THE SHIP CARISBROOKE CASTLE FOR AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4296, 20 August 1875, Page 3

THE SHIP CARISBROOKE CASTLE FOR AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.

Tub final inspection of the passengers in this ship was made yesterday by officials representing the Imperial awl Colonial Governments, and was very satisfactory. On mustering all appeared in excellent health, and very happy and comfortable. They seemed quite familiar with the arrangements, and at dinner and tea hours, when the mess numbers were called, the responses were made with great alacrity. There is an unusually large number of first and second cabin passengers, and the latter " mess" exactly as do those in the steerage, being divided into parties of eight persons, one of whom receives the cooked provisions and distributes them among the "mess." Some of the young ladies anticipate amusing occupation as captain of their mess, and no doubt the duties will help to beguile the tediousuess of so long a voyage. The Carisbrooke Castle is a handsome and commodious ship, and elegantly furnished in her principal cabins, the second cabins and steerage being plainly but comfortably fitted and well lighted and ventilated. She is provided with eight boats, and with all the requirements of the Board of Trade for the prevention of accidents. In the course of the inspection orders were unexpectedly given by Captain Smith, R.N., to lower certain boats, and the celerity with which the order was obeyed was highly creditable to the officers and crew. At another stage, an alarm was given of " a man overboard," when instantly lifebuoys were thrown out in the supposed direction, a boat manned and lowered, the buoys picked up, and the boat in her place in a very few minutes. Soon afterwards an alarm of lire was raised, when the crew fell into their quarters, the engine and hose manned, armed men placed at the hatchways, and means adopted for extinguishing the supposed fire. It is intended that these manoeuvres shall occasionally be repeated during the voyage for the purpose of maintaining discipline among the crew, and inspiring confidence among the passengers. The New Zealand Shipping Company, by whom this ship is chartered for the voyage, have spared no expense in endeavouring to give satisfaction to the passengers. The provisioning is on the most liberal scale, and the abundant supply of live stock, consisting of sheep, poultry, &c., indicates the desire of the charterers that nothing shall be wanting on their part to promote the comfort of the passengers. The " clearing" of the ship was not completed till nearly nine o'clock, when, most of the passengers being assembled on deck to bid good-by to their friends, Mr. G. V. Stewart, ascending the poop ladder, expressed, on behalf of himself and his fellow-voyagers, the extreme satisfaction which they felt by the completeness of the arrangements which had been made for them, and moved a vote of thanks to Capt. Smith, li.N., the Zealand

Government officer, under those superintendence the arrangements were under, when the hearty cheers of the passengers their cordial concurrence. Captain Smith, in replying, gave some excellent counsel to the passengers as to tho means of preserving their health during the voyage and making the passage agreeable. Ihe usual hearty cheersfor Mr. Samuel Cochrane, the local agent for New Zealand Government emigration, were given, and messages sent to the '-people of Belfast'' that the passengers of the Carisbrooke Castte were leaving home hopeful and happy. The officials and visitors having embarked in the Shamrock about 9.30 p.m., parting cheers were exchanged, and orders given to prepare the Carisbrooke Castlo for sea. While it is a subject of much regret that our country is losing so many persons of the class which have embarked in the Carisbooke Castle, it will be a source of satisfaction that the voyage of this ship has commenced so auspiciously. The ship is said to be one of the tinest aHu.it, and Captain Freel'Cdy, who commands her, is worthy of the ship. The public will watch the result of this adventure with much interest, and the- voyagers carry with them hearty good wishes for their success in the new " Steii art-settlement" of Kati-Kati.—North-ern Whig, June 8.