THE SHIP WAIKATO, FROM LONDON.

The Now Zealand Bhippinj» Company's Ship Waikato, Captain Worater, arrived from London via Plymouth, with immigrants, on Saturday, after a . splendid run of 78 days from the latter port—one of the best passages that baa yet been mado to Lyttelton. The ship was signalled at 3 a.m. on Saturday, and about' 11 uhe dropped anchor a little above Camp Bay. The news of the ship's arrival was sent to the different officials in Christohurch early on Saturday morning, and on tho arrival of the 11 a.m. train, the Government steam lauuoh was in readiness to proceed to the ship, Dr Eousc, the acting Health Officer, boing in attendance. The Immigration Offioer reached Port at 12.30 p.m., and at 1.15 tho launch left for the Waikato with the Health Oiflcer, Immigration Officer, Chairman of Directors and General Manager, and other representatives of the New Zealand Shipping Company, besides several others. At 1.50, the steam lannch Lyttelton, with tho repreßOutatives of the Press, lofb the wharf for the ship, but on ' arriving alongside they were informed that as the . ship was not cleared no one could be allowed to go onboard. This order was given notwithstauding the fact that all of those who went oil' in tho Government launch were at that time on board tho ship. Some of them certainly had no business to take them on board, and why tho same privilege . cannot bo accorded to those whose business it is to board tho ships on their arrival, for tho purpose of obtaining what information there is to be made public, id a matter hard to understand. That the representatives of tho Shipping Company should proceed on board a ship at once is nothing but missions on their tour of inspection, but the representatives of the Press are certainlyentitled to the same concession that is granted to others who ore mere visitors. While lying alongside the Bhip the Immigration Officer waa asked to allow those • .n board the launch to go on board the ship, bat the request was re- ' faded, and it was not until 2.45 p.m. that access to the ship was granted. It is to be hoped that on tho . arrival of the next immigrant vessel matters will be better arranged, aud such a loss of timu saved. Captain Worater accorded a vory nearly welcome to his visitors, and from him we lear.it that the Waikato's passage had been a niOßt favourable one, having occupied 74 days from Plymouth to the Snares, and 78 to the Port. The Equator was crossed on Nov. '17,26 days out, and average fine wea'her was experienced during the passage The Waikato has brought 9 saloon passongers and 298 immigrants, all of wbom havo arrived in excellent health ai d in the best of spirits. They are a useful looking body of people, and seem well suited for the requirements of the Colony which they have selected as their future home. The post of Surgeon-Buperintendimt has he«n filled by Mr Hll Malone, formerly of the White Star lane, and that gentleman appears to have been extremely popular on board, all speaking in most favourable terms of the kindness and attention shown by him. The post of chief officer is filled by onr old friend Mr Glayburn, erstwhile of the bat-quo Sunbeam, while Mr Lindsay is still second, Mr Joffrojs fceiuu tbirJ. Tho Waikato has come into yort in splendid order everywhere, and shows that sbo has been well locked attor o.i tho voyage. Among the i>ntnigiants are 157 souls, equal to 141 adults, for Timorn, and it was intended to laud them at that port, but on arriving off there en Ihursday night Captain Womor/ did not deem it pTudnnt to run in, us the wind was in shore and tho weather thiok, bo he had to bring them on here. They were landed, in tho p.s. Titan, and forwarded to Addiogton during the afternoon. The Stirxeon Superintendent roports that tho health of the immigrants generally has been very good. Measles broke out on Nov. 11, and continued until Jau. 9. Two cases were somewhat serious. No other cases of sickness occurred calling for special mention. Tlireo deaths ooourred among tho infants, viz., Nov. 21, Arthur "Watora, nine months, from asthma; >ov. 27, John Dayman, nine months, from intestinal catarrh; Deo 25, Ida ■ Hore, fivo months, fr^in acute hydrocnphalus. There were three births, two males and three females ■viz.—On Nov. 16, Mra Addis of a son; Nov. 17, Mrs Berryman of a daughter: and on Jan. 16, Mrs Holohau of a eon. The Waikato left Plymouth with 298 immigrants and nina faloon j assougers on Nor 21, with a fine north-east breezo, and at noon signalled at tho Lizard Voint, the ship Lactura in company. Tho wia'llicld from north to eaot until Nov. 7 in 32.11 north 21.10 wesi, whoa it shiitod to the southward and became variable. Signalled tho ships Northern Monarch (for Tiraaru and Lyttelt n) and Harbinger (for- Australia) which left Plymouth on Oct. 31. lYom Nov. 7 to Nov. 17 expoiienced baffling southerly winds and heavy squalls, with largo quantities of rain, thnnder, and lightning- On the latter date the north-east trades were pioked up in 18.28 north 29.J5 wodt, and were carried to 7.52 north and 2D.20 west on Nov. 20. To Nov. 20 had light variable winds and calms, the south-oust trades boing fallen In wih on that day iu 5.0 north 28.12 west. Tho K'qnator was crossed in 20.30 west on Nov. 27, and the south-east trades were carried to 25.58 south 23 west, when they left tho ship on Deo. 6. Two days of light winds succoeded, and on Deo. 9 the brave westerlies wore faUen-in with in 30.28 south 2133 west, and carried tho vessel to tho Nuggets on Jan, 15. The Cape was passed on Deo. 19, 48 days ont, in 42 south, the meridian of the Leuwin on Jan. 5, 65 daj s out, and that of Tasmania on Jan. 10, 70 days out. The easting was run down in 45,51 south. The Snarea wore sighted on Jan. 14,74 days out, splondid weatherhaving been experienced throughout the passage, the topsails never having been reefed once for wind. Moderate and variable easterly; southerly nad north-east wnds with fine -.weather were met. with along, tho coast to arrival; The following ships were spoken on tho passage:

—Northern Monarch and Harbinger off the Lizard, and again on Nov. 12, also ship Devon on Nov. 12,, Dec. 5, in 24.17 south 24.64 west, ship Lammermoor; 81 days out from San Francisco; also, barque Stuart, 90 days out.