FROM WELLINGTON TO THE SOUNDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 93

FROM WELLINGTON TO THE SOUNDS.

By Harry

Fortune of late had. been very unkind to lis all over tho country, so fax as i~h<i weather was co/icerned. Indeed, it formed the prevailing- topic of conversation everywhere, and no epithets were considered strong enongh to describe its extraordinary fickleness. In my own city of Dunedin, for instance, you have been experiencing heavy cloudbursts and floods. In this city of Wellington wo have been much better off, for, oltshough Ave have had heavy rains these past few weeks, still, we have had frequent spells of bright sunshine, though the unsettled state of the weather occasioned much food for speculation. On Friday evening last, 29th December, much to the surprise of those Wellingtonions who are not in the habit of studying the weather forecasts, the sky unexpectedly cleared, and the stars twinkled brilliantly, and no morning could have dawned more auspiciously than the Saturday. The s.s. Mokoia, which boat had been Eeiecfed to make the trip to Marlborough Sounds, gaily dressed with bunting for the occasion, left Wellington wharf shortly after 3 o'clock on the Saturday afternoon, having on board over 160 passengers, your worship being one of the party. A cloudless sky overhead, a smooth sea, and every prospect of special "excursion" weather! Fine weather and a smooth sea greeted us on our entry into the straits. Indeed, all the way to D'Urville < Island one w ,uM have thought we were simply crosinc the harbour. Cook Strait behaving itself for once. It was darkening when wo p*?scd Stephen's Isiland Lighthouse, and we were given the orxportunity of watching the light signals, in Morse, being exchanged between the steamer and the land. Turing round the island to the southwards, we were soon steaming our way gaily up Port Hardy, anchoring for the night near the head of the sound.

That evening dances were quite the ord-jr of the day. and the sea being- so motionless, and the hills looking so majestic in the rale moonlight, there was absolutely nothing* wanting. The deck had been screened of!, French chalk laid down, and quite a merry band were soon enjoying themselves to their hearts' content, whilst not a few sat about tho deck, or leaned over the rails, drinking in the moonlit scenery, witri the palei glimmering waters and the calm stillness of the evening. The Sabbath broke a little cloudy (perhaps just to remind in of the weather wo had left behind us), but there was everv indication of a beautiful day. And su h it trxned out to be. When we rose from brenJcfast we found that the officers and the purser of the ship had been astir sine? 4 in the morning, and that the two launches and half a dozen lifeboats were awaiting their living freight.—some to go exploring on the isVts. and others to go a-fishiug. Not being much of a fisherman mvself. T preferred one of the "shore" boats, and was scon comfortably ensconced in « lifeboat in tow of " Puffing Annie." by which facetious name the steam launch was graced by Ihe jocular members of the party Nevertheless. it, soon towed us near to the mouth of Port HaTdy. cast the fishing boat adrift, and towed the others to a small island near by. During the trip down we overtook another lifeboat, which had been droned by the oil launch, the latter having left th" Mokoia a little ahead of us, and as the fisher folk were not getting as many bites as their ambitious souls demanded, they asked to be towed further on. when, of course, the facetious meml>ers had to have their fling-. They declined to take them in tow until the terms of salvage had been arranged.—l <]o not know exactly what they did not want in tho wav of salvage, but they could not have asked much more. However, while the banter was being exchanged, the officers in charge of each boat were doing their duty. and within a few minutes the lines had been made. fast, and they were towed to another likely-lcoking spot Landing on the islet, the jwrtv all took various tracks up the steep hillsides. Soma stayed down near the shore Peeking botanical specimens, others oerched themselves a fovr 3-ards up the hillside and enjoyed the peaceful serenity and the brilliant sunshine, while others, more adventurous, roamed 1 ricrht up the hillside, picking up ferns and other specimens en route. Two that I saw were discussing mussels as if their very lives depended upon the accuracy with wKVh they pronounced their opinion on the gensis, and the characteristics and the habits of these fish. All too soon for us picnickers the signal from the launch was given to " un stick and s«t sail.'' En ronfe for th" steamer we picked up the two " fishing " boats, nnd nl! the boats hoisted their signals. Tho n<u.-;l e?V'<m was a two-yard So;, while at the masthead, or rather, at the top of a. hrntho-'r which h n d to d> duty for n mfist. hiiiig strings of fi«h. On tho launch itself wa = a Ilk.? m»s+. wb'l« on the flag some buddine artist hn' l utP*'«ed the white sqn.iro Tir sketching, with charcoal, a skull and crossbones. At O.ig in the aft«m<vin th« s.«. hoisted anchor, and. rounding D'TTrville T-slp.Tid. through Arviit Channel, and into Pelorns Sound T 1- bills rn each «ide rise steep from the water's edge. mo«t of them clncT fn thick retive bush. Xothing but hills, hills, hills as far ns th-> eve could scan. It was a beautiful sight. In places a valley hove in sng-ht. its rich gTeen chamiing the eye, while a homestead end buildings would denoto eome degree of civilisation. At times we would steer our wav in and out narroTT straits, the tills on each side, tome of them

bushdad, and others with the bush burnt off showing the duller green of their grassy slopes. The water was as smooth as glass, eoid the passengers, all on deck, leaned ov-ei the rails or sat on the deck chairs, or played quoits and bullboard, and fairly 3rani in the eunshine. We anchored ioj that night in Tennyson Inlet, one of the arms of Pelorus Sound,

The evening was calm and still. Kot sound disturbed the serenity of the place save when the boats were lowered once more into the water, and little parties rowed hither and thither. It being Nkw Tear'? Eve, and special preparations being made on board the steamsr to usher in the New Year with due solemnity, the boats all returned early, while the deck was prepared for the evening's grand entertainment. Appended is a programme of the evening's entortainmient furnished by the orchestra and by various willing assistants (the parentheses being the orchestral items). SPECIAL NEW YEAR'S EYE FRO-G-EAMME. S.S. Mokoia. Somewhere at Sea, December 31, 1911-Janu-ary 1, 1912. 1. March—Stars and Stripes for Ever (Sousa) 2. Song—A May Morning Miss Stodden 3. Danse—Chicken Pickins (Allan) 4. Song—Melisande in the Wood Miss Agnes M. Segrrief 5. Waltz—Merrv Widow (Lehar) 6. Recitation—Mrs Brown at the Play 7. Soncr— Selected Mr D. A.Fraser 8. Waltz—Spying Cupid (Rolf?) 9. Recitation—Jimmv Brown's Promnt ,„ T Obedience Miss S. Putna.m 10. I/ancers—Country Girl (Monckton) 11. Musical Monologue—Selected ! Miss R. Mooro AT THE WITCHTNG HOUR 0' MIDI NIGHT. 12. Two Step—Cats' Parade (with effects) (Johnson) Farewelling 1911, AULD LANG SYNE, 1 And otheT choruses welcoming 1912. 13. Adjournment 14. Song—Selected Mr M'Corma.ck 15. Galop—Race Course (Paull) | GOD SAVE THE KING. During the evening, at item No. 12, the orchestra will be assisted' by the Incomparable Gazoo Band, specially engaged for the trip. Just before midnight, our genial commanler, who was acting as chairman, announced that while cruising about the inlet they had had the fortune to pick up a wild man of the woods, who would be brought up on deck. The officers evidently had a bit of trouble hauling him up the accommodation ladder, judging by the weird ghostly sounds and veils which rent the air. but eventually, with a stout rope tied around him, he was hauled along for the amusement of the crowd. The young sailor proved himself quite a refractorv " old man." with is long flowing grey beard, his chalked face, and his weird attire. He was forced along, made to shake hands with the ladies and prominent passengers, to pay his respects to the master of the ship, and suchlike tomfoolery, to the universal chorus of " The Wild Man from Borneo."

At midnight camp the c'imax. Eight bells chimed forward. The shirt's whistle awoke the echoes among the hills, tlie little frcots of the oil Launch and the steam launch assisting; deafening d-etonators were fired, ship's rockets mounted high into the «<:r. and, descending, lighted the surroundinghilltops with their spluttering lights. The passengers all joined hands, a.nd that gTand old chorus, " Auld lang syne," rose above the pandemonium. And then silence! For the programme must proceed, and the Cats' Parade was about to* commence.

It did, the orchestra hiding assisted by *he Gazoo Band, the sole desire of the members of that band being to create as much noise as po c sible. Cat calls and howls resounded. and then, with penny whistles, ca.rdbc-a.rd trumpets, kerosene tins, and what not. they went inarching round the deck. Also a young fellow oh board proved himself quite an acrobat, and kept everybody in a state of brimming-over good humour with his dancing and his antics. Monday morning dawned bright and clear, and the vessel, still anchored in Tennyson Inlet, looked a perfect picture. We were ?-ll up early, and after breakfast sallied on deck to learn the programme of the day. An elaborate programme had been prepared, but a little mishap caused the ship's company to alter all arrangements. It happened in this wise. The stoam launch, — otherwise " Puffing Annie ' —had set out early in the mori.ing with various officials to search out a suitable spot whereon to hold a gigantic picnic. But landing places were few end far between. At last, however, one was found, and the launch was directed to turn inshore. Things were not to be as easy as they seemed, however, for, on approaching the shore, she took the ground, and remained hard and fast. The engines were moved astern, but there was no shifting her, and all efforts to float her proved unavailing. One of the most prominent members of the little party thereupon attempted to jump ashore, but he stepped overboard into a few feet of water. However, even that was all in the day's march, and no one laughed more heartily than he did. The launch not having returned to the steamer at her expected time, tho various parties were assembled on deck and embarked in the five lifeboats, which the lHtle oil launch took in tow. I sallied forth with a fishing party this time, and, when about a mil© or so from the steamer, the signal was given to be cast adrift, the anchor was thrown overheard, and over went all the various fishing lines. We had simply a glorious time—in fact, so giorious that I for one got quite sunburnt. The sun shone in a cloudless sk and the surroundings lent romance. The catch was fairly plentiful, each of tho party having a fair share, while the jocular members had to have their fling. In fact, we had an official timekeeper on the job-, that position being held by the popular leader of the orchestra.

Returning to the ship (it lunch hour, we found that " Puffing Annie " had been floated off with the assistance of the rising" tide, hut that she had subsequently losi her funnel overboard. daunted!, the top and bottom wore knocked off on empty oil drum, and that substituted by the resourceful engineers. However, when th<* fire was lighted, such a volume of smoke belched forth that, a second oil drum was similarlv treated, and l»th drums did good service in their new capacity. That evening was to he the scone of the Grand Finale, in the shape of a ball on the main deck, which attracted quite a bos-t of dancers, and a regular jollv evening wos 6pent. At a late hour tho passengers assembled, and many of thorn voiced the opinion that the trip had been a most oronoimced success, calling upon Captain Harris and several others for _ speeches. Then

each prominent person who wished to retire was " counted out," —even the captain, having to submit, —and finally "the ladies," and, the chief engineer threatening to turn off the lights in five minutes, all the available ©eating accommodation was clustered about the deck piano, everybody made comfortable, the chief engineer was invited to do his worst, and a start was made on a smoke concert. I stayed on deck till about 2.30. end, as it seemed' as if it were going to be an allnight sitting, I decamped to my bunk. Even the officers and the engineers, however stayed on. the chief having evidently relented and left the lights switched on. The chief officer, however, broke us up, as his jollity was infectious, though he—together with the second officer and also the purserhad been up practically night and day throughout the trip, doing their level best to make the passengers enjoy themselves, rle was as hoarse as could be, and when asked for a "chanty," complained that he had lost his voice or else left it at home. On Tuesday morning early the rain fed in light showers, and we had a glimpse of the hilltops bathed in mist. It cleared off at intervals, however. The anchor was hove up at about 6.45 a.m.. and a start mode for home, sweet home" by a devious route, to allftw us an opportunity of seeing more of Pelorus Sound'. Sports were organised on deck and kept the crowd in a oontmuat state of laughter, the purser being i.articularly good at finding different way® of amusement. The mists cleared off at about 11 a m., and thereafter the sun shone strong, and we all had a sunbath. Soon we got clear of the sound, and wending our way down the coast on a smooth sea, passed Cape Terawhiti ar.d Sinclair Head and reached Wellington wharf shortly after 5 p.m. on the Tuesday, thus finishing one of the most delightful cruises it has ever been my fortune to sail on.