THE R.M.S. MARIPOSA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9254, 7 January 1889, Page 3

THE R.M.S. MARIPOSA.

HOLIDAY TRIP FROM THE GOLDEN : GATE TO AUCKLAND. The R.M. s.b. Maripoaa, Captain H. M. Hay ward, arrived on Saturday from San Francisco, Honolulu, and Samoa, with mails, passengers, and full freight list for this city and Sydney. Amongst the pasnengers were two former New Zealand colonists, one of whom only will be remembered by the very "oldest inhabitant "—Mr. T. Trounce, of Victoria, 8.C., and Mr. Robert J. Creighton, who is a through passenger to Sydney and Melbourne. On his way back to California Mr. Creighton hopes to spend a few weeks in New Zealand, and renew old friendships. Mr. Trounce (who is accompanied by his wife) ; arrived from England at Port Nicholson i (now Wellington) early in 1842. Having ! spent some time in that settlement, he i went to Nelson, leaving for Hobart before the Wairau massacre. He carried on business in Hobart, as architect and builder, and came to Auckland early in the fifties. With Mr. Polack, one of the pioneers of Kororareka, ■ Mr.Trounce constructed twenty small houses, and shipped them to San Francisco. Having arrived at a glutted market, the kauri was surrendered for freight, and Mr. Trounce at once started in his profession, in which he prospered. He ultimately settled in British Columbia, where his family and property are ! located, and he is now visiting Auckland for ; his health, which, it is to be hoped, the curas tive waters of Waiwera will thoroughly estab- : lish. Mr. Trounce is full of anecdote and reminiscences of early New Zealand days. 1 The Mariposa was detained a day at San > Francisco, owing to the tedious Atlantic i passage of the Aurania. It seems to be unl fortunate that the last portion of the New t Zealand-Australan mails should always be shipped by a slow steamship sailing from ' Liverpool. The Mariposa took her depurb ture from San Francisco at 4 p.m. on Decemt ber 16, and made her moorings at the Ocoanic , Company's wharf, Honolulu, at 8 a.m. on the i 23rd, clearing the reef, outward bound, about L 9 p.m. Soon after sunset on 30th ultimo the i mail was taken on board from the Samoan i Group at Tutuila, and the Waitemata was . reached at 9 o'clook on the sth inst. r The sea was rough for several days out r from San Francisco, a boat on the port quar- [ ter having been carried out of the davits [ early in the voyage. Beyond this mishap ? ; however, nothing worth recording happened ; to the staunch ship during her run to i Auckland. The trip appears to have i been a very delightful one, so far as the passengers were concerned. A very success- ! tul concert was given in the Social Hall on ! the trip to Honolulu. After leaving that port, a committee on entertainments was i organised, and arrangements made for a ; grand vocal and instrumental concert and ' sports on Christmas day. A purse was made I up by the gentlemen to provide prizes for . the winners of the various events. The . prizeß were bought from C. W. Gies, tonsorial artist of the Mariposa, whose stock of . goods seems to be practically exhaustless. > The shorts lasted from 10 a.m to 5 p.m., with an interval for lunch. The events were ; well contested, the obstacle race being the ■ severest test of physical endurance and pluck. ; The egg race and needle-threading and ! stitching competition were confined to the . ladies. The children's race was amusing. A [ whist tournament was finished the following r day. Between the first and second parts of . the concert the prizes were distributed to the • winners by the Hon. James P. Lesesne, . United States Consul-General at Melbourne, : who is en route to his post as successor to General Morgan, resigned. Mr. C. W. Crocker, of San Francisco, pinned a medal on the breast of each lady who won a prize. THE CONCERT was very successful. Mr. P. Bevan acted as conductor, and Mrs. G. H. Bayley accompanied on the piano. The following is the programme : — First Part.—Grand musical selection, Mariposa Orchestra; duet, " See The Pale Moon," Miss Berriman and Mr. E. Exon; song, " Scotch Brigade," Miss Shea; instrumental selection. Miss Lee; song, " Sailing," Mr. Wallace. Distribution of prizes. Second Part.—Musical Drivel, Mr. P. Bevan; song, "The Devoted Apple," Miss Berriman; song, "Drink, Puppy, Drink," Mr. J. H. Pounds; recitation, "A Curious Legend," Mrs. Dr. Burdsley; hunting song, Mr. B. Y. Bevan; "The Death of Nelson," Mr. E. Exon; finale, " Symphony " Mariposa Orchestra; " Auld Lang Syne. After the concert complimentary votes of thanks were passed to the ladies who had contributed so much to the success of the entertainment, and more especially to Captain Hayward, whose kind assistance and co-operation had been bo valuable. The Manpoaa's position at noon on Christmas day was 13deg lmin N. latitude, and 160deg oOmin W. longitude. NEW YEAR'S DAY Would have been a very enjoyable occasion but for the weather, latitude at noon, 22deg, 58min 31sec, S., longitude, 175deg 14miu T2sec, W. An excellent programme had been arranged for the evening but a postponement took place. The day following the sea was smoother, and a trial for breach of promise came off as arranged. It was the only case on the dock, and the United States consul at Melbourne presided as judge, and, being a lawyer of experience, the proceedings were conducted in the most formal manner. Thanks to the ladies, judge and counsel were costumed in wig and gown, Mr., C. W. Crocker's deft fingers turning out very excellent specimens of the wigmakers' art. A concert was given the evening before arriving at Auckland. A more happy or contented party never "sailed the ocean blue," Captain Hayward, Purser Smith, and the officers of the ship were deservedly popular, and made lasting friends. The discipline and management of the ship could not well be improved upon, and the run from San Francisco to Auckland might be regarded as a pleasant yachting experience in "summer seas."