THE WAKATIPU AT THE BREAKWATER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7171, 15 September 1886, Page 2

THE WAKATIPU AT THE BREAKWATER.

The steamer Wakatipu, which arrived off tho breakwater on Tuesday morninar, but which was then unable to take up a berth owing to the unfavorable weather, was brought alongside the breakwater at 8 o'clock this morning, and remained alongside until half-past eleven. It was high tide at 10 o'clock, so that the steamer wus alongside two hours before high water, and stayed there for two. hours after. Her draught aft was 17ft. Giu., and about lift. Gin. for'ard. She was almost a full ship from south, uncl had also 80 passengers for Sydney. Among her through passengers were Mr. Lance, M.11.R. for Cheviot, and Hon. Mr. Peter, M.L.C., of Canterbury, both of whom came ashore and had the usual look about the environs of the town. Amongst her cargo were half a dozen horses, aad a similar number of < blood cows, from Dunedin.

There was a considerably largo freight offering at this port. It will bo remembered that Mr. N. King bestirred himself some weeks back with tho object of making some arrangement by which the Taranaki stock producers could take advantage of the high prices ruling in Australia for beef. He accordingly gave a guarantee, or a charter, to the Union Company that he could supply 100 head of cattle to a direct steamer for Sydney if she called here. Oa previous occasions the Wakatipu has had nearly the whole of her stock accommodation taken up by cattle and horses from southern ports, but oh this trip the necessary accommodation for the shipping of about seventy or eighty cattle was reserved. A consignment of cattle from Hawera, in addition to those o Tiering locally, was accordingly arranged. The shippers outside of New Plymouth were Messrs.^ G.. McLean and J, Short, of Hawera, Mr/ Muir, of Otakeo, and Mr. Hastie, of Manaia. The cattle contributed by theße gentlemen numbered 45,' and were brought into town last Sunday by special train. In addition to these there were other 35 offering locally, making 80 in all. Owing, however, to the delay in stowing the cattle after they were slung aboard, only 57 wore taken. Fortunately, however, only one of the Hawera lot was 'eft behind, that being one of Mr. Miiir's. The other 13 taken belonged to Mr. Dingle, of Taraimaka.

Twenty-five of the cattle were walked aboard from the breakwater, and were stowed on deck, they being quiet, and most of them working bullocks fattened up. The rest of the shipment were stowed below. Being "run" cattle they were rather difficult to manage. The~latter were placedin the trucks at the cattle yards, and then slung toy a rope band on to the second deck, where they were roped and hauled or forced to their positions. It was this work which took so much time, aad it was the more difficult from the fact that the ship's men w ere not used to handling Taranaki " run " cattle.

The twenty-three cattle left behind are to be sent on to Auckland by the Oreti on Thursday.

We ascertained from Mr. Caverhill, who supervised the shipping in the interests o£ the owners, that he is much pleased with the gene, at port arrangements, and is especially satisfied with the way in which the Harbour Board stafli set themselves out to make a good job of the loading. Besides the cattle, some 300 casks of butter were put aboard. Thirty bales 0.2 fungus were also to have gone, but were shut out for want of space.

The Wakatipu waited at the anchorage until about 1.30 p.m., to allow the shippers to complete their arrangements, and then sailed direct for Sydney.