THE LOG OF THE PHILIP LAING

Evening Star, Issue 16824, 28 August 1918, Page 7

THE LOG OF THE PHILIP LAING

Being the Diary of the Rev. Dr Burns, 1847-48, edited by the Rev. A. Whyte, Port Chalmers.

part vn. -Monday, 26th February.—Latitude 39.48 S., longitude 9.22 E. Very heavy sea, with wind from S.W. since 12 o'clock list night. Motion of the ship violent and unpleasant. Several of the steerage passengers sick—hcadashe, etc., etc. Qoldx thermometer 58deg. Tuesday, 29th February.—Latitude 40.18 S., longitude 12.31 E. Wind nearly N. after 6 a.m., previous to which it was almost a calm. Made 155 miles; fine strong breeze; pleasant, bracing air. Anxious about the bull and cow, as at the rate they are now consuming the hay, there is, after this week, only as much hay as will serve them for seven weeks more. The rain water being all dono some weeks ago, there is not water to mix with their bran, which mikes so much the harder on the hay. Class. Number of largo albatrosses, mostly with white head, neck and bodies, yellow feet and legs, and cinnamon-brown-colored wiuga, tipped at the extremities with blnck.

Wednesday, Ist March.—Latitude 40 2* S., longitude 16.23 E., having gone 178 miles; fine,, weather, northerly wind, steady breeze, hazy round the horizon. Thursday. 2nd March.-—Latitude 40.17 S., longitude 21.02 50 E. Wind varying from W.N.W. to N. by W.; lulled away during the night; freshened this morning. Trie amount of easting mado seems too much, considering the light winds. James Brown's child. Philip Elles, died last night, and was buried almost immediately, putridity coming on. Friday, 3rd March.—Latitude 40.4 S., longitude. 25 E. Wind W., strong breeze; sea gets m>; cloudy; no observation of the sun; longitude calculated from the dead reckoning. Yesterday morning, between 2 and 3 a.m., found lying on the deck at tho cabin- door, unable to speak; cabin passengers all raised; he says now that he was seized with cramp in the stomach, to which ho is liable; is better.

Saturday, 4th March.—Latitude 40.4 S., longitude "29.6 E. ; gone 204 miles; a tumultuous sea; no sleep last night; ship rolling terribly ; strong breeze ; heavy sea. Sunday. sth March.—Latitude 40.34 S., longitude 33.4 E.; wind same as yesterday ; W. and W.N.W. ; heavy sea; excessive rolling of the shin day and night; barometer fell daring the night; in consequence, fearing a, gale, which, however, did not come, shortened sail; *tiil by the log we made 174 miles, and by observation stall more. The excessive rolling of the ship was so disagreeable during morning service that I intimated there would be no sermon at 12.30. This is the first day we have had no sermon for many weeks. Preached in the evening from Romans viii., 36-37. Monday, 6th March.—Latitude 41.5 S., longitude 36.17 E. . Run 160 miles; strong breeze from W. ; ship rolling most uncomfortably ; pleasant weather otherwise. Tuesday, 7th March.—Latitude 41.16 S., longitude 40.8 E. Run 180 miles. Weather liazy ; wind W. ai:d steady and strong; ship rolling; thermometer" 62£ ; feels verv cool.

Wednesday, Bth March.—Latitude 41.35 S-,_ longitude 43.56 E. Run 172 miles. Wind W., steady breeze; towards 5 o'clock, morning, a heavy swell in the sea arose, and, with the wind right aft, caused a most unpleasant motion, rolling, in the ship, which still continues. Thermometer 69£. Yesterday morning the captain counted, up the number of miles we have railed from Milfard Haven, when it amounted to 8,855 miles; distance still to bo run to Otago amounts to 5,800, making 14,655 miles in. all from Milford to Otago, and from Greenock, say, 15,000 miles. Thursday, 9th March.—l\ T o observation ; the sky clouded, with strong breeze and a heavy sea from S.W. and by S.; cold. On the poop thermometer stood at 47, and 49 in the cabin.

Friday, 10th March.—Latitude 42.05 S., longitude 52.30 E. Distance, 188 miles. Thermometer 52deg in cabin. Fine, cool, breezy morning. Dugald Niven had a son born to him by his wife at 1 o'clock thia morning. Mother and child doing well.

Saturday, 11th March.—No observation. Heavy rain; wind W., quite aft; rolling of the ship great. Wm. Winton catched a . porter cask, 50 gallons, full of ■ rain water for cow. Deadlights down in our cabin throughout the night. Cow got water at libitum to drink, when she drank five gallons at once. Sunday, 12th March. No observation. Blowing hard from the W. Very heavy sea: great motion in the ship. Worship three times below. Preached at 12.30 from Hebrews iv., 1, Canaan type of Heaven. In the evening read 1 Timothy, vi. chapter, and commented on it, with reference to the Otago Settlement. Proclamation of marriage made at 12.30 between Gavin M'lntyre Park and Grace Jane Stobie, the former a native of the parish of Rutherglen, the latter of the parish of Ratho, in Scotland, and both at this present time steerage passengers on board the barque Philip Laing: this for the first, second, and third time. Monday, loth March.—Latitude 42.25 S., longitude 64.46 E. Distance, 173 miles. Beautiful and sunny morning, much warmer wind, N. Alexander Livingstone's child died about 12.30, noon. It has suffered long, cutting teeth. A vessel in sight, right ahead. At 6 p.m. married Gavin Park to Jane Stobie.

Tuesday, 14th March.—Latitude 42.29 S., longitude 69.01 E. Distance, 163 miles. Beautiful morning. Wind North. Thermometer 62. Class at 12. Wednesday, 15th March.—No observation. Distance. 133 miles. Wind N. ; beautiful morning till rain came on, when about 10 a.m. in one moment the wind came round 12 points to S.W., blew hard, as it did tho night before from north. Thursday, 16th March.—Latitude 42.33 S., longitude 76.16 £. Distance, 145 miles. Wind S.S.W., rather on the fore beam ; progress not so fast. Secured the lifeboat.

Friday, 17th March.—Latitude 42.40 S., longitude 79.53 E. Distance, 135 miles. Wind W. ; ship rolling again. Fine day, mild and warm. Arthur yesterday caught an albatross with a hook and line baited with a piece of pork. It measured 4 feet from the point of the bill to the end of the tail; 10 feet from the tip of one outstretched wing to the tip of the other; and weighed 201b. Mr Williamson is to stuff it.

Saturday. 18th March.—Latitude 42.45 S., longitude 80.58 E. Distance, 50 miles. Very beautiful morning, but almost a deed calm. One of the seamen being found lying drunk yesterday morning, an investigation was held by the captain, the doctor, and myself as to the way he had. got spirits. , conceiving that the inquiries had hurt him, sent in his resignation, which was accepted. Sunday, 19th March.— Latitude 44.03 S., longitude 83. Distance, 131 miles (this by dead reckoning, no observation). Foul wind from E., hard gale, heavy sea, terrible motion in the ship from morning to night, with a good deal of heavy rain. William catched a caskfiil of lain water. Worship three times, but when about to •commence tha sermon at midday was obliged, to desist, ship'rolled so violently, throwing women and children down from their seats. Baptism of Dugald Xiven's child postponed till next Sabbath, from the danger of carrying the child along in the agitated state of the ship. Dugald Xiven, late of Cardross parish, native of Ardchattan, in Argyllshire; mother's

name, Christina Swan, a native of Cardross. Child's name, David Elles Ramsay, born 9th March. .