THE RIMU'S EXCURSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11369, 11 March 1899, Page 1

THE RIMU'S EXCURSION.

A moat enjoyable excursion down the harbour was ruu by Messrs ■ Keith Ranißay and Co. s new steamer the s.s. Rimu yesterday. At the invitation of the owners, about 500 ladies and gentlemen went onboard the steamer, which left the Rattray street wharf at 2.30 p.m. Hie weather was all that could bo desired, a fresh breeze blowing up the harbour only tempering the heat of the sun. The Rimu is a most comfortable boat for her size, and there was ample accommodation about the decks for the large number of people who went upon the excursion, while down below a comfortable saloon and cabins afforded shelter for those who deaired to escape the cool breeze. The Rimu is owned by a company, of which Messrs Keith Ramsay, A. D. Campbell, J. Mill, and Captain Sundstrom are the partners, bhe was designed by Captain Sundstrom and built under his immediate supervision, and it is worthy of note that, so well'had Captain Sundstrom done his part, that the contractors had not to be paid for any extras when she was finished. In addition to being a comfortable passenger boat, the Rimu has great cargo capacity in proportion to her registered tonnage. She has also very good steaming qualities, and can steam up to 11 knots under favourable conditions. At half-past 3 o'clock the Bteatner put into Port Chalmers to pick up a number oi ladies and gentlemen there, when the trip was resumed till opposite the Maori Kaik, which point was reached at about 4.15 p.m. me steamer then turned round on the homeward track. Meanwhile ample refreshment, provided by the owners, had been served to all on board. On the return trip another call was made at Port Chalmers to land passengers;, but before the latter place was reached the s.s. Flora, outward bound for Auckland, was passed. As the Flora "dipped her ensign as a. compliment to the Rimu, the latter returned the compliment. On the return trip Mr. Sligo, M.H.H., proposed a vote of thanks to the owners of the Simu for the afternoon's .outing, and on rising to speak was' greeted with aPPla"seIn the course of his remarks Mr Sligo said that Providence had been very kind to them by favouring them with such a beautiful day, and had also been kind to Mr Keith Hamsay and the other, owners of the steamer. Those present1 would appreciate the effort that had been made to have all their wants satisfied, and.he felt sure they, would join with him in wishing prosperity to the company who owned the steamer.—(Applause.) He might toll them that Captain. Sundstrom went Home and got the steamer built, and the result was highly creditable to him as designer and supervisor. The owners ..had got a good job and the public a serviceable steamer. The company had only a small beginning; but so had the Union Steam Ship Company; and he wished them to join with him in wishing this company as great success as had fallen to the Union Company.-(ApplauseO, They had heard a great deal last session about the Government putting on steamers to' run, a fast service between Lyttelton and "Wellington, but the Union Company was quite able to meet any demand likely to be made in that direction. Such undertaking should be left to private enterprise, and there was. no need for Government interference.-(Applause.) In connection with this company, he would say of Captain Sundstrom that in addition to his. other abilities he was a capable seaman.—(Applause.) Then he would mention Mr Keith • Hamsay--(applause),—manager and senior partner of the ■company. He was sure that-all who "knew Mr Ramsay would unite with him in wishing their enierprise'j,fto utmost success, and that that «ic-c-e6r:woiild'ibe:long. l continued,-(Applause.) He "would call'ior a "very'hearty vote of thanks for,the owners,of the Rimu. The vote was responded.to .by three ringing cheers, and the singing of "For he's a jolly good fellow. Cheers were also given for Mesdames Ramsay and Sundstrom. ; Mr X.-Ramsay briefly acknowledged the vote of thanks, and in doing so said the owners of the Rimu were very glad to see so many present on that occasion. They had been, as Mr bheo said, favoured with fine weather,.: which he hoped would in a measure make up for the want of comfort.-(Crios of "No, no.") ' The boat would have been larger if the trade, she was to be engaged in had justified that. He had heard that something like the present.proceedings was going to be done, so he went up beside Captain Sundstrom on the bridge; but they would not let him stay there. He was very pleased to hear Mr Sligo's reference to Captain SundstTom, who drew up tho specifications for the steamer and attended to every detail while she was building. But he deserved equal credit for bringing the steamer out from Home, as there was a certain amount of risk in bringing out so small a steamer. He dared not hope to compete with the Union Company, but he would like to say that they had always had the co-operation of that company. Both himself and Captain Suudstrom were very grateful for the assistance they got from the Union Company in London. He thanked them very sincerely for their presence, and for their good wishes for the success of the company.—(ApP Dun'edin wharf was reached shortly after t o'clock, and all returned home, having thoroughly enjoyed the pleasant trip. OVERLAND PASSENGERS. Yesterday's Theough Trains. From Dunedin for the North.—For Christchurch : Mr Robert Moss, Mrs .Hendry, Mr Jas Taylor, Mr Hendry, Mr Heny, Mr G. Drum. For Dunedin from the South'.—Rev. J.. Guy Mrs Guy (and family), Mr and Mrs S. Solomon Mr A. Bell, Mr and Mrs Stuart; Mrs Logan Miss Livingstone, Mr and Mrs Hayes, Mr J Campbell, Mr and Mrs Gray,; Mrs Peacock. From Dunedin for the South —Mr W. H Aron Mr C. H. Osmond, Mr W. Lawrence, M M. Carr, Mr W. Howes, Mr W. W, Brown, M: B. Hallenstein, Mrs and Miss "Wayson, Messr: R and E. M. Wayson, Mrs Dyer (and. child) Miss E. Rensten, Mr Stillman, Miss Creswell Mrs Jones, Miss Anderson, Mr A. Johnston Miss Ross, Mr P. Daley, Mr D. Daley, Mr J Boyne. . ■ ' From the. North for Dunedin.—Mr ,J. M Jones, Lieutenant, Robinson, Mrs Robinson, M J Dealy, Miss Robinson, Mrs A. E. Willett Mr Mark Cohen, Mr R. M'Kinluy, Mr A. H Fisher, Mr and Mrs A. C. M'Gee, Mias Brem ncr, Mr A. Barnett. ■.