ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP ZEALANDIA FROM LONDON.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2688, 11 December 1871, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP ZEALANDIA FROM LONDON.

This fine clipper ship, Captain J. White, commander, arrived in harbor on Saturday morning, and came up to an anchorage opposite the town at nine o'clock, two guns being fired to notify her arrival—after a passage of eighty-nine days from leaving the pilot to anchorage. The ship was cleared by the Health and Immigration officers, who found all were well, and that there had been no sickness during the voyage. On going on board everything, looked particularly j clean, and the 'tween decks were most remarkably so, the single men's. especially. This state of things reflects the highest credit on Captain White, his officers and the surgeon superintendent (Dr Batt\ The immigrants look well suited to the requirements of the colony, and the single girls are well spoken of by the matron. The voyage throughout, although somewhat tedious the first part, has been a very pleasant one ; she has a full complement of saloon and second cabin passengers. Amongst the former <ye notice several old colonists, some of whom went home in the ship Blue Jacket. The condensing and cooking apparatus has worked well during the voyage. On board , are some stock shipped by J. C. Wilson, Esq., C.B. We are sorry to say one of the cows shipped died during the passage from abscess in the liver. A number of birds were ! also shipped by the same gentleman, conj sisting of nightingales, larks, black caps, I robins, chaffinches, aud partridges, most of 1 which are dead ; some partridges, swans, and drakes (Aylesbury), and canaries, are alive. G. Newman, who had charge of the stock ! and birds appears to have devoted considerable attention to them during the voyage. The following is the report of the voyage and a copy of the testimonial presented by the passengers to Captain White :— Report of the clipper ship Zealandia, from London. J- White, commander. j Friday, Sept. 8, at 4.30 p.m., cast off from ! the buoys at Gravesend, and towed up to tbe Chapman lifcht, where we anchored, the night being dark and hazy. Saturday, Sept. 9, at 6 a.m.. got under weigh with steam tug ahead, which left us off the North Foreland. Sunday, Sept. 10, at 11.30 a.m., discharged the pilot off tbe Isle of Wight, weather fine. Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 3.30 a.m., took our departure from the Lizard lights; bad fair weather while crossing the Bay of Biscay, afterwards south-westerly winds and calms prevailed for several days. Passed to the eastward of Madeira, and did not pick up the north-east trades till we were in lat. 28 deg. 6 mm. north, and long. 22 deg. 0 mm. west; and lost them in 15 deg. north and 28 dep. west, from thence to 6 deg. 0 mm. north ar.d 23 deg. west, experienced iight variable airs and calms, with much rain, where we picked up the south-east trades far to the southwards. Crossed the Equator in long. 30 deg. west on Oct. 15, thirty-six days out; the south-east trades kept between S.S.E. and E.S.E. until we were in lat. 45 deg. south and long. 19 deg. west.. Nov.B, passed tbe meridian of Greenwich in lat. 45 deg. south. Nov. 11, passed the Cape of Good Hope in lat. 45 deg. south. Nov. 20, at 3 30 a.m., passed Kergueland Island; the mountains werecapped with snow, something like our snowy ranges of Canterbury. Nov. 27, passed Cape Leuwin in lat. 49 deg. south. Dec. 2, passed the meridian of Port Philip Heads in lat. 49 deg. 24 mm. south. Dec. 7, at 5 a.m., sighted Cape Saunders, bearing west, distant about twenty-four miles, where the wind failed us. Ran the Easling down in lat. 47 deg., 48 deg., 49 deg., and 50 deg. south respectively, and experienced strong westerly winds from the meridian of Greenwich, to that of Otago Heads, only having had the topgallant sails in twice, and making tbe run in less than twenty-nine days, thus proving the Zealandia'. superior sailing qualities. Dec. 8, at 7 a.m., sighted Banks' Peninsula, and anchored as above. The emigrants enjoyed excellent health during passage, and their conduct has been very commendable. During the passage we had two births, one still-born (female) and no casualties, with the exception of the loss of the starboard lifeboat, which was carried away from the davits by a heavy sea. -Ye signalled the following vessels£bound to the colonies:—on the 24th of Oct., in lat. 22 deg. 50 mm. south, and long. 34 deg. west, the City of Madras, bound to Sydney. On tbe Ist of Nov., in lat. 41 deg. 10 mm. south, and long. 23 deg. west, tiie City of Shanghai, bound to Melbourne. Oa Board of Ship Zealandia. .December, 1871. To Captain J. White. Ship Zealandia. Dear Sir, —We, the undersigned, first and second cabin passengers per ship Zealandia, from London to Canterbury, now that we are on the point of separating, desire to offer yon oar sincere congratulations on the successful termination of our voyage, which, through your indefatigable exertions for the comfort of all, has been a most pleasurable one. We desire also to bear testimony to your excellent qualities as a thorough seaman, and to yorr nntiring. perseverance and energy in tbe navigation of yonr ship, thus maintaining your. long earned and well merited reputation as a gentleman and a first-class, navigator. Considering the calms and head -winds we encountered during the ftntp-rt of the voyage, we vb»j fojxJy co_

gratulate you on having made a splendid passage. looping yoa may live to make many more successful trips in command of as fine ji ship, as the Zealandia, which, as'.-'-B. passenger ship, cannot be surpassed, and requesting you will kindly convey to Mr King (your first officer) our thanks for his uniform kindness and attention, with our best wishes for your health, happiness, and prosperity, we remain, yours very sincerely. (Signed by all passengers.)