MUSEUM’S NEW PUBLICATION

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30497, 20 July 1964, Page 8

MUSEUM’S NEW PUBLICATION

“The Voyage Out*’ Research for the Canterbury Museum s new publication. “The Voyage Out.” had been completed, and the writing of it begun, the actingdirector of the museum (Mr J. C. Wilson 1 told' members of the museum’s trust board. “While it is not expected that this small popular account wiU dispel all the myths and romantic nations which have grown up in the last hundred years about the emigrant and the voyage out, it is hoped that it will give an interesting and balanced picture of life at sea for a hundred days or more on these sailing ships,” said Mr Wilson, who has undertaken the preparation of the booklet. “Shipboard journals and letters written at the time and the voluminous reports which are part of the Canterbury Provincial Government archives—all held in the museum—have been drawn upon extensively for evidence on the problems which arose from day to day on these long journeys. Foremost among the emigrants’ problems were diet, health, cleanliness and the defeat of boredom; for the ships’ officers there was the additional problem of discipline.

“One difficulty has been me* in the research, bitt this may still be overcome with assistance from the public. Almost all the shipboard accounts of the voyage out held by the museum are journals and diaries kept by chief cabin passengers. What are needed to give a more balanced picture are the journals of steerage and assisted passengers. The museum would like, therefore, to hear from anyone who has journals, letters and other papers describing life on the voyage in these years. The museum would also welcome any sketches or illustrations done on board by emigrants,” he said.