SHIP RAKAIA, FROM LONDON.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2719, 27 April 1874, Page 2

SHIP RAKAIA, FROM LONDON.

This*;theTfi.rat sin'py built (for.-the -New Zealand Shipping Company, and under command (of Captain Rose, formerly commander of. the ships Mermaid andjMerope, arrived in.lnaroor 1 yesterday, and was anchored off Rhodes' Bay, at 1 p.m7 Shortly after 2 p.m., the Health Officer and Commissioners went down to the Bhip, in the s.B. Mullogh, and found all well on board. During the; passage there had .been no disease of a virulent character. The deaths which had-occurred were those of children of tender- age,. and the vessel was at once inspected by .the Commissioners, . - Olqthe we can compliment the Shipping Company in having a Splendid vessel, looking at her from "a distance. , She ha*,§jsplendid spring from fore to aft., The mainmast is placed somewhat too far aft, we think, and reduces her speed. Her length is 200 f t; breadth, 34ft; depth of hpld t 1911 Bin. She was bufltih Suriderlaiid by John Blum er and Co, and is classed 100 A at Lloyds. She ha* an ".excellent poop--fiOft'long." r Her cabins, r wbich are very commodious capable tniree ;; perspns, are j *e»jeetiingly well finished, the timber being teak and birds' and gilt mouldings 1 ; each cabin ib Birpplifed With sofas,' which with ecarretyelyet cnßhions, and wash stands with marblq'tops, and brußsels carpet, lamps, minors,' &c, are all provided for the comfort of the passengers. The saloon is similarly arlbprfiohed and has an excellent, piano in it. j Kb additionJ» thjs there is a [arge bathroom whic%/7aie mahogany fitted. On the main deck there Is ;» house 36ft x 14ft built of teak for the 9°nof tie petty officers, cook's galley, Slid engine house. -■ She is fitted with one of 1 .Gravesly's Joatent: condensers., (which "we may state has acted well during the voyage.) < She has alsoa double capstan purchase windlass wbich occupies a small space, . ~ j.-Ongoingbelow it was evident that the vessel bad been built for the comfort of emif this class of vessels are sent out there is no doubt, but that little, if any,* complaint Will be m«le.;7The; single girls' \ berths, underl^-^narge; Mrs W. Davis, i were andTthis may be; said of th>s=-whole^^*he''TOip'3throughout. i The in<goijog through the* ship expressed their highest praise of the,' fmanner in "which everything had been car-i 'Tied out; the ventilation and light being good. One thing we noticed, and which was! great improvement, in the married persons each bunk was provided with curtains.' c aTbe Tpyage throughout has been a very -pleasant one,- Concerts and entertainments been given, ..and our old friend Mr ifMcQuade, who is a host in himself, and who acted as purser, has done much to vary ■ toe:monoicny olthe voyage. Dr Townendis aurgeon-superintendent of the ship, and Mia Davis is matron." 4niongsfc the passengers are noubly Mr and Mrs Rud4«nklau. The Rev 8. Lour, minister lot

The following is the account of the voyage, furnished us by Mr Caborn, chief officer:—Embarked emigrants in the S.W. India Docks on December 30th ; djAßpt leave until January 2nd ; through mflSmbL weather ran into Portland ; left 22nd. OaPJanuary 2lttfjfpwing to an «ccident| to the Steering gear, - " had to put 'back to Plymouth ;' lot again ou the 29th. Had light N.E. trades j crossed the equator on February 26th» passed the meridian of the Oa pc on March 23rd ;, ran down the easting in 48 to 50 f Bighted tbe S.W. Cape on the 22nd, and had light variable winds up the coast, making the passage from land to land in 83 days. During the passage there were four births and fonr deaths, all children. *■.■=& The following vessels were spoken : — Feb. 4tb, Oliver Cromwell, ship, lat. 41 deg. 10 mm. N, 17 deg. 10 mm. 8. B'ebruary 20th, spoke barque West, 9 deg. 32 mm: N. 24 deg-34mta-~ W» 22nd, ship-.Royal Dane, 4 deg.. 45 mm. N, 23 deg. 33 mm. W. February 24th, Nor-wegian-ship- J.P.DjG- 2 -deg. 'deg. W. February 26th, hove to and was boarded by _ boat from ship Ocean KingV Captain Wilson, from Bolivia to Swansea, ,115 days out, who had run short of provisions. March 9th, exchanged signals %ith butfque iPalestine, 27 deg. 14 mm. 5,26 deg. 45 mm. W. .'„'.'" ' The following "are the list of deaths: — January 30tb, James Parkyns, six years; February" 6th, E- Gros, three months; February 13th, Blanche Gros, three months ; February 25th, Gertrude Sloys, two years; March 4th, Henry Alexander, six months ; .March 6th, M. J. Bone two years ; April 10th, Janet Manson, seven years. ; Flattering testimonials, were presented to Captain Rose and officers, and the surgeonsuperintendent.