The Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1883.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4864, 1 December 1883, Page 3

The Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1883.

Thb Pionbbb boat of the Shaw, Savill line of direct steamers-- the competitors in this direction with the New Zealand Shipping Oompany— ha* made an unlucky, and, it is to I>e feared, a disastrous trip. In the first place, the length of the voyage, half as long again as the smart runs made by the greyhounds of the South Paoifio (for that is how they will -oome to be known) ; then there were six desertions by seamen at the Cape ; then, a foroed oall at Hobart for coaling purposes, and thirteen more desertions} and finally the orashing of the steamer on to the sharp points of Tiritiri. Small wonder that Captain Brothsrton "seemß completely dazed by his misfortune." Bub if he is dazed, it is equally certain that people who know anjthi-K of the geography of Auckland, and of the circnraatances of the catastrophe, are -Mnaz.'d. The thing seems insxplioable j a-ad the official enquiry will be one of the moßt inter eitireg ovor recorded in the shipping annals of New Zealand. We hope most sincerely that this pioneer boat may yet " Bide in triuinp- over aU misc-ance," for we fully hold with our morning contemporary, the Lyttelton Times, that there is a -grave possibility of the aooident tending to oreate the feeling in English shipping circles that the ooaits of New Zealand are speoially dangerous. On this aooount care must— and will — be taken that the enquiry is full and ■earohiDg. The affair is to be regretted also, because it was desirable that there should be a spirited contest for the honours— and the profits— of thia direot oarrying trade. Com* petition, the keener the better, was an essential for the perfecting of the New Zealand Shipping Company's arrangements. So far aa we oan judge of the Triumph's position, there ia an interesting problem to be solved. Will she be got off? She is pieroed by a rock through her fore compartment. Oan ahe be sufficiently sunk aft to lift her off the rock, without incurring the danger of going stern down P We hope bo, though the wind at Auokland this morning had veered ta the north-wist, the very quarter from which it wae not wanted.