PORT OF TIMARU.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3268, 18 March 1885, Page 2

PORT OF TIMARU.

The fliigataff at. Tnunru is situated m IV deg. 17miri. 20a«u. East longitude ; Udeß. 2?< mm. South latitude. Sun rises, thia day, 6.3 ; sets 0.13. High water, this day, 3.35 a.m. ; 8.59 p.m. ARRIVED. March 17— Wakatipu, s.s., 1797 tons, Wheeler, from Dunedin. March 17— Wanaka, s.s., 278 tons, Russell, from Northern ports. SAILED. March 17— Orowaiti, s.s., 283 tons, Camphell, for Westport. P March 17— Wakatipu, s.s., 1797 tons, Wheeler, for Sydney, via Lyttelton and Wellington. Maroh 17— Wannka, s.s., 278 tons, Russell, for Port Chalmers. IMPORTS. In the Wanaka, N.M. and A. Company, agents : 50 tons general merchandise. Consignees—H. Exloy ;J. Craigie , Keith ; NewZealand Shipping Company ; New Zealand Meat Preserving Cnmpany ; A. Fraser ; J. Barratt ; A. J. Quelch and Co. ; J. Levien ; E. Cotter. EXPORTS. In tho Wakatipu, N.ftT. and A. Company, agents: 2909 sacks (11,636 bushels) oats, 5 kegs and 1 cask honey, 45 kegs butter, 540 sacks sharps. Shippers— Agents ; Siegert and Fauvel ; D. Stnart ; Koyal Flouring Mills ; Anderson and Co. In the Wanaka, N.M. and A. Company, agenta : 197 bales wool, 17 hides, 77 reels barbed wire, 71 sacks grass seed. Shippers — N.Z.L. and M.A. Company ; Woollcombe and Clulee ; Moody and Ztesler ; Agents ; Acme Barb Wire Company ; W. Evans. Tho 3.5. Orowaiti left for Westport m ballast yesterday afternoon. The s.s. Glaucua is advertised to sail for Sydney on Saturday. The s.s. Wanaka arrived from Northern ports early yesterday morning, and was placed at the outer berth. After discharging some 50 tons of general cargo, and taking m a quantity of produce, she left for Dunedin about six o'clock.

We feel quite sure the fir3t visit of the Wakatipu lo this port, whioh took place yesterday, will not soon be forgotten, foralthongh she is not the largest steamer whioh has visited tho port — the Collier Eaaby beating her m carrying tonnage — yet she is far and away above any that have been inside the Breakwater. The Union Company deserve the thanks of Timaru peoplo m particular, and those of South Canterbury as a whole, m trying to open up a direct intercolonial trade with thia port, and we trust they will receive such encouragement a3 will not only induce them to Bend the Wakatipu again, but to make Timaru a regular port of call for Sydney and Melbourne stoamora. Tho Wakatipu is a handsome steamer of 1797 tons, and is m command of Captain Wheeler, one of tho best kuowu and most popular skippers that has over been m the coastal or intercolonial trade. There are not a few m Timaru who had the pleasure of first becoming acquainted with him m the old Phcebe, when she was flying the Panama Company's flag, and that ia nearly a decade ago: yet ho seems to be nearly a3 fresh m health and appearance as over, and long may anch be the caso. The number of old friends who picked him up or fossicked him out was marvellous, yet no one seemed more surprised than himself at his being known ao well. Abont noon a very pleasant gathering took place on board the steamer, Captain Wheeler aud the local agent of the Company, Mr A. R. SpaldiDg-, having invited a number of gentlemen to drink a glass of wine m the cabin m celebration of the auspicious occasion. Between thirty and forty gentlemen availed themselves of the invitation, and champagne having been served, Mr Spaldiug proposed the toast of "The Timaru Harbor Board." He said that Capt. Wheelor and ho had much pleasure m welcoming the company on board the Wakatipu, and ho proposed the toast of the Harbor Board, coupled with the name of Mr Gibson, m absence of the Chairman, Mr Moody, who waa out of town. Ha (Mr Spalding) felt sure it must be very gratifying to the Harbor Board to see such a large ateamer loading alongside their wharf, and it reflected great credit on the indomitable pluck of South Canterbury and the Harbor Board that such a large steamer could safely lie alongside the wharf and load. He asked the company to drink the toast, coupled with the name of Mr Gibaon. The toast having boen duly honored, Mr Gibson responded with some difficulty, owing to ill-health. He reviewed the operations of the Board, and paid a tribute to the memory of several former citizens of Timaru who had urged on the construction of the Breakwater against great opposition, the efforts of Mr George Cliff, ex-Mayor, being ospecio.lly worthy of acknowledgment. He said he would leave it to his friend Mr Acton to further respond. — (Applause). Mr Acton did not know why he should have been called upon to supplement what Mr Gibson had said so well. He had nothing to add but his thanks for the handsome way m which the toast had boon received. — (Applause). Mr Spalding proposed the health of Mr Goodall, the Board's Engineer. That gentleman had had great difficulties to contend with, and notwithstanding outside criticism and advice of all sorts offered him, ho had followed out his own plan, and now had tho satisfaction of seeing it a complete success ; and if any testimony of his ability wore wanting it was found m the fact of the Napier Harbor Board appointing him Engineer to carry out similar works there. Mr Goodall, m responding, said he was a man of actions rather than of words, but he certainly did feel proud of the success of the enterprise, and ho should take care that the Institnte of Civil Engineers m England was made acquainted with the work that had been successfully carried out here. — (Applause). He might tell tho company that had it not beeu for tho success of the Timaru Harbor, the Napier Board would never have received suoh attention and aid from Government. — (Applause). Mr "William Evans proposed tho health of Captain Wheeler, who was personally known to many_ gentlemen present, who had travelled nnder his command. Drunk with musical honors. Captain Wheeler, m replying, said ill-health and backwardness m the speech-making line would provent hi 3 saying muoh, but he had considerable pleasure m commanding thia the first large vessel to come alongside the Timaru wharf. — (Loud applause). Mr F. LeCron proposod the toast of "Tho U.S.S. Company," coupled with the name of tho local agent, Mr Spalding. Mr Spalding had much pleasure m responding. The U.S.S. Company had always evinoed evory desire to meet shippers and foster the trado of tho colony, and although they almost hold a monopoly, they were juat as ready to make concessions hi freight and fares as if they were forced to do so by great competition. Their aim was as much to moot the wishes of shippers as their own gains. He also expressed a wish that the Managing Direotor had been present to respond to thia toast, and he was sure Mr Mills would have felt great gloasure m meeting the Timaru oitizens present. Ho thanked those present for the oompliment, which he thonght, so far as the Company was concerned was not altogether undeserved. Though they were to a certain extent monopolists, they used their privileges m a spirited way, and did their best to promoto the trade of the colony. (Applause) Captain Wheeler proposed tho health of " The Harbor Master, Captain Webster." The toast was most heartily received and neatly responded to. Captain Woollcombe, R.N., proposed "The Mayor and Corporation of Timaru," which was happily replied to by His Worship the Mayor. Mr Spalding proposed " Tho Naval Brigade," coupled with the name of Captain Mensou, m a very humorous speech, which was received with laughter and applause, Captain Moason expressed his thanks for tho honor done his corps, whioh he knew was composed of men who would on oocasion, give good account of themselves, never mind what foe they had to meet. The company then took leave of Captain "Wheeler and dispersed. Mr Spalding asks us to express regret at being unable to remember on the spur of the moment the names of all tho friends and citizens whom he would like to have seen on board and he trusts they will accept this apology for being overlooked. The Wakatipu steamed from the wharf about 5 p.m. (By Telegraph.)