THE N.Z.S.S. CO.'S PHŒBE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3868, 28 July 1873, Page 2

THE N.Z.S.S. CO.'S PHŒBE.

r following out the old-established John Bull custom of commemorating every im~ ' portaitii * occasion' with a dinner, tKe directors of the N.Z.S.S. Company have ' r invariably marked the acquisition of a ' new boat or the renovation of an old one 1 by hospitably inviting the principal reei- ,. dents of the city to partake of their 1 bounty during a marine excursion. The return of the Phoebe from Sydney „tothe head-quarters of the company in | Wellington was made the occasion for [ giving one of those exquisite marine j dejeuneurs for which the company has now become famous. As the company extended its operations and increased its prosperity, its hospitality became magnificent in a like ratio ; and as one steamer [ after another was added to the fleet, so » was the last luncheon more costly than the previous ene. In this respect that given on board the Phoebe on Saturday I outdid all former attempts in magnitude ' and get-up. [ When ths steamer left the wharf be- ' tween one and two o'clock there could not have been fewer than two hundred invited ' guests on board, including an unusually large number of ladies and members of ■ the General Legislature. As most of those on board possessed some knowledge " of the ordinary capabilities of a steamer's r saloon, the question of catering for so s many with anything like comfort and k respect for appearances became an in- ' comprehensible mystery. After circumstances, however, showed that Mr Bennett, the providore of the company, and his chief, Ryland, were equal to the occa- ' ( sion. After leaving the wharf the vessel steamed up Evans Bay, where steam , was slowed close to the Patent, , Slip, in order to "afford those on board r an opportunity of seeing something: of a piece of work the existence of which, many of fchem from other parts of the ' colony seemed to be entirely ignorant ; and they were equally surprised; and pleased when informed of the capacity ' possessed by the slip, and the great ': convenience it is proving to the com- ; merce of the port. As the sharp sea air ; had begun to arouse the alimentive instincts of even the ladies, the summons 1 for refection was given, and to the fairer portion of the guests was accorded the \ privilege of destroying the symmetry of. ' what a few minutes before a true waiter"' must have considered a triumph of art-^ r ' nothing adorning the table that was not calculated to please the eye or gratify the > palate, and there was abundance to do both — all being arranged with the most skilful ' } eye to effect that the genius of the kitchen and the table combined could bring to* [ bear. Crystals, fruits, flowers, strange} [ dishes, golden-looking salads, shaking;' ' jellies of the most gorgeous colors, hams ornamented like wedding cakes, " guillotined" turkeys, and other kinds of the"': b gallinaceous family tricked out with tbeP latest devices of the cuisine, together with ■ the usual etceteras, formed such a plea- [ sant-looking sight that many took a peep 1 at the "show" before the "lions began f to feed." Owing to the opportune arrival [• of the Ladybird, the providore was en--1 abled to avail himself of the assistance of a double staff of stewards, which was an 1 absolute necessity with so many guests. [ Consequently their wants were attended • to with greater promptness than could 1 reasonably have been expected. The ' ladies having satisfied their small cravings, ' the second table was occupied by gentlemen, . ' Mr Harrison (chairman of the company^ takingthe chair ; buttherewere stillenowgfc , left on deck to fill another table, which 1 > they did in due course ; and as each fresh I lot of diners sat down, out came fresh ' supplies of eatables and drinkables from • mysterious nooks in the saloon, while the , disfigured dishes, glasses, and "dead , marines" disappeared with magical cele- \ i rity. The company seemed more, intents > upon discussing the good fire providedf . ~- than in making speeches, and any little > congratulation indulged in took the form !• of laconisms. Mr E. Pearce proposed the health of the directors and the pro- • sperity of the company in a few graceful i phrases, in the course of which he threw a ■ rapid glance over the history of the com* > pany since its inception with the Taranaki twenty fathoms deep in ocean to ita present prosperous position ; and re- • ■ ferred in flattering terms to the marked '< spirit of enterprise which had always- - 1 animated the company,— to the good 1 example they furnished to every one who wished to promote the prosperity of the ; port, — and, generally, to the large public ' benefit which had accrued to Wellington from being the head-quarters , of the company. Mr Harrison, who returned thanks on behalf of the company . - for the eulogistic terms with which their " , efforts had been referred to, said that, . he felt he could say for his brother- ■ directors that their main desire would continue to be, as it had been, that of ... . keeping up with the requirements of the i travelling public by furnishing them with/ " every facility in the way of safe and comfortable conveyance by sea at reasonable rates. Could they succeed in always ; doing that, he had no fear as to the substantial appreciation of the public. The luxuries of the occasion did not end with the luncheon. Boxes of cigara were, handed round to those who believed': in ... the virtue of an after-dinner "weed" ; ami ;', after that came a dish of coffee, which; . was very acceptable to the ladies. ; _.'..! From Evans Bay the course, was taken to the Hutt beach, along which the -. steamer coasted, then to the rear of Somes Island, a good view being obtained of the— quarantine buildings, outside of which ¥. was gathered a knot of the last arrivals ' y-_ and thence to the wharf, which wa» •;- reached about half -past four, all on bo^rii being in high good humor with. : their ex-j w tremely pleaßanttrip. U' ..l t '.'■.'. '^ The Plrcebe may now be Baid to^ riv^l: ; s any boat on the coast, and Captain Worlp;^ has reason to be proud of his command. ;-* Having been virtually a new, boai, ;A; , greater speed given tocher, and stilt nog- - sessing her old steady sea-gojLijg; qx^aUjge^;^ she is certain to, be as pojkQar-^4^* amongst the travelling public. %- It iai<c^|ns\

upon inspection that the full extent of the alterations and improvements effected in the boat can be realised ; indeed, save in name and comfort, she is little like her former self. During the trip a speed at the rate of twelve knots an hour was obtained ; and on the trip from Napier to Wellington over eleven knots was kept up in the teeth of a south-east gale. Those who are best acquainted with the appointments and requirements of a steamer speak in high terms of the way in which Mr Coffee, who superintended the work, had the job completed. The Phoebe left yesterday at noon for the South.