TENDERING THE TE ANAU.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 459, 1 July 1902, Page 3

TENDERING THE TE ANAU.

AN EARLY TRIP ON THE WAIHI.

The sight at tho wharf before daylight yesterday morning was a unique one. In the giootn there was gathered together some of our leading lights—not the harbor lights, unless our worthy Mayor may be included in that category. There wero legislators on thoir way to tho Senate, lawyers cn route to the Appeal Court, school touchers for a holiday, and the usual sprinkling of commercial travellers who como and go with rigid punctuality, ft was an early hour for them all to turn out, and no one seemed in the best of temper, but ail managed to when they found that His Worship the Mayor had turned out to seo them oil. Tho genial manager of the Union Company and Gisborno’s amiable Collector of Customs arrived to time, and Captain Neal sounded the last whistle on the stroke of six. As the boat was casting oil the inevitable last passenger arrived, and

tho launch was kept waiting while the lady and her numerous band-boxes, etc, wero hustled aboard. The boat was not long in getting under way, and the passengers having made their last adieux, turned to examine the river, which still bore ovidencoa of tho recent fresh. The water was of a muddy color, and an abundance of drift-wood met tho oye on every side. All went well until the boat was within a few yards of the end of tho breakwater, when she suddenly stopped. “ It is only a log that has crossed the bow,” remarked a commercial. “ No, it is tho force of tho incoming tide,” said tho Minister. “ That shows what you all know abcut it,” said a leading farmer, who was on bis way to tho Conforonco of tho Farmers’ Union. “ She’s on tho bottom, euro

enough. It always happens this way whenever I travel. We ought to have brought the dredge with us.” “ It’s that abominable breakwater,” said the lawyer. " I fought against it for .years, but they persisted in putting it hero, and now they will havo to pay for it.” “ How did you manage to get to hero,” asked tho commeroiul ? “I have beon visiting Gisborno for soveral years, but have nevor mot a man who was in favor of it.”

“ I should think not,” replied -tho lawyer, “ they would be ashamed to own up to thoir folly. You might not beliove it, hut no less a sum than .£170,000 has boon safely deposited in this bank, and very poor interest it is likely to return.” “ You don’t say so,” remarked the commercial.

“ But I do,” remarked the lawyer. “ Tho only thing we can be thankful for is that they did not borrow more,” philosophically interrupted tho faimor. " Borrow more,” repeated tho lawyer in alarm, “ why, Parliament stopped them spending for a long timo, but latterly they were able to release .£20,000.” •' We shall never have a deep sea harbor,” was tho comforting reply of the farmer. Whilst this conversation was going on tho boat had been gradually getting broadsido on until at last the stern touched the breakwater.

“What depth of wator havo you there ?” asked the captain. “ Six feet,” replied the mate, as he took arm’s moasuroment along the wot pole which ho had just drawn from tho water. “Evoryonego for’ard,” was an order from tho captain, and a minute later he added “ Now what water have you got ? ” " Very nearly eight feet,” said the mate.

“ Whore is that ? ” enquired the cap. lain.

“ Right for’ard,” answered the mate. “But that is not where the Waihi is,” said the lawyer. There was a long silence after the latter remark, and the passengers looked at one another and wondered whether they were going to get any breakfast, and why they had been in such a hurry to leave. The big steamer also whistled for the tender to hurry up. “ I wonder why they do not keep this plueo channelled,” remarked a youth. “ They do try their best to do so,” was a reply from a bystander, “ but they cannot battle against naturo. It will rain sometimes, and freshets must occur in tho river now and again.” “ But have you not got a dredge ? ” timidly remarked the youth. “ Yes, of course we have,” replied the first speakor; “ but you cannot bring it out in all weathers, and especially when there is a fresh in the river. You must bear in mind a good dredge costs a hoap of money.” . "Wo shan’t be long now,” said the man on the breakwator, as he struggled alongunder the weight of a tow-line, whilst everybody took out their watches. “Wo had better wait for the tide,” said the Minister’s secretary. “We shall got there presently,” remarked tho Minister. All this time the lawyer was telling a group of passengers where the breakwater should have been.

11 The longer we stop here the longer wo shall bo getting away,” said the Collector, but no ono saw the joke—or at anyrato, they pretended they did not. II Take a turn round the posts ; not too much until we get the stern line in,” came from the bridge. The boat was now alongside the breakwater, and both lines were out. Jt was also raining steadily. . > “ There are too many on that side,’ said the Minister. “ A nice incident,” remarked the lawyer ; “ the navigation of the Danube was nothing to this.” And the men on the breakwater were still pulling at the ropes. “ The telephone should be extended to the end of the wharf,” said the Collector. •* They are going to haul round tho breakwater,” said tho lawyer, “they will pull three or four of thoso posts off before they have done.” After over an hour’s delay the boat was drawn lovel with the breakwater, and a minute later the captain shouted, “ Let go for’ard; let go aft.” Two men struggled with two ropes on tho breakwater fur a few minutes, the linos were set free, and the Waihi was sailing through the billows. 11 1 shall have a smoke now," said tho Company’s managor. 11 It is a good job wo did not try this last night,” said the Minister. In tho meantime a boat from the Te Anau had put off to the assistance of the Waihi, for the purpose of taking the passongers aboard, but the crow, seeing that tho launch was now clear of the breakwater, rowod back to the steamer.

“Are you going to take any cargo ?” enquired tho officer of the Te Anau, as the launch came alongside. “Yes, tho lighters are coming along,” said tho agent. « Why don’t you wait until to-morrow'? satirically replied tho officer, who was evidently in a hurry to get to Dunedin. From the Te Anau tho Waihi wont on to tho Xiwaru, and tho passengers had the pleasuro of inspecting that finu steamer, which arrived looking spick and span, reflecting great credit on the commander and officers. Tho following notice on the foredeck attracted our attention: “This vessel has twin screws, beware of tho

blades.” ■ “ The lighters will have to finish the Indraghiri before they can come to you,” remarked the agent. ii \v e ]] that is too bad, said the skipper, « y OU might have allowed us to stay the Sunday in Wellington.” Having obtained ono mail bag and one loose letter from the nowcomer, the \Y aibi returned to the wharf.