Journey to and First Impressions of New Zealand.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 811, 13 June 1876, Page 3

Journey to and First Impressions of New Zealand.

—————— — — — The following are extracts from the journal of the Rev. A. M. Finlayson of Bower, who left Scotland in August last, for Otago, sailing per barque Scbiehalhon, 'of 600 tons, with general cargo, carrying also a limited number of passengers, under command of Captain John Levack, whom he describes as a skilful, steady, and careful seaman. They had a rather tedious passage, being hindered by light and contrary winds, 108 days from port to port to port,

25th August.— Embarked on board the barque Schiehallion at Greenock. A slight contrary wind prevented the ship from starting until the 28th, when we had a delightful sail down the Firth of Clyde. Felt sick for some days, beating out the North Channel against a head wind. Lost eight of land on September Ist northwest of Ireland. September 2nd.— With fresh wind and going fairly before it, we are making speed. Wind variable and sometimes very light during the next week. The weather is getting warmer, the thermometer at 73 degs. in the shade. 12th. — A man slipped overboard this morning as he was drawing a bucket of water ; a rope being thrown to him, he was brought up nothing the worße, but the bucket was lost. 16th.— Saw some flying fish for the first time to-day. 17th.— 100 miles N.W. of Canary Islands ; therm. 76 degs. 19. — Fourth Sabbath. Conducted public worship at 10 a.m. as usual. Wind very light ; very warm all day ; therm. 80 degs. Wind very light and variable for the next few days, consequently our progress waa little, from 20 to 50 miles a day. 23rd. — Ate a flying fish to breakfast. It had flown on to the deck during the night, but could not fly off again. In the tropics ; therm. 81 degs. 24th. — Got into the N.E. trade wind ; sailed 156 miles to-day. The sailors, launched the "dead horse" to-night, a barrel filled with inflammable stuff, set on fire, and dropped into the sea. This marks the end of the first month since the crew joined the Bhip. Trade wind proved very light and unsteady. 29th. — Had a good view of the eclipse of the sun, 10 degrees N. latitude. 30th. — N.E. wind again and good progress. Passed a northward - bound ship in the afternoon, but at too great a distance even for signalling. Have seen many ships going south. October let. — Light southerly wind ; therm. 84 degs. 4th. — Very heavy rain in the forenoon ; three large casks were filled with rain water. The sailors had a washing day. 6 th. — Vivid flashes of lightning, and heavy rain during fche night. Eain continued all day. Some ships in sight. 7 th. — Nineteen vessels in sight from the masthead. The Captain says he never saw so many ships in this part of the ocean, and never was so long before crossing the equator. 10th. — Seventh Sabbath. Service as usual at 10 o'clock. Crossed the equator in the evening about 9 o'clock, 23 degs. weßt longitude, being 43 days out from Greenock. 13tb. — The sun is about right overhead at noon to-day, but the wind being fresh, it is not so intensely hot as when further north without wind ; therm. 81 degs. 14th. — A strong breeze to-day, the sea rough, and the ship tossing a little. Wind variable, and very light until about the 20th, when it freshened again, tbe atmosphere getting cooler ; therm. 72 degs. 21afc. Met a north bound vessel, and a boat was sent off with letters to meet her. We are now out of the torrid, and into the south temperate zone. Wind increased for a few days until on the 26bh it blew very strong. Too much water splashing over the deck to be up with comfort, so I keep below all day. Reminds me of last New Year's Day without the snow. Increased to a gale in tbe afternoon. Two sails torn with the wind ; the rett all stowed but two, and running before the wind. * 27th. — Wind a good deal less this morning, but the sea is still high. Therm. 61 degs. 28th.— Fresh westerly wind, sea became gradually calmer during the day, Our position to-day is 38 degs. 33min8. S.L. ; 8 degs. 47 mins. W.L. Nov. Ist — Fresh S.E. wind, and cold. A slight shower of snow in the evening. Therm. 52 degs. The new moon appears to us now with her horns towards the right hand, and the round toward the left, i c., the horn which is uppermost in the northern hemisphere, is lowest in the southern, and vice versa. The southern Btars have risen to our view, and the northern ones fallen below our horizon night by night. 4.tb. — Passed the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope to-day, being 68 days from Greenock, and 25 from the equator. Weather changeable. 9th.— Got up at 2 a.m. to see Prince Edward's Island, which we passed a few miles off, the first land seen since Ist Sept. The Steward sentenced to a week's imprisonment for being drunk yesterday. One of the crew becomes interim Steward. Weather colder. Therm. 43 degs. The stove lighted in cabin. 13fch.— Wind blew a gale last night, but quieter in the morning. Some showers of snow. Passed an iceberg at a distance in the afternoon. Our time is now about four hours ahead of Greenwich 5 we are gaining from 15 to 20 minutes daily, ie , our day Ib so much shorter than 84 hours. 14th.— Twelfth Sabbath. Wind not so high, and sea smoother. Service in the cabin at JO, and second cabin at half-past 6 o'clock. We passed a large and beautiful iceberg about 6 p.m. 15th.— N.E. wind, and some showers of snow. Passed tbe south point of Kerguelan about midday. SqW tbe land in the distance. Passed an iceberg in the evening, but it was too dark to see it well. 17th. — N.E. wind in the afternoon with snow increasing to blin'-drift inthe even* ing. Wind variable the next few days, frequently strong, with snow, 27th. — A good breeze driving us along, cloudy, and some rain. We are now 13 weeks fron Greenock, and' about 2000 cjilee between us and Dunedin yet.

29 th— This morning the captain caught the steward attempting to steal liquor, with the assistance of one of the cabin passengers. Some had been stolen earlier in the morning, on which the steward, cook, carpenter, and passenger aforesaid had all got more or Icbs drunk. The upshot was that the three former were imprisoned, and the latter confined to his room for the day. 30fch.— Cook and carpenter return to their duties under promise of good behaviour. The steward is detained a prisoner. He and the passenger will likely be prosecuted in Dunedin for attempted robbery. Dec. 2nd. — Beautiful weather, but very light wind. It is getting much warmer now. Of course it is summer here. Daylight from 3 a.m. to 9 ?.i£. Wind variable and light for a few days, next few more favorable, making about 200 miles a day. 10th — The sailors have been employed all this week cleaning, painting, and varnishing" the ship, so that it may appear respectable when we go into port. Saw land about 7 p.m., some part of New Zealand, but the 'particular spot is somewhat doubtful yet. 11th. — At 2 a.m. it was found that there was land on both sides of us. We had got into the western end of Foveaux Staits, and the land seen last night was Solanders Island. 12th. — We are off the south-east of Otago, but the wind is contrary, so we are obliged to tack north-eastward. The coast is in sight all day. Contrary wind and calm detained us from reaching port until the 15th, when a fog clearing up we found ourselves at the heads. Got towed into Port Chalmerß by a coasting steamer and cast anchor at _ p.m. I have enjoyed excellent health during the voyage, and found myself much more comfortably Bituated than I expected. The weather was very warm near the equator, and very cold in the neighborhood of the icebergs, but still very enjoyable, only it was rather tedious at times, with nothing to break the monotony. We experienced two or three pretty severe gales, but with plenty of sea room, and skilful management, there was nothing to fear for personal safety or property. During the two days following our arrival I was assisting in the examination of a grammar school in Port Chalmers. On the Sabbath following I attended the observance of the Lord's Supper in the Presbyterian Church there, and preached in the evening to a large and attentive congregation. I have since been in several districts, including North and Weßt Taieri, Blueskin, Merton, &o, and got a kind and hearty welcome everywhere. All the people whom I have met appear to be frank, open-hearted, industrious people, and in comfortable and prosperous circumstances. The Taieri plain is about 20 miles long, and from 4 to 6 miles wide, surrounded on all sides by hills. It is very fertile, there being some splendid fields of wheat and oats, and the grass is especially luxuriant, supporting great herds of cattle, and flocks of sheep. The greater part of the plain has been cultivated, but some of it is still under native grass. The Blueskin district is agricultural, and land in general very unlerel Phero are a good many small holdings, many of them freehold, some leasehold. The railway is being formed here just now ; what is to be the main line from Dunedin to the north. A great number of the uavvies are Chinamen, aa industrious and orderly set of people. They live in canvas tents. There is , quite a little canvas village a little dis- j tance from Blueskin township. Most of tbe houses here are built of wood. They are quite as comfortable as stone houses, only they do not last so long. At farm steadings it is not necessary to have houses to oontain all the stock, as the shelter of trees is reckoned sufficient protection from the severity of winter, and the fields afford pasture almost the j whole year. Heavy goods are generally carried by waggons, often drawn by 8 to 10 horses. Stage coaches require about 6 horses. The need for such a number of horses is occasioned by the unevenness of the roads ; some very long and some very steep hills have to be climbed. From what I have seen of New Zealand and its people, I am delighted that I have come here, but of course I Bhall be better able to give more mature opinions if spared a few months hence. — ' John O'Groat Journal.' ... ... . i . . . ih'.'ii.'. Litng