Even the most enthusiastic of the admirers of that marvel of skill and knowledge, the modern mercantile ocean going steamer, would not care to claim beauty as one of its attributes. Impressive and efficient as the modern craft is it can never hold the same place in the affections of people as the beautiful clipper ships did in the days of sail. In the old days we used to have something very like a personal regard for the shapely ships from Home that used to come into the Gulf under a pyramid of white canvas. I was reminded of this change in the matter of the public attitude

the Light Brigade At Gravesend.

towards ships when I came to look into the doings of the ship Light Brigade.

Old hands will remember how the old Queen Street wharf and Britomart and the other heights used to be crowded with people when this beautifully modelled vessel used to sail into the Waitemata. In addition to the great beauty of her model and rig, the Light Brigade was interesting from the fact that she brought out a large number of troops during the Maori War. Of 1214 tons burden, she was built in 1855 at Boston, U.S.A., by that celebrated builder D. McKay, and when she left the launching ways her name was Ocean Telegraph. Later she was sold to the Black Ball Line, and when she flew the red ensign her name was changed to that under which she was so well known for many years, the Light Brigade.