EXCURSION TO CANTERBURY BY THE PATERSON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 145, 4 April 1874, Page 6

EXCURSION TO CANTERBURY BY THE PATERSON.

Between fifty and sixty excursionists took advantage of the cheap fares by the. Paterson to pay a visit to Canterbury to witness the great race to be rowed on the Waimakiriri River. The vessel left the wharf about sir o’clock on Wednesday evening, and by the time she reached the Heads, it was discovered that, as far as weather was concerned, the trip was not to ho as pleasant as had been calculated upon. The night was a little murky, with a cross sea in the Strait, which did nob conduce to the comfort of some of the pas* sengers, but the resources of the vessel afforded a consoling counteractive.. The majority of the excursionists being of the merry sort, a concert on a small scale was improvised, the idea meeting with general acceptance ~on acoount of the possibility of providing a pianoforte accompaniment. In spite of the tumbling sea the Paterson was as steady as a rock, and the proceedings of the evening were rendered not less jovial by the efforts of several musical amateurs of note, who responded to frequent calls upon their harmonious store. The cabin of the Paterson, though no more remarkifcle than that of any other vessel of her tonnage, showed how successfully economy of space had been studied in the alterations when she came into the hands of her present owners. Those of the passengers who had not previously travelled in the vessel were anxious to secure sleeping berths early in the evening, in case of the demand proving too great for the. available accommodation ; but when the time arrived for a general turn-in, none remained unprovided for. The trip was prolonged beyond its usual duration by the head winds; but the combined effects of the excellent accommodation of the vessel and the general unity of feeling amongst the excursionists, made the trip very agreeable. The Paterson arrived in time to catch the late train on Thursday evening, and the passengers slept that night in Christchurch. The next day was, of course, spent at Kaiapoi, where Wellington’s representatives ao* quitted themselves so creditably, and the Paterson sailed again on Saturday evening at a quarter to seven. A flavor of excitement was imparted to the upward trip, by the fact that the Rangatira had left Lyttelton at four o’clock. The betting mania imbibed on the previous day, found scope on this event, and small sums found investment upon divided opinions as to whether the Paterson could catch the screw boat. There was not much wind during the evening, which being favorable to the Paterson, she set all doubts at rest by bringing the Rangatira

in eight about twelve o’clock. The long black smoky trail seen in advance gradually became jjjore distinct, and the Eangatire was passed about one o’clock. During the night the wind freshened, and worked up a high sea, but, contrary to expectation, the Paterson held her own without using her sails. At daybreak the Eangatira was first visible, and as she had every stitch of canvas set to the freshening breeze, it was thought she would recover lost ground. Instead of doing so, the Paterson j steamed her out of sight altogether, although 1 the wind was not favorable to the use of any but the head sails of a paddle steamer. The run < into port occupied fifteen minutes short of nineteen hours, the Paterson beating the Bangatira by four hours and a quarter. The verdict upon the accommodation of tho Paterson, and the attention received, was one of unanimous approval ; the time occupied on the up trip is a sufficient proof of her steaming powers. Her spacious poop deck formed a fine promenade for the passengers, who thoroughly enjoyed the trip.