THRILL FOR-PIONEERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22166, 20 July 1935, Page 10

THRILL FOR-PIONEERS

early voyage recalled SAILING SHIPjIN STORM EMIGRANTS OF THE SEVENTIES With little more for the passengers to do than play draughts it must have been not an entirely unwelcome incident when the clipper ship Forfarshire ran into a terrific "gale during her voyage from London to Auckland 60 years ago. Mr. H. E. Wilkinson, of St. Albans, Christchurch, who as a minister was one of the saloon passenEers, still has a clear memory of "the ship's voyage even now, sixty years after the arrival at Auckland. On Wednesday, March 19, 1875, Mr. Wilkinson proceeded to the Poplar docks and made the acquaintance of the Forfarshire, which had once been a China tea clipper, states the Christchurch Press. A chalk-written blackboard announced that the vessel would sail that day under Commander David Jones. The commander, Mr. Wilkinson recalls, was not an Oxford man, but he had an Encyclopaedia Britannica from which he got much valuable information, and he imparted it freely at the saloon table.

The second in command was Mr. Spence, a fine sturdy-type of Scottish seaman. Dr. Gilmour had charge of the health of 231 emigrants, as well as the crew, and about 10 in t'he saloon. In those days coming to New Zealand was a far more serious business than it is to-day, and it was a touching sight to see emigrants coming on board, in most cases carrying all their belongings in a bundle. Emigrants' Home Late on the afternoon of March 19, 1875, the ship left Gravesend, and during the night she beat down the Channel. For about 109 days the For-% farshire was the emigrants' home. The saloon passengers had wooden bunks with a spring candle holder for a light, a tin wash basin and a water can. When the ship rolled the tins rattled and their contents spilled freely on the floor. At table there were tinned meats and vegetables, which were not always satisfactory. There was no piano nor cards, and the most exciting recreation was a game of draughts. Deck-chairs or deck games were in the most part wanting, so the passengers walked the deck or sat on the skylights and talked. Occasionally when the sails had to be resefi they gave assistance and joined with the sailors in singing a shanty. Terrific Gale The sailors were put to the test when a terrific gale smote the vessel on May 7 and 8, and she lay like a log in the trough of mountainous seas, battered and strained from stem to stern. Gallants and royals came crashing to the deck, wrecking one of the boats. The loose swinging gear threatened further damage, but conditions were so bad that the sailors for a time refused to go aloft to cut it away. At last a daredevil in a red shirt volunteered to try, and he with others completed the work. For the rest of the voyage the vessel had to depend on two jury masts. New Zealand was first sighted on Sunday, July 4. The Forfarshire was running with a light, breeze, toward the North Cape, when suddenly the course had to be changed as the ship was heading for the shore. A cautious run down the coast found the vessel outside Great Barrier Island, and on Tuesday, July 6, Auckland harbour was entered.