FROM LONDON TO AUCKLAND.

New Zealander, Volume XXIV, Issue 2619, 11 April 1866, Page 4

FROM LONDON TO AUCKLAND.

BEING THE DIARY OF A PASSENGER BY THE SHIP ‘ULCOATS.’ (Conti nuko.) Sunday, April 24.—Latitude 30 = S. ; longitude, 28 ° West. Beautiful day. Sea not so heavy and sun shining brightly. Service on the poop in the morning and meeting down below in the evening. Monday, April 25.—Latitude, 34° S.; longitude, 28° W. Wind, N.E., but fallen somewhat, and ship making eight knots. Beautiful day again. Saw albatross to-day for the first time. Hovered round the ship for some time, and appeared to measure six or seven feet across the wing. When Hying the bird moved grandly through the air, taking slow but long pulsations witli its wing. Our doctor baited a hook with a piece of pork in an endeavour to catch one, but without success. Tuesday, April 26th.—Coming on deck this morning found a nasty kind of Scotch mist falling, and the ship lying almost still, there being scarcely a breath of wind stirring. Later in the day the mist cleared off, and the sun came out bright and warm, and we could once more imagine ourselves in the tropics. During the day the ship did not move twenty miles. In the afternoon several albatrosses'hovered about the ship, and several of the first-class passengers tried their hands at shooting, but with no success. In the evening two of the young steerage passengers each brought up a gun, and several shots were fired at the albatrosses, when the captain came forward and deprived one of the young men of his gun and forbid any further shooting. Wednesday, April 27th.—Calm again. Dolphins scon to-day, and attempts made to catch them. One of them took the bait and was pulled half way out of the water, when the honk unfortunately gave way and the fish dropped off with the bait in his mouth. After this they would not bite again. Thursday, April 28th.—Good breeze sprang up early this morning, which at eight o’clock was sending the ship along at the rate of live knots. At four o’clock in the afternoon she was going eight knots and a half very quietly. There was no pitching or rolling, but she went gently but swiftly through the water without making any one uncomfortable, being pretty nearly on an even keel. In the afternoon we shifted some empty tanks (three) forward into the hold, and they were filled with sea water, so that we might draw more water forward. Perhaps I might here give a brief description of the ‘ Ulcoats.’ She is a full rigged iron clipper ship, of 671 tons register, belonging to the White Star Line of Packets. She is commanded by Captain Potts, an energetic young man, of first-class appearance. They say this is his first voyage as captain, but whether this is correct or not I cannot [ tell. She carries altogether a complement of 26 men, including two mates (Mr. Beckerdike, first, and Mr. Smith, second), ami has 98 passengers on board, out of j which there are about forty single young men, fifteen or sixteen single young women, and about forty married people. We have first and second cabin, intermediate and steerage. The cuddy is right aft and under the poop. On the 'tween decks, just before the cuddy (accessible by the booby hatch) is the second cabin, and in front of that, divided by a thin partition, in which there is a door, is the steerage, where reside the third class and intermediate married passengers. In front of this again comes a compartment for the pursers stores, and again ahead of this is the steerage for single young men, where reside thirty-four of them. It is now eight weeks since we left the docks, and we have not come half our journey, although we have had pretty fair but light winds. Some say we shall be eight or nine weeks longer, the majority that we shall be six, and there are one or ! two bold enough to express it as their 1 opinion that if we have any sort of weather at all we shall do it in a month of five weeks. On her last passage out she was four months all but three days, and our captain gives her fourteen weeks for this trip. At eight o'clock going over nine knots, and at ten o’clock ten knots and a half, and at this rate she continued all the next day much to the delight of every one. This was about the quickest sailing we had seen since leaving England, except perhaps, on one occasion when we were coming down Channel.

Saturday, April 29th.—Coming on deck this morning found that the wind had fallen to a mere nothing, but later in the day it sprang up to a five knot breeze. Say we are still sixteen or seventeen hundred miles to the westward of the Cape. Sunday, April ttOth. —Splendid day, but the slightest possible wind, ship not moving three miles an hour. Very heavy swell on from the N.W., almost the heaviest we have had, and we feel it the more as there is so little wind. At times her fore-lower stunsail-ynrd-anns dipped into the water and it was excessively difficult to walk the deck. Down below, tins and dishes were rolling about in a most delightful manner. Plenty of birds to be seen, principally astern. There are at this time of writing two albatrosses, half a dozen Cape hens, several Cape pigeons, and no end of stormy petrels, and I have no doubt if it were not Sunday some of the saloon passengers would bo having a shot at them. No morning service to-day on the poop, for some reason or other not explained, probably on account of heavy swell. About one o’clock, a nice six-knot breeze sprang up, but the heavy swell still continued. If wc are ns far to the westward of the Cape as they say, they may cast aside any idea of gcttiig to our journey’s end in six weeks. If the light winds which have favoured us so far continue to prevail, it is my conviction we shant see Auckland for eight or nine weeks. To-day, for the first time, our salt beef lias been decent, and we managed to enjoy it. 1 steeped it overnight in fresh water, and likewise boiled it in fresh water, but that was not the reason it was so good—so at least said our cook, and he ought to know. He said the fresh water only tends to keep the salt in the moat, while the salt water draws it out. Ho advises soaking it in salt water, and likewise boiling it in the same, and if the boiling water be changed it will be all the the better. By changing the water two or three times, he says he will get the beef as fresh as any round or sirloin sold in London at the best ham and beef shop extant. But mind, I don’t at all agree with this—at least, f never saw any as described by by him. In the evening, service was held in steerage, at which there was a good atemlnnce. Ileard to-night that we were thirty miles lower than the Capo, but fifteen hundred to the westward of it Expect to sight the island of Tristan D’Acuna in a day or two. To-night the moon gave a good light up to ten or eleven o’clock, though only in its first quarter. Before the expiration of the next moon’s hist quarter, wc hope to be in Auckland. Bets are laid as to the length of time we shall be in reaching our destination, hut the general impression is that wc shall be about six weeks. To day, Captain said we should very likely get there in five if the wind continued. Monday, May Ist.—To-day is the beginning of the third month that wc have been on board, and, taking all things into consideration, I don’t fancy the time has passed so very slowly, but the six weeks still in futuro seems a long while to look forward to. Good seven-knot breeze, but atmosphere visibly colder. Dozens of Cape hens flying about the stern of the ship, but not molested. While getting our tea, I was informed that land was in sight, hut on going on deck found it was a hoax, so down I went again and described the land which I had not seen in glowing colours, painting the rocks as rising almost up into the sky, and stating thal they were most grand as the rays of the departing sun were reflected from their summits far over the sea. At once everyone rushed from table, and I had the place to myself. They soon came down though, and I, of course, caught it pretty strong from all quarters, but having been so hoaxed myself, I did not sec why I should not hoax others. In the evening wc had singing and dancing on deck. In the second cabin there was a discussion on the“Ofe(il War in America,” while in the steerage could be seen at one table, that of Mr. J n, six or seven individuals playing at speculation. This particular party began, about a week ago, to play as soon as it was dusk, continuing their game until nine o’clock, at which time all single men have to leave the steerage. About eight o’clock, being cold on deck, we most of us descend, and either rend or write, or play draughts, or otherwise amuse ourselves. Some of the older folks go to bed, for want of better employ, but we young people generally stay up till the last moment (ten o'clock), when the Purser’s cry of “Lights out, lights out,” makes us rush belter skelter to bed, and all bands are soon fast asleep. ( To he continued .)