THOUSAND IN A WEEK

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12455, 25 May 1926, Page 4

THOUSAND IN A WEEK

MORE IMMIGRANT! ARRIVE WHOLE FAMILIES ON MAHANA BABY BORN AT SEA (By Telegraph—Special to “Times.”) AUCKLAND, May 23. Another substantial addition to the population of New Zealand was made to-day when the steamer Mahana arrived at Auckland with 781 migrants from the United Kingdom. The arrival of this batch brings the total of new settlers who reached the Dominion this week up to 1394, the Hororata which arrived at Auckland on Monday having brought 613. Soctland and the north of Ireland have contributed the majority of the Mahana’s contingent, but there is also a big leavening from the Midlands, a few from London and some from Wales. The newcomers speak in dismal tones of the conditions m the Old Country, of the stagnation in trade, the widespread unemployment, and the lack of opportunity for tho boys and girls. They do not appear to be labouring under delusions regarding the prospects of making a fortune in the land of theiu adoption, being prepared for hard work with, however, the prospects of better returns for their labour than are obtainable in the Old Country. Whole family parties are a feature among the new arrivals, and notable among these is one from Belfast. It takes pluck for a father and mother with a family of nine children to pull up their stakes in their native town and migrate 12,000 miles overseas, but this is what Mr and Mrs D. McUormick have done. Mr and Mrs McCormick had a drapery and provision business in Belfast, but trade was so dull, and there was so little prospect of improvement, and also so little offering to the raising of a family that they decided to try their fortune elsejvhere. They chOM New Zealand after careful consideration, and this morning they will land in Auckland to commence the unenviable task of house hunting. The mother and father and three of the eldest children have business experience to help them, but the younger members are.still at the school age. The Mahana brought one new settler who was not on the passenger list when the vessel sailed from Liverpool on April 13tli. He is Master Alick William Irvine, aged 11 days. The arrival of Master Irvine was one of the few incidents of the voyage. He was born on May 11th when tho Mahana was in the Pacific Ocean. 111-equipped as an immigrant steamer must naturally be as a maternity hospital tho lusty youngster, he weighed 10.) lb when born, and his mother are both well. The ship’s surgeon, Dr. J. H. Dale, enlisted the stewardess. Miss A. Murray, as assistant for the important event. The new arrival brought the strength of this family party up to ten, there being nine other children.