THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE QUARANTINE STATION.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1491, 20 November 1874, Page 2

THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE QUARANTINE STATION.

A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL,

As we surmised yesterday—official reports to the contrary notwithstanding—the alleged resistance of the Hydaspes immigrants to° the authorities at the quarantine station turns out to be a very insignificant matter indeed, and one that never should have been made so much of by the immigration authorities. The cutter Eilen, with pile 3 for the pier, was at the island until four o'clock this morning, and those on board found the immigrants most orderly and good-humored, and of a much superior class to the average immigrants who have arrived in the colony. They assisted most willingly in getting the piles ashore, carefully abstaining from going aboard the cutter, as they knew it to be a breach of the regulations, which they expressed the most scrupulous desire to observe. The account given to those on the cutter of the gigantic (?) disturbance which has set the hairs of the constituted authorities on end is to this effect. Naturally enough, the ste.rage passengers felt somewhat annoyed at being detained, while the saloon passengers were released, especially as they aver that the children among whom the | fever chiefly ran attended school on the poop during the passage out, which they rightly consider as an act of great kindness on the \ part of Captain Babot, but also as putting j out of the question the special freedom of j the saloon from the dangers supposed to exist i in the steerage. This feeling of annoyance ! was increased by the account of affairs on the island given in the Stati pigeon express a few days ago, which they attributed to one of the j saloon passengers. The portion of this message which especially gave offence was the statements that the saloon passengers did not like being in the same building with the immigrants and that one of the girls had nob washed for three days, which they say is untrue, and arose out of spite against one of the girls, who had, with the privilege of her sex treated him saucily. In these surmised against a fellow - voyager we may state that the immigrants were unjust. But reverting more directly to the alleged resistance of authority, it appears that when the saloon passengers' luggage was being removed, the immigrants, glad of anything to break the monotony of their lives, crowded down to see what was going on, and freely but eood - humouredly, as Bhipmates will do, gave their opinion of the events of the day. and of this latest phase of affairs in particular. At length lour of about the most simple fellows on the ship were pushed against those carrying the boxes. Mr Barnsley, the officer in charge, called out, "Will you not let the luggage go?" Of course there was a general " $*o." He then said, "Well they won't let it go, you must take it back," and the luggage was carried back accordingly. And this constitutes the "rebellion," "revolt," and other formidable names that have been used in relation to the affair. We learn that the luggage belonging to one of the immigrants named Cleal has been destroyed while undergoing the process of fumigation. It had been placed in the oven, and not being attended to for an hour and a-half, took fire. We are not aware of the merits of the case, but it is stated that the sufferer intends to take action against the doctor as the responsible party, for the re-payment of the loss he has sustained by the occurrence. THE EXPEDITION. A body of about a dozen police, under the command of Sergeant-Major Pardy, proceeded to the Quantine Station this morning in the steamer Devon port, for the purpose of bringing up the saloon p*ssengers'.luggage. Up to the present we have received no tidings of the receptionj which our conservators of the peace have met with, but we have little doubt it has been of a pacific nature.