Immigrant Ship’s Paper Published On Foolscap

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30278, 2 November 1963, Page 8

Immigrant Ship’s Paper Published On Foolscap

(Specially written for "The Press’’ by R. C. LAMB) IUEARLY 100 years ago, on May 31,1864, the British Empire, then the largest ship to bring immigrants to Canterbury, sailed from London for Lyttelton. She had 646 passengers, and within a month of her departure the first issue of a weekly newspaper, the “British Empire Gazette,” appeared. The paper ran to nine issues and three days before the ship reached Lyttelton, the publishers, Edward Nash, the ship’s surgeon, and Robert Speechly, the appointee for the post of resident architect for the Christchurch Cathedral, celebrated the last issue with the publication of a supplement.

Each issue filled 12 foolscap pages, and in its second issue this advertisement appeared: “The proprietors of the ‘British Empire Gazette,’ will purchase in any quality blue, ruled foolscap paper.’’ As a chronicle of life abroad an immigrant ship in the 1860’s the paper is a most revealing document. The “surgeon’s weekly report” was one of its regular features. On July 9 Dr. Nash warned against the “pernicious effects of over-crowding in the centre berths” which must be guarded against “by the copious use of disinfectants, ventilation and general cleanliness.” He also noted that several babies “are in extreme danger” being greatly exhausted by the heat of the tropics. And his prediction was correct. There were 12 deaths on the voyage, 10 of them babies. Five children were born.

Imnjediately below the surgeon’s report was an advertisement for a chess tournament, and interested competitors were asked to “send their names to the Editor’s box, Saloon.” There were six competitors and the champion was Dr. Nash. There was also a draughts tournament which drew many competitors and was won by a steward named Stonebridge.

Dr. Nash took the leading role in a play entitled “The Irish Tiger,” staged one evening for the ship’s company. Preparations for the performance began shortly after lunch when “planks and boards were hunted out with a view to rigging up a stage” three feet high protected by a 10ft awning. The footlights consisted of “fish cans converted into lamps” and were reported as being a great success, while the doctor’s acting was described as a masterpiece ot professional standard. In an interval between acts some songs were sung by a Mir Monk. As he sang “The Men of Merry, Merry England,” it was echoed “not only from behind the scenes, but from all parts of the rigging and decks.” A band played during the same interval. Lectures on New Zealand were given during the voyage by Mr Charles Prince, a glass merchant, of Christchurch, who had been visiting England and was bringing back a consignment of birds. Unfortunately not many more than 30 out of toe 300 shipped survived the voyage. The “British Empire Gazette” reported losses amongst the birds in its issue of August 13, as follows: “The most important of his (Mr Prince’s) losses are all his blackbirds save one, a total of 17; 39 linnets, 29 thrushes, 63 skylarks out of 66; 18

rooks, 1 cuckoo, 7 starlings, 23 goldfinches, 6 pheasants, 2 partridges, &c. &c.” Another enterprising passenger, Mr A. M. Johnson, brought on board no fewer than. 800 young salmon, 600 trout, 200 perch and 200 carp, as well as a good sprinkling of goldfish. By August 13 all that survived were a few goldfish. A lump of’ white lead thrown into the fish tanks destroyed them all, Mr Johnson later was curator to the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society for 12 years. Six weeks out from London the newspaper reported that a general meeting of the steerage passengers had been held on the forecastle to discuss a grievance that had “long existed with reference to tea and coffee . . . being rendered impalatable in consequence of being served out in a cooked state." A petition was drawn up and presented to the captain who conferred with the ship’s cook. He then assured the petitioners things would be set right. It is doubtful whether the original manuscript of the “British Empire Gazette” is still in existence; but copies of it. which omitted a story it ran as a serial, were printed by Messrs Ward and Reeves after the ship’s arrival at Lyttelton. A photostat copy of this printed version has recently been given to the Canterbury Public Library.