THE REV. D'ARCY IRVINE'S VOYAGE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5623, 27 February 1880, Page 3

THE REV. D'ARCY IRVINE'S VOYAGE.

The Rev. G. M. D'Arcy Irvine writes to us in reference to the Silver Cloud, in which he and his family sailed to Newcastle, that nothing could exceed the kindness and attention they all received from Captain Balle and bis officers and crew. " Few men," Mr Irvine says, " have more endeared themselves to my memory than Captain Balle has done. I consider him one of the most competent men in hia line I have ever met. From first to last, duty to the ship, the crew, and the passengers was ever uppermost in hiß mind, and the skill and seamanship he exhibited on two or three occasions during the trip, particularly in Cook's Straits, were very remarkable. Captain Balle is also a most conscientious man, and strictly religious and temperate. Neither he nor any of the officers or men tasted spirits or fermented liquor of any kind during the voyage. We were most comfortable in every way, and the accommodation was all that we could wish. Everything was clean, and the provisions of the soundest and best description. The steward also deserves special mention. I do not know what my wife and children would have done during their sea-sickness without him. We rounded the Kidnappers at 8 p.m. on the evening of -our departure, and on Monday the 19th we encountered a strong N. W. gale under the Kaikoura mountains. Head winds then prevailed, which necessitated frequent tacking, but we finally beat through the straits, and on Thursday the 22nd we rounded and passed Steven's Island with a nice southerly wind. This island was the last of New Zoaland sighted by us. On* Friday the 23rd we had alternately baffling winds and calm, and tbis continued until Sunday the 25th, on which holy day we held a most interesting and solemn sermon down below, after which there was a continuation of fine favorable winds and weather until making the land on the morning of Friday the 30thl On this day we encountered some dirty S.E. weather with rain, and a dense fog ; stood off from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m., but a sudden break in the clouds arising we squared away and made for the port of Newcastle—a very heay sea running. Having sighted a steamer some five miles off Newcastle Heads wo hove-to, and the steamer turned out to be the tug Leo, which safely towed us into our wishedfor heaven. God be praised for all His undeserved mercies and loving-kindness to me and my dear ones.