JOURNAL OB VOYAGE FROM WELLING. TON TO PANAMA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 873, 31 August 1866, Page 5

JOURNAL OB VOYAGE FROM WELLING. TON TO PANAMA.

(Written for tho yew Zealand Herald ) I Sunday, June ill, 180fi. Left Wellington at 1J..10 p.m.; off Cape Palliser at o p.m. ; ship rolling considerably from tho h«ad sea caused by tho strong south-east win of yesterdaj-; wind still south-east, but gradually dying away; iiuu weather. Monday, Juno 25. Tho south-east wind died away during tho night and a light north- w«st wind sprung tip, which gradually increased to a modorate breeze, so that at noon wo wore rattling away with all sail sot, and the ship much steadier in consequence. Passed a much better night than I expected. X really am surprised to sec the large number of passengers at tho saloon table at meal time, but I suppose it is to bo attributed to the fact that our insular position makes tho sea our highway, and evoo* ono who moves at all mint of necessity do it by sea, eo that we aro all move or loss accustomed to sea voyages. Hoon.—Lat. 12'0 south; long. 17!>':M cast. Noon course, south, SI east; distance from '"'ape Palliser, 18.T miles; L'tO from Wellington. Thermometer, ili°. Monday, Juno 2f>. How is this ? Why yesterday was Monday, the i?sth. Yes; and so is this, although wo liars been •18 hours out from Wellington. This is explained from the fact that sinco yesterday wo have crossed tho meridian of 180 ° , and thus gained a day. Our longitude will therefore be west to-day; yesterday it was east ; and for tho saino reason when wo return wo shall loso a day.

Wo have a fiuo breizo tho lust 21 hours, all Bail set, and making from 11 to 111 knots, with line clear weather. This has induced our lady pasaongora to como out; Mrs. Wootis, Kussell, Mrs. Lance, Miss Kirwan, Mr.s. l'ownall, &a. Uw. Clooto (Bishop llobhouso's sistor), is a capital Bailor ; alio has been to sea with hor husband many voyages while ho wni in the P. and O. Company's boats, I beliova it ms, Mr. Lance looka and is very ill l'rom somo disoaso which they say wants a habitation and a name. Now it is an enlargement of somo of tho v.crtobru) of the neck ; now it is an internal abscess ; but thoy all differ, and cannot say authoritatively what it i-t; at all events, ho cannot move his head without the most intense agony, and gats nj rest at night without opiates. Ho is going homo for advice. Noon.—Lut., 42 51 south; long. 17*1*1S we*t. noon, couvso, south 80 oast. Distanco run, 2GO miles. Thermometer in my cabin, oG. Tuesday, .Tune 2G. What a monotonous life this aboard ship is, one perforce sinks down into a great deal of tho animal. VVhen wo wako in the morning tho question nsked first is, how long to breakfast!'' thon how long to luncheon ? when will it bo dinner and tea-tiuio ? and how long to 11 p.m. (lights out at that hour), so that we may go to bed? The chief of one's thoughts, as far as personality is coneorned, is mthing but o.iting aud drinking. I sleep much bettor than C did on shore, at least I havo done tho last two nights, and cat—l hive been constrained to curtail my f '.Mag to twice a day, breakfast and diuner. Still carrying a fine breez-j, all sail s.' oglno going dead slow, making and 11 knots all through the - 1 hours. Noon.—Lat., '12-iO south; long., 1.0)-05 wost. Course, south 81 east. Distance run, 25-5 miles. Barometer, 30 L'G. Thermometer in my cabin, 53 ;in the captain's, on deck, 53. Wednesday 27th. Tho wind still hangs to tho north and west, a pood slashing breeze, carrying us along 11, lli, and 12 knots, with tho engine going dead slow. Consumption of coal, about 23 tons per day (New South Wales coal). Noon.—Lat., 42'*17 south ; long., 1G3'03 wost. Distanco run, by dead reckoning, 2Go miles. Barometer, 30-26. Thermometer, 55 and 53 in the c ptain's cabin and mino respectively. So we are still keeping in the parallel of 1-2 of latitude. The object of thus keeping to tho south is that when wo mako our northing and enter tho south-east trades wo shall mako a fair wind of them, whereas if wo wo.re to m ike a straight course from Wellington to Panama, tho trado-wind would thon bo against us. Tho carpenter is fitting up tho sorting room to-day. All the fittings are ro:idy, and only require to be One of our follow-passangers lost Vnc numb )r of his mess this morning; that is, tho bullock wo shipped at Wellington was killed, and a fine fat boast lw was, weighing over llJ'lOlbi.; but, roor brute, he looked very unhappy, aud would soon havo lo<t his ilesh. Thursday, 2Sth. .Still rattling on a good spood. I thought fro:r. tho specimen we had of tho ship's rolling tho day we left Wellington, that wo should havo a disagreeable and wet passage ; but I am agreeably disappointed, for since we havo had our canvas set she has been really very steady and surprisingly dry for a vessel so heavily ladon as nho is; for wo must not forget that alio has somo 1300 tons of coal on board. Bother it, I can scarcely right, for Naylor, the purser, is amusing somo of the lady passengers about his troubles in volunteering to nurse another lady passouger's baby while she practised the jii itio, in tho doing ot which ho came to grief, and he has been resorting to all sorts of subterfuges to-duv (tho baby nursing was yesterday) in order to escape a similar infliction, and hia relation, and the laughing comequont, thereon, render it difficult, bo I iind it, to fix one's thoughts on anything else. I havo been thinking to-day that this routo from Wellington to Panama is the longest steam mail service at present run from Suez to Guile, or perhaps, frira Galle to Australia is tho next longost, about 301)0 miles ; I think, but lam not Hiiro, tho sorvico from Southampton to Bt. Thomas is about tho same distanco I believe, whilo this ono is about 6000 miles.

Noon —Lat., 42-15 9.; long., 157 06 W., by dead reckoning; long., 157 05 \V., by observation; distance run, 2G5 miles. Barometer, !5017. Thormometer, Captain's cabin, 51 ° ; my own, 5S ° , Fridaj-, 2Uth. Ugh ! What a miserablo day a wet one on board ship is; miserable on deck, miserable below, miserable in tho saloon and in your own birth, miserable reading or writing; passongcrs miserable, oflijors misorable ; if I liavo an enemy tho punishment I would award him would bo to romaiti on board ship, and overy day to be a wet one, until ho became reconciled. The wind is lighter than it was, though sti I a good breeze, and drawing moro ahoad ; stowed all tho square sails in tho afternoon, as the foro and aft Bails were only drawing, and put on full power; carried away tho jib-stay in tho evening—a nasty dirty night. Heading—"Mrs. Ilaliburton's Troubles," by Mrs. Wood. A capital book, must read it at home. Noon —Lat., 4103 S. ; long., 151*37 W., dead reckoning. Distance run,-'sl miles; course, N.E. ■[ K.; wind, N.W. Baroraoter, 30 11. Thermometer, 55 ° , thermometer in my cabin, 53 0 . These data aro always givon at noon. Saturday 30th. Still raining and without any uppearanco of its clearing up. i Noon—Lat, -10 02 8.; long., 146-45 W., dead reckoning. Di.stanco run, 231 milex; course, N.E. J K.; wind N.W. Barometer, 30 17. Therinomoter 57°, and 60° in tho Captain's and my cabin. Cleared up at ton p.m. a fine night. I h n po wo shall have a fine day to-morrow. Our passengers, taken as a wholo, are a very quiet orderly set. Thii last two days wo have had an addition to our number ; in the ovening yostordaj", a lady and her daughter, whom I dm't know, and this evening Miss Kirwan. Sunday, July 1. And raining still, or rather drizzling. Wo have had no sight of tho sun for practical, or porhaps bettor, nautical purposes, since we left. The Bishop held divino service in the ealoon, in tho morning, and preached— toxt tho first nino ver3oß of tho 13th of Luke. Noon.—Lat. ."0-12. Long. 1.11-10 N., dead i .slconing. Bar. 30' 11. Ther. sl>- and 00* At 8 p.m., in my berth, it was 07". Distance run, 210 miles. Course by compass, N. E. J-K. Trus course, E. by N. Wind, N. W. Revolutions, 40, about J speed; Monday, July 2. Somo prospect of a brighter day, for really tho sun is endeavouring to como out, though the deck is still wet and sloppy. The Captain got sights to-day, flo that wo shall learn our true position. Wind light, and still N.W. I havo never said anything about tho vessel, because she has boon bo frequently described, and I am not sufficiently nautical to do so ofliciently, still to me, she has two defects —ono remoJiablo, tho other irremediable; tho latter is, that slio has not sufficient beam for her length (thoy say hlio is nine times longer than she is broad, and that tho proper proportion should be 1 ia 0). Tho effect is, that she is

"crarik aud/Volts very much, Tho remediable ■ defect is very bad timber in her decks, ami the effect ofth'is, unpleasant leaks in tho saloon and. in the: berths, which e;tu be remediod by sheathing over; T.ike her tor all .in all; she 'is a iino vessel. with very many eo til fort .J: and Conveniences, for passengers, in go fur us a. lilt* at sea can be m i:le eomf »rtabio and convenient. . reading *'■ Xj.ost iSir Altissing berd,' 1 and gavo it up,, too sensational (or my a*. Well as un.natural and unlikely in its.' incidents ; began hi its place lie; Siu'ill House ut Arlington," by' Anthony TrpUopo,

oort. —Tjiit. iO~2 / 3.. Long, l ilo '10 \V.; both by ..Observations. Uistunjo run, .IO'tJO miles since last observation, on. 23th .Tune (1 day ß —2o3 miles per day .) [ liar; Ijti.'oO.. 'l'lier. 0.7', captain's cabin on deck 1 ; in ■nine., which is. below Opposite tho main hat-lij Oo.'j", Course, N.E, by Cornpiss ; I.J points deviation will make the true course, ; N.K. by N. VVind, N. We are ilms still not much to tlip north of Wellington, and mora, than a debtee to the. s;outh. of whera w.e calculated by'doid reekonins, accountod for by a supposed current. sotting us to tho. south. These suppositious currents are very oonvonient sometimes. Tuesday, July 3. HuriaH ! a glorious day, which we duly appreciate after i.lie last iivc. or six days of wet.; everyone is coming Q.ut to en joy itj old and young, big and little; except poor Mi - . Lance, who is a great sufferer. Wo are keeping mora fc<j tho iio tth ward this morning, all eai! stowed ; under steam alone ; Sent down topgalUnt yards too,, which BOi'ms that tho wind «« expect to bays even in t.h) trades will not mako them useful, this is contrary t» expectation. 1 w:as much amuso lat the rem irk of oiio of our passengers yestorday, after dinner, daring dessert; some one offered liim some o'.ives, ho helped himself to two or three and after taking two or three chews at them, spat thorn out with a sorry face, saying, " Wotl, them's tho worst pickles I over tasted." Noon.—l.at. 38' IS 8.; long. 129"3t W. both by observation : distance run 229 miles ; barometer 3d .40 • thermometer GO - , captain's Cabin; mine 60,39 (tho bull'a- eye has b ;ei\ open in my berth all the day); Course N.B. by ornpasS; wind 5.8., light breeze ; speed knots; revolutions 43, thia is about as miny revolutions as the/ can nvike under tho present circumstances, becauso tho present screw shipped in Sydney, in substitution for the one broken on tho voyage from England., is Only a make shift, and was hot mado for this vessol ; the objection is that the pitcli is too great, and " brings the engines up " when worked up to full speed. This is the technical expression of (ho engineer, but what it moans is beyond my engineering ability.

Wednesday, July 4th. The arrangement oil board for atteiidnnco on the passengers is ample and good, and most efficiently conducted undortiie superintendence of Mr. Pitcher, chief stoward (formerly and for many years a steward, on board rn iny of tho P. and O. boats). I never saw a vessel more rogularly or as well conducted, aiid 1 cannot tliinit his system could be improved pn, thd regularity with which tho moils aro put oii the table hasi often surprised mo. One is prepared amidst tho incpnvonienco of a sea voyago to find his dinner Or breakfast occasionally delayed, but on no single occasion has this happenod ; no matter what the weather or what the hindorance, no sooner has the bell struck the appointed hour than out rings the bell for breakfast, luncheon, &c., as tho case may bo. Mr. Pilchor has under him tho following staff: — cecond steward, .1 storekeeper, 1 barman, 1 pantryman, 1 chief cook, 1 second cook, 1 scullerymao, 1 baker, 1 butcher, 1 butcher's mate, I ship's cook, 4 bolrooru stewards, 4 saloon waitrrs, 1 saloon boy, 1 oKcers' servant, .1 engineer's servant, 1 boots, 1 bath boy, 1 stewardess, 1 fore cabia steward, making a total of 27. The food is good, cleanly, and well cooked, and our tablo is not deficient oven in made dishes und ontres with French names. Tea and colfeo are supplied by steam percolators — tho latter is very good, but. I can't, say much about the tea. Tliero is u cow which supplies us with milk—she caiijo out from England with tho vessel, but her milk is not always sufficient for :>o large a numbor of passengers as wo have, so that we not unfroqueatly haw lo fall back upon preserved milk.

Tho Stewards * ■ seiVcs a law court, police court, or whatever else it may be called, to whiih thoy are amonable for petty ollencbs, and in which they try and settle, thorn amongst themselves without apperling t> tho Officers', of the ship.. 'There was an. oll'ertder tried la t nigfc'" for upsetting a pail of water into a comrade's bo~ ho took refugo. in ono of the saloon berths when tho timo of trial arrived,from whence, the butcher and his mate, habited as policomon, with the aid of black billies, a hull's eye lantern, and chalk to make the wliito distinguishing marks, duly marshalled him into tho presence of the judgo and jury. The counsel for tho Crown prosecuted, and an able advocate defended him, but without success, as the jury found him guilty, but with oxtenu.iting .circumstances, and tho judgo (himself and all officers of the Court being in proper forensic costumo), takiiig into consideration the verdict, and also a certificate of character, sent in bv many of tho ladies arid gentlemen of tho saloon (w ho, as the judgo s ud, were of the highest and most undoubted respectability), passed an exceedingly lenient sentence: on hiui. Tho Court was closed to all strangers. As this system is really well conducted, and saves tho ofiicors of tho ship from settling unpleasant disputes and listening to itl-lbundud charges and complaints, it really is desirable to coiitiiiuo it

Noon.—Lat. 36 - 3 S,; long. 125-22 W., by observation ; distance run, 210 miles ; barometer, 30-11; thermometer, captain's cabin, Go'; mine, .60*30, with port open. Courso,.N.. jE. J-F.; wind, N.N.E., light brenzo and cloudy; fore staysail only set. Speed, tun knots. Revolutions of ongino, 44. Thursday, 6th July. Tlio engines wore stopped last evening about eight p.m. for an hour and a half, to repair the india-rubber valves of tho circulating pump ; it loomed very strange suddenly to lose the noise of llie aorow. I must accord to a sailing ship lior superiority in not boing constantly subjected to tho continual crunch, crunch which the revolving of tho screw produCos. Tlio deficiency was soon repaired, and on wo sped again. Tho spare screw, which wo toot on board at Wellington ha? boon hitherto parried on deck, was lowerod into the mainliold thW morning,—it is in three parts, tho boss and two fans, and measures from tho extremity of ono fail to that of the other ]fi foot; its weight is 9 tons, so that it will bo far better below than on d.eclc. The main hatch has hithorto been board'd up to tho deck, and tilled with coals, but being now empty will bo a groat comfort for additional ventilation wlion. wo got into the hot woathor.

Prayers woro road this morning by tho Bishop at 10 am. in tho saloon—tho morning prayers, tho psalms for the day, and; the lesson. I went, for the first time, into tho ladies' saloon, it' is on the st r.board side of tho main, saloon, about three-fourths of its length down from tho storn, it (tho ladies' saloon), is a poor apology for such an apartment;, is without a tablo, and can't be moro than six or 1 soven feet square. i fancy X should say it is " too littlo for anything." Noon.—l at. 34-11 south;, long. 121-40 west ; observation ; clistanpo run 217 miles. Barometer 30to 35 - Thermometer, captain's cabin, 62*; mine, 62* with port open. Couwe north-east by north. Wind north-eastorly, moderato and cloudy. Spoed 9 knots ; revolutions 43.. Friday, July 6. TVer sincii yostorday 1 the breeze lias been pretty fresh, with pretty fine we ithor, but dead on end as over it can "blow. They (tliat is the captain) begin, to surraiso that we have entered tho S.E. trades, that at this time of tho year they inclino very much to tho north, and that on. another similar voyage he would keop farthor to the south that on this occasion. If this be tho trade wind it is a blue look out as far as thinking for any assistance from the wind, for wo can't show ivstitch.of canvas, and there is nothing for it but steam. A day or two more will show us we aro still about one day ahead of our time, that is allowing 27 days, for the voyage; and have saved two days, 11 coal, by slackening fire ; whilp wo had the wind,: in the early p.irt of the voyage. Yesterday wo were in the latitude of Auckland; 34"30 south, or somewhoro thereabout. 32.15. {[south; long, 117.45 W., observation.; distance run. 221 miles, Barometer 30.65. rher moinut ur, captain's, 63'.; inino 03", (af 0 p.m., (IS ) Courso north-oast by easterly. Wind north north-cast, fresh, broezo and cloudy. Speed 8..J knots. Involutions of engine 41. Sntu.day, July 7. Tlio brorap ifipshphpil last night about midmglit,. whon I turned in. We had bpen. carrying tho fore and. majn trysail.sineo.GipiUi. At 2 a.m. this morning they reefed both sails, the vessel pitching a. giol deal. Wind still increasing, making only 4 J knots against it, with full power pn ; tliat is all tho power WC can giro this screw, about 47 revolutions, j

Ifoon.—Lat. Si 1 ! soiith ; long. 115 O west, observation.; distance rim I.6'i' .miles. Barometer 30 1-5, ; Thermometer, captain's., 63' ; ittine, 6G. 'Course riorth east by north. Wirid north north-west. Speed knots. Revolutions* of engine 43. S.trong galo and cloudy .; lioavy heiid.sb.i;, ship pitching violently, ... . Sunday, July S. When w.tj lelfc Wellington: everybody said, ' Oil! when, you get away from tho cpast of Now Zialand you will get lino weather." " When you hare been at sea a. week or ton flays you. will .get into warm .fine weather." And here we have entered upon our 16th day at sea, and had but' ono 'really fine day since we started ; at. the* best it'lias been dull and cioudy, with the wind j.ust allowing the .square sails to dranr, and vtiry often it. has bean ruining hard, for the whole ] day,, so .that o.very sky-light, scuttle hole, or wherever the air could come, had to be closed to keep tho wet | Put, but without succtiss;, for tho deck as. well as tie sky lights leak so fearfully that tin; saloon and most, of the berths ace atl'jat ; this is the case to-day, every thing above and below, wherever you go is wet, and as you walk along tlio carpat in tlia saloon it goos squish, sqush,. squish, squash, in the most juicy state. Hugh ! it's '.horrible; the thermometer OS 0 , pur feet s.tiflod, stewed—washed inside ' and out into a flabby condition. What will it bo in the tropics, if it should rain ? The Bishop read prayers at 10J a.m.; in fact, we have had prayers each morning theso last three mornings. Noon. —'Lat. '20"10 S , long. 112*25 W., by account, dist nice run, 170 miles ; barometer,. 30*03 ; thermometer, captain's G7 °; mine, 68 ° j course, N.'fT.E. JK; wind, X. W.; speed, 10 knots ; revolutions, 11. We have b.jen only doing G, (!£ and so on the last 2*l hours. The weather has been, dark, rainy, and heavy scjual.ls ; ship pitching heavily (aud. sometimes in a most extraordinary m inner, on one or two occasions last night she jumped into it. with a wonderful kick up astern, and an apparent attempt to turn round in the middle), and shipping a gool deil of water over the bows. If this is to be called a fair weather passage, I should like to know what a foul ono is; fair weather must be either to the north or else tlio south of us ; it certainly is not in the course we have coma. Fore ana main trysail stowed, topsails, fprosail, jib, and staysail set.

9 p.in • -It has baou raining hard all day. We have managed to catch a little water too, which is quite a treat, for the water we get from the condenser lias for some days past tasted frightfully of tho castor oil which thoy usa for the engine. The heat belOw is very great; my thermometer shows 72 ° . About six p.m wo got a ligh t air nearly right aft; cleared up about 11 p.m. We expect to sight Easter Island about breakfast time to-morrow. Monday, July 9. A fine morning; all sail set; wind ahead ; sighted Easter Island at 8 a.m. ; its lat. 27.1) ,S., long, !()!> 25 W. There is aft old whaling captain on board (Webb by nariie), who was at this island three years ago ; ho was not on shore, hut was close in at author aiid trading w.ith the natives. From what he sa)'s, there is good anchorage in a sat'e bay on the N.W. side of thfi island. What a capital coaling station it would make for tho steamers bound to Panama. Its distance from Capo Palliser is *1300 miles, and, a 3 w 6 havo been out Si! days, that will give us an average of 270 miles per diem, this is by a calculation worked out by Captain Bell, but he must have made some mistake, for we have not made that.— (See Monday 10th, for mora information about Easter Island.) 6 p.m,—Captain Boll's previous calculation was but a rough one *, he has sinoo worked, out the problem, and finds the correct distance of the island to be 8813 miles from Caps Palliser, which would give an average of 2QS mile 3 per diem. The island bore B.E, E; . distant 15 miles. JJoon —Lat. 2G 37 ; long., 100*15 ObserTation —Distanco run, 237 miles. Barometer, 30 10. Noon., —Thermometer : Captain's, 70 0 ; mine, 71; speed, 11 knot", course, iior'-nor'-east; wind, nor 1 - west by west ; revolutions *11. Tuesday, July 10, Rattling along all last night and this morning, with tho wind about west by north or wost-norih--west, and. doing 1.1 and ! IA knots. Six of tho firemen in hospital,.reporting themsolv s sick ; the genftral belief is that it is gammon. Howover, with the treatment proscribed by Dr. Knight aijain'if Cliis ho "t'hfl case; while, it is tho proper treatment for a sick man, it is not such as a healthy ono would willingly subject himself to. We entered the tropics to-day, about 11 a.m., but the northerly wind still sticks to us. We oright to have tho south east trades before this. I think there has not been more than a couple of points variation in the wind since we loft Wellington.

The cuisine of the ship is. very well conducted if anything, too well; .fa, it tempts one to eat moro ! than is good for health when our facilities for - exercise are so siniiU and prescribed. Not only have wo plain, honest roast and boiled, but the table is not. lacking of " kickshaws" with foreign natnis. Here is tho bill of faro for to-day ; — Mock Turtle Scitip. Roast Turkey : Ham Roast Shoulder Mutton Boiled Sheep's Head Roast Pork Malabar Fowls Boiled Log Mutton oiid Ox Tongue Caper Sauce Roast Fowls Corned Beef, and Carrots Cornod Pork and Peas Giblet Pies. Pudding Boiled Turkey and Oyster Sauce | Vegetables: Potatoes, boiled, baked, and mashed ; carrots, green peas, French beans, and haricot beans. ISKTKEE3. L'amour doguiso I Curry and Rice Oyster Pattiea 1 Cotelcttea de Mouton Second C.'Uksk. Plum Pudding | Macaroni and Chease Fruit Tarts Albert Sandwiches Swiss Rolls Banbury Cakes Sweet Omelettes Stewed Pru,noS. Norfolk Bifllns | Jain. Tartlets Custards DESSEKTi Apples Oranges Bananas Dates (the best I ever Pigs tasted): Walnuts Almonds and Raisins Fancy Biscuits Nuts Proserved Ginger Gingerbread Nuts Olives Noon.—rL&t. 23>21 south; long. 105-51 west. Ob* servation, distance run ,2(>T .miles; barometer, 30.15 ; thermometor: captain's, 71 ° mine, 7- ° ; course, ilor'-iior'-east, \vind north-westerly ;■ spe.ed,-11 knots ;. revolutions, -iO. Gaiiipago.s (Charles Island), distant 1010 miles. .'