THE SHIP WAIKATO FROM LONDON.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4205, 20 January 1879, Page 2

THE SHIP WAIKATO FROM LONDON.

The Xcrr Z* _____ Shipping Company's handsome clipper ship Waikato anchored in the harbor at 11 o'clock on Saturday mor-insr, just sere-ty-seven days aad t_-Dty hours from Plymouth. It is hut seren months end seres days since she sailed from herewith a large cargo far La-don. sad ot that time three jsesths aud twenty -Ays were occupied in the hou-sw-id royage, owing to unusually adverse weather, so that she n*-y be sail to have complet-d «oe o. the most satisfactory voyage to the old country aad ha.-; oa record. Co-e_r_i_g her ad. -_ut_res on the ho-»_wsrd voj_.se,w«Biietl-efol. Jo-rf-£ pa-ticnl--- fron. the ** Graphic.":— •* A. Gape Hani e-ten&s beyond lat. 55 S., homeward bound vessels from Auckland, New Zealand, are eeuvpeSei to pass through high southern latit__e_. _____ _»b*rg« are not aa unusual spe-tacle. But this j-senomeaou is ch__ly obs_rr-'»le during the su___s«r season, when the icebergs have been locs-He- br the warmth cf the sun fro-- their _rteisal hatftta*, aad when they are floated hjr winds -_3_c_rreata towards the eri-.to. until they are _ae_t__. -hedaseers of collision are. at this time of yew,* lessened fey "the length of the day. and 4s_tb_ the winter.titae, the bergs ___ us-a-iy■■•" fist fro-en np in rax-Jy -__*e_ regions within the Antarctic Circle. _-_ere ate, however, exceptions to this TU_»i ice i* sometimes met with in tho __pth ol w-ute-. -S~ writer of these l___s*c_x_- home in » Jves_*h"*fe* SwJ*r*¥*~*bwh. w*s §— servtal

days beset by ice oS the Horn in July, 1861, and now we have a similar experience to record of the New Zealand Shipping Company's ship Waikato on her voyage from Canterbury. New Zealand, to London. On Jnly 25th last, in lat. 57 S., long. 58 W., after passing several large icebergs (one about two miles long and several hundred feet high •, the Waikato was completelysurrounded by pack ice, but bvpicklngontaplace where the pieces were smallest she got throDsrh into clear water. At noon, however, the captain of another vessel informed Captain Worster, of the Waikato, that there was another barrier of pack ice to the north, aud scon afterwards the latter vessel came in sight of it. As night was coming on, sad the only clear passage was right to windward, Captain Worster resolved if passible to keep his vessel ia the space between he two harriers until daylight. This was no easy undertaking, as the night was sixteen hours long, and there were every now and then heavy snow squalls. During these equaHs the vessel struck against a great many pieces of ice, and twice went through a barrier, but fortunately kept clear of bergs. There were three other vessels in the ice at the ttme. 'At daylight on Friday. July 26th,' says Captain Worster. *1 to-and myself close to a, large barrier of pack ice with great quantities of large and small, all round ns. As one of the ships in company, the Ellerslie, from Callao (this vessel is long overdue, and is supposed to be lost) had gone through the barrier I determined to try and «tet through also. I did not like the idea of remaining in the ice another night, especially as the weather becan to look threatening. I therefore steered for the pack, and picking ont a place where the pieces appeared smallest got through, though not without a good many hard knocks. Fortunately, inert <*f the pieces appeared rotten at tho edge, and therefore did ns no barm. After getting through we had comparatively clear water, and on the following day not a particle of ice was to be seen. Had we. while in the ice, encountered boisterous weather and rough seas, I am folly persuaded we should never have got through, the Waikato being an iron ship, and therefore not able to stand the knocks and rubs we should bave received.*" Within four weeks of her arrival at London the Waikato was discharged, loaded, fitted for her large number of passengers and was nnder full sail before a fine north-east breeze down the channel on her way back to Canterbury. As soon as she was signalled on Saturday, the port authorities telegraphed for the immigration officer, and about two hours after tbe vessel's arrival he proceeded on board, accompanied by the Health Officer, pro. tern. Dr. Souse. Half an hour later, the Press reporters essayed to board ber, but were denied admission, and it was within a few minutes to three o'clock before they were permitted on board. Such experience is not exceptional in connection with immigrant ships at this port, and the representatives of the Press wonld be the last to complain of it were it necessary as a sanitary precaution. But where numbers of persons from the shore are allowed access to the ships merely as privileged visitors on pleasure, as was the case 1 in this instance, the denial of admission is manifestly unreasonable. The Waikato returns to Canterbury still in command of Captain Worster, seconded by a wellknown visitor to this port, Mr Clayburn as chief officer, formerly master of the barque Sunbeam. After receiving a most courteous welcome from Captain Worster, and a glad reception at the hands of his officers, an inspection was made of the quarters occupied by the 298 immigrants. The single women's division was approached by a stairway from the poop deck, the compartment being immediately below the saloon. Here fifty-six females under thejnatronship of Miss Ellen Hurray were accommodated. The compartment had a neglected appearance, and was decidedly dirty. The same cannot however be said of the occupants, all of whom were nicely dressed and extremely healthy looking. Hiss Hurray, the matron, stated that she had experienced a little difficulty in enforcing the regulations as to cleanliness among some of her charges, but in all other respects spoke well of them. She said there"-were quite a number of good dressmakers among them, most of whom, like the other girls, had expressed their desire to take situations as domestic servants on their arrival. * The same uncomplimentary report mnst be made of the condition of the married people's compartment in the 'tween decks, leading from the main hatchway, though if anything this division was less discreditable than the other. The two constables, Messrs Mountjoy and Weeks, spoke well of those under them, and said their duties had been throughout the voyage uninterrupted by any opposition or unpleasantness. Forward, in the portion of the 'tween decks allotted to the single men no cleanlier quarters could be desired. Ninety-two robust young fellows occupied this division, under the directorship of the above-named constables. Anxious enquiries were made as to the demand for labor ashore, and all seemed ready to take the first opportunity of employment, the majority describing; themselves as farm hands. In every instance where the inquiry was made as to the quantity and quality of food supplied to the immigrants, satisfaction was oxpressed, and compliments were paid on all sides ,to the captain and officers for their attention and kindness. Similar testimony was given in respect to the ship's doctor, Mr J. Hill Malone. Of the totil number of immigrants, 293, one hundred and fifty-seven are assigned on the passenger list to Timarn, and one hundred and forty-one being booked for Christchnrch. Twenty-two of the forty-five families are included in the number for Timaru. A list of the immigrants' occupations and nationalities was published but week. The steam tug Titan conveyed the single women, with their baggage, ashore soon after arrival. They then went on by train to Chris church. During the voyage there were three deaths, namely, Arthur Waters, infant, on November 24th, from, asthena; John Barman, infant, on November 27th, from intestinal catarxh; Ida Hore, infant, water on the brain, on December 25th. ' Dr. Malone also reports three births, the parents' names being respectively Addis, Berry-nan, and Hollahan. The doctor speaks well of the behaMour ot the immigrants, and of the provision made for their medical comforts, .hospital, ie. He wishes also to express his good opinion of Captain Worster and the officers of the ship, and to thank them for their uniform kindness. The voyage was, as to incident, an uneventful one. Apart from its being a remarkably fast and fine one, the only incidents that occurred ont of the common are given in .the following report furnished by Captain Worster:—"November Ist: Left Plymouth with a fine breeze from N.E.; noon, signalled at the Lizard Point ship Lsctura, in company. Kept a fine breeze from NT to E. until the 7th", lat. 32.11 N., long. 21.16 W., when it went round to south, variable. On tha 7th signalled Northern Monarch for Timaru, and Harbinger for Australia. Both left Plymouth the day before mc. Had baffling southerly winds, with quantities of rain, founder, lightning, and heavy squalls, nntil 17th, in lat. 18.28 N.. long - . 29.15 W., when we got tfe N.E. trades, which left us on the 20th, iv lat. 7.52 N., long. 29.20 W. From the 20th to 26th had, light variables and calms. Got the S.E. trades on the latter day in lat. 5.6 N., long, 28.12 W. Crossed the equator in long. 29.30 W. on 27th, and carried a fresh trade wind down to lat. 25.58 S., long. 23.41 W., December 6th. Had two days' light winds, and on December 9th caught the westerly winds in lat. 30.28 S., long. 21.23 W., and they never left ns until we passed the Nuggets on January 15th, 75 days'from Plymouth. Passed the Cape on December 19th, 48 days out, in lat. 42 S. Passed the meridian of the Lewin on January sth, 65 days ont. Passed Tasmania on January 10th. 70 days out, and sighted tbe Snares on January 14th, 74 days out. Ban down my easting in hit. 45.51 S. January 16th, noon, Taiaroa Heads bore S.W. half S, distance twenty miles, wind E.N.IJ., with easterly swell; stood up the coast for Timaru; at S p.m. Fish Beef bore N.W., distant four miles ; tacked ship to eastward at 10 p.m. ; had fresh S.E. wind with heavy swell. -As tie weather was hazy, and every appearance of more wind, I did not deem it prudent to risk so many lives and such an amount of valuable property by rnnningon a lee shore, so proceeded on to Lyttelton. From 7.13 N. on December 31st to 5.6 N. December 26th, the ship only made 225 miles. While running down the e.tstin< some capital headway was made, the daily distance averaging 230 miles-. The best day's work was 295 miles. The majn skysail was set when the S.E. trades were met on November 26th, and was not taken in nntil December 22nd. " On November Uth ship just escaped a large waterspout. The topsails were lowered on the cap, and the courses hauled up daring the night. Nest day three vessels were in company, one of them, a barqne, had apparently lost all sails on her foremast. Two days after a brig was sighted, having lost her courses. St. Paul's rocks were seen on November 27th, and on December 4th the ship passed to the eastward of Martin Vaas' rocks. Of amusements the immigrants had concerts and other entertainments repeatedly, and Divine service was held regularly. The fire and boat drill was also gone* through periodically, the men taking quite an interest and a. pleasure in the exercises. With the few exceptions noted in the weather report above, it was continuous sunshine and moderate winds from departure to arrival, never- having reefed the topsails lor wind daring the whole passage.