl'.'and stores where most things that contribute to lusur." or comfort can be obtained. Such a growth 0 f prosp'eri'v imperatively required increased facilities of communication. The thanks of tho public wore Jot to the proprietors of tho " Waitemata Steam Ferrr " in a measure which could hardly bo estimatod s t the time. Previously tho North Shore was a whole day's journey from this city. Aftor the tjfsmcr was p'aced on th" river a man could go to the North K'.cre t.\x times in ono day with the cntaiiitv that he ne-.-d not have to take lodgings. J'o- was this the only result. Hie population of the y.-;h Snore has more thsn doubled. This day we hire to r.eori the tr: ;.l trip of a now steamer which can cross f.-c-m the wharf to Flagstaff Hill in less tisc twenty minutes. We can hardly look for a different result from this event than has bejn proved tr that to which we have just referred, namely, that the North Shore will be the mGro frequent resort of pleasure seekers, and valetudinarians, that our leading citiirns will chose a "location" from which they csa hare the 1110-t picturesque prospect cf the city of Auckland propfr, a sea view extending f.>r a lendrod clear miles in almost every direction, while the disciples oi " Issak Walton " can be accomnoisted with a fishery under the shadow of the North Head, for which that famous angler would have jiven half a life time. We were united by the Messrs. Holmes Brothers tJ be present at the trial trip of their new steam boat KnterDrise. on Saturday afternoon, Tho bur named wis one o clock, but at noon the £>d little Waitemata ferried us over, and placed us high and dry on the deek of her pretty rival. We are h.ippy to think that in this case the rivalry will inprore both for times and the complexions ofbot-h thoserircrgoingsteaniers, for the increase of population that we anticipate uannst fail to give cach enough to do. A very largo number of ladies were on hoard the Enterprise, and oome of our must influential ci izons, isongst whom we may mention particularly Mr. TGiai-is Henderson, as foremost among our mer■rhi"fa. Indeed, the name of the new boat would nfc-red some diminution of its significance had this reatleman, who is more thitn any other distinguished by his aid to local enterprise, r."t been present. THE Tina. TIIIP. At one o'clock, the company having all embarked oti board the Enterprise, cue trial commenced under the supervision of 1 'upturn Johnson, of (he Marino BiarJ. Sh- first ran the me isured mile with the tide and against the wind in nine minutes, and th»n jjiinst the tide and with the wind in eleven minutes, th-s averaging a speed of 8 knots an hour. The time occupied in turning, or rather making a complete circle, vsi one minute. The enginer worked smoothie, and c.pt. Johnson approved himself satisfied with the whole undertakinz, and will, we bel'eve, at once give ter the usual certificate from the Marine Board. The rcnainder of the afternoon was then spent in running it sad down the harbour, and every ouo expressed thfnrelves highly satisfied with the trip. It may not be out of place hero to leinark how it the Enterprise made the trip over to the Jforth Shore in less time than the Waitemata. It must be Krne in mind that ihe latter vessel was running aider great disadvantage, having a foul bottom and iidly in want of an overhaul to her machinery, sho being some weeks over her specified time for laying up, which. ha 3 been done to accommodate the public until 'he Enterprise should ho ready for running, lie Waitemata is now going to be laid up, and upon completion of her overhaul, the result of the race betreen these two boats is anxiously looked for. We deem it advisable ag..in to 1-iy before our Rsderj a short account of the dimensions, &c., of the Enterprise. She is of 70 feet keel, 10 feet 8 inches beam, 5 feet depth of hold, and 78 feet overhaul, she is fitt-d with t*o saloons, of spacious accommoisticn, one capable of providing for 3 • and the other fir 20 passengers ; the boat herself is capable of earning 200 people. The engines are double ones of 22 h r»e power, on the direct acting high pressure principle, and the boiler a multi-tubular one, capable cf working up to oO lbs. pressure. Mr. Bach, who revr.tly arrived here with the Gymnotus, selected the machinery in Melbonine, has tasen the place of faani<!r on hoard the Enterprise, and we feel certain will give every satisfaction. 1 he choice of captain has fallen upon Mr. (-con, hero ia the coasting trade, and we think a better choico nold not have been made. The owners of the Enterprise intend running her regularly b-tween the -ftr. ct Whrrf and Flagstaff Pier, every day fern 7 30 a m, until 8 p.m., and seem determined to eive every sa isfaction to the public. They notify taat if any one has any complaint to make, it is not to sent into the captain, but to them (the owners), will hare it immediately rectified. A meeting was held on Saturday evening for the purpose of con?tlfing the North Shore settlers as to 2ie time table, and we observe that the hours fixed opon are laid before the public to-day. the toasts. When the steamer returned several of the gentleosn resolved themselves into a " committee of the whole," and adjoumed to Mr. Holmes' Flagstaff d termined to spend t'&o remainder of the day ® MnviviJ intercourse. Mr. Tnos. Henderson. A,, whose name is so intimately and successfully nnneeted with provincial and colonial " enterprise," appropriately called upon to occupy the chair. fi 30 , 11 ' , tlrent T-'ive gentlemen were present, most of , it ladies walking on the beach or having returned to respective h'mes. On the summons of the •aatrnnn, the company filled their glasses and drank , Um P?r to the "Enterprise," connecting with the names of the Messrs. Holmes Brothers, the "Uders and owners of this pretty steam ferry-boat. 4.5 V , ttoWEs responded to the toast; he tl -1 j '^ C . Kenlil2,ne n present for the sympathy ttiTtv manifested in his " enterprise," and regrethat he was not a spokesman of suflicient ability J" terms worthy of the occasion, and to ae i warm th and sincerity of bis thanks to all nC. Wh3 ' us Opinion that there would be h= f n° xor '' { for both boats to do (hear, hear), and J,/ <l'nte pure that both would get on well tot l "e ( fr • k's' tve d that a third boat, so rapid was ,T°T ln im P°rtance of the North Shore, would tly berequir-.1. (Hear, hear.) bsl'l' . EO '' OE Webster, 11. P C., next gave the '.°!. ' r v , Nicol. Ho begged t j the Rfiilk le °l connection of an " enterprise " ao! , in i W ''onfsr the grc "est amount of benefit, *ioln "f ?f° n v' ne -P rov ' nco a ad the harbour, but the -W} ° k ,i Pl" n 3 interests of the colony. (Hear, emirs! r , 6 t° the patent slip which was in Mtfmm c 2 nstru ''t*°n by that gentleman, and brought S'lch m . , a ' ; great expense; an enterprise of llr.'Vi . a ? D rejected the greatest honor upon tJorinJ!? ?! ! I l ' sona Ur, and was a great credit to the Mr \ r " ar c 'ieers.) Present / C °fi. res P on| ied; he thanked the gentlemen hia v| r i f cor( tiality they exhibited when drinkli hoped that the undertaking in Wihhlo f™ 8 4 f° Sreatly interested would soon bo w fited an " r shipping. It was, as had been Ist t ®°' e "prise" of considerable magnitude, t" r iv *kan was needed by the shipping ,jr '<ia2 ° 1 P'" ce ' W'hen the slip should be in coalfl PI ' '' le largest ships that visit this port llr. R, t r" ar "* (Hear, hear.) • t; s\\V;i aE . IGIITON >M.CJ\A., gave "Success to ' Ste,l ' n Ferry Company," coupled with C*;-.r E e "R;!- ac 'tivc and efficient Secretary, Mr. Uut thev _,' n^9 ' w U3 o:.ly due to them to say *b 6 fi.iet to establish almost hourly 4c * tson With tie Kotth Shore, and for thifl

they well deserved tho thanks of tha public. Previously to tho Waitemata beiffg plaood on tho rivrr, people desirous of paging to and fro wero at tho morey of tirao and. tide, and the caprices of thoso convoying them ; indeed, if a resident in Auckland attempted to visit tho North Shore, ho could not calculate with certainty that ho would be able to return to his home tho samo night. (Hear, hear.) Mr. George Ridings responded. Ho thanked the gentlemen proseut on behalf of tho Waitemata Steam terry Company. Ho agreed with Mr. Holmes in thinl.ing that that there would be plenty of work tor both boats to do, and probably for a third at no distant period. It was a mistake to suppoao that tho >V aitemata steamer had been a failure, on the contrary, slio lir.d earned a great deal of money j the earnings however did not appear in tho ehapo of dividends to tho proprietor*, it should bo rememborc-d that any two-thirds of tho shares had been taken up, and consequently the earnings had to go to pay tho drbta of tho boat. The statement made by a gentleman of influonce in Auckland, at thoir last public meeting, that the shares were selling at fifty per cent, discount, was not true, tho truth was that at that time thero wore Felling at par, of course, only two-thirds ol the shares having been taken, tho earning of tlio boat had to be applied to the payment of her debts ; ho was glad that ho had this opportunity of making a public denial of this untruthful statement. (Hoar, hear ) Mr. Wood proposed " The Press ho was glad to see amongst them several gentlemen connected with the Press. Tho Press had rendered good aervico to the North Bhore, and tho inhabitants should feel themselves greatly indebted to it. It at made various suggestions at different times, which wero found to be of considerable importance towards the advancement of the place. He had gi eat pleasure in making this acknowledgment himself, by asking tho gentlemen who were present to drink tho health of tho press. Mr. James Kinsella. responded on behalf of the Press. It was tho pleasure aid duty of the Press to discover tha value of local advantages and to mako them known. Ho could answer for himself, t.nd he boliovcd ho could answer for his colleagues, that this service, if service it was, would bo rendered on evory occasion it was ofTered by tho gentlemen of tlio Press. (Hear, hear.) Ho was favourable to the maxim that the greatest amount of encouragement should bo given to every description of enterprise, and the least amount of censure indulged in with reference to the development of new undertakings. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman gave the " Agricultural Interests of tho Province of Auckland," coupling with the toast the name of Mr. Robertson, of O.'aliuhu. Mr. Komertsox responded to tho toast. He felt thankful for tho recognition of tho agricultural interests of the Province of Auckland. On a former occasion he had stated publicly that tho wheat field was as valuable as either coal-fields or gold-fields. Formerly a gcod deal of wheat had been grown in the Waibato, but the growth of wheat had been interrupted by various causes. lie was now glad to say that agriculturists wero turning their attention to tho growth of wheat—so muh so, that whereas last year there was not a field of wheat to be seen in the Otahuhu district, now there were several, and ho h iped that in future years a much larger area of ground would be givon up to the cultivation of thisi crop. Ho might also say that tin's year would be tho best wheat year that ever was known. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Gee proposed the health of Mr. Bach, engineer and part proprietor of tho Enterprise. He had known that gentleman n considerable time, and the icsult of the trial trip was a sufficient testimony of the value of that gentleman's services in superintending the machinery of the new ferry-boat. Mr. Bach was not present to respond to the toast, he being in superintending tho working of the Enterprise. Mr. Geo. Weissteu, M.P.C., proposed "Tho Prosperity of ihe .Settlers at the North shore " He congratulated them upon the success of the new Enterprise. It was due to them to state that they I had not been behind any other district of the Pro- \ inee in public spirit. They had on every occasion come forward handsomely to promote local improvement ; they wero good men and true, and ho hoped they would receive every assistance from the people of Auckland. The North Shore was destined to be tho B* : main of Auckland, as Balmain is of Sjdney, the residence of her principal merchants and most influential citizens. He had resided at Balmain in Sydney, and he hoped soon to be a resident at tho North Shore. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He would recommend those who had not yet acquired any property at the North Shore to make haste in doing so before it should bo all taken up. Mr. Woodham responded, and said that the settlers would do everything in their power to advanco the North i s hore. Mr. Ckeighto.y, M.G.A., proposed the health of tho Chairman, Mr. Tlios. Henderson. That gentleman was the most enterprising settler in the Province, and had done moro to develope its recourses than any other man in it. He possessed ships second to nc;.e, belonging to the merchant princes of Europe, and a credit to any mercantile house in the world. It could be Baid of him with truth that his ships and his flag was on every sea. Auckland owed more to him than any other man, for the good service ho had rendered in furthering its commercial prosperity. (Loud cheers.) A few words from Mr. Thomas Henderson had put upon the Weld Government a signal defeat by throwing out tho "Masters and Servants' Act;" everybody who hid ever been in his employment bore testimony that he was not only a great merchant but the beat of masters. (Loud cheers.) The Chairman's health was enthusiastically responded to. The Ciiairmak thanked the gentlemen presant for the kind manner in which they had drank his health. He had never done anything more than he conceived it his duty to do, and in doing it he never forgot that he was a colonist, and whilst deriving benefit himself he felt bound to do all the good in his power for the country of his adoption. He would quote the words of a good old book, " Out of the fullness of the hert the mouth speakefh," ind- ed his heart was i-o full that ho could hardly speak his thanks. He had always been ready to render what assistance lie could, and had never withheld it, and never would when an opportunity offered, (Cheers.) Mr. Geo. Webster proposed "The Ladies" in a very humourous speech, and the toast was responded to by Mr. Greiohton. The gentlemen assembled went on. hoard the Waitemata on their return to town. In the cabin of the steamer the conviviality was renewed, and several healths and toasts were proposed. Mr. B. G-ke proposed tho •' Commercial Prosperity of Auckland," coupled with the name of Mr. G. Webster, M.P.C. The toast was enthusiastically received, and Mr. Wkbstek returned thanks. Mr. MitCHEIL, of the Southern Croas, proposed the: health of Captain Martin, of the steamer Waitomata. Captain Maiitis returned thanks, who said lie would always do tho best to please tho public as well, as his employer. He felt grateful for the compliment that lud been paid to him, arid hoped that he would not be found wanting in contributing his share to the enterprise of the city of Auckland. The steamer having arrived at the Wharf, tho company dispersed.