THE VOYAGE OF THE KAIKORA TO PANAMA.

Otago Witness, Issue 770, 1 September 1866, Page 7

THE VOYAGE OF THE KAIKORA TO PANAMA.

(from a correspondent.) Kaikora, s.s., 19th July, 1866. Our voyage, although a remarkably azreeable one, has been very uneventful. After leaving Wellington, the werther was cold and dissgreeab'e for the first fortnight, but still very favorable for the ship, ss we were able to carry sail nearly all the time. Latterly, the weather has been most delightful, a cool breeze blowing all the time ; in fact, when we crossed the Line, we could have worn the ordinary Otago clothing without any inconvenience. The last two days, however, have been rather too warm, as we have lost the Trades, and the sun is very powerful. I don't intend in this scrawl to give you a nautical description of the \oyage. From Mr Twist and all the officers of the ship, I, and I think I may safely say all passengers, have experienced every kindness and attention. Judging from my own experience, I think it rarely falls to the lot of travellers to sail with a more gentlemanly and agreeable lot of men than the officers of the Kaikora. The accommodation on beard, although nothing wonderful, is very good. The eating part is very good ; indeed quite as good as couid be expected ; but I cannot say so much for the tvines.

20th July. Last night, shortly after 12> we sighted the American coast, and continued going ahead slowly all night. We are now Eteaming up Panama Bay, and will anchor in 3 or 4 hours. You may imagine how monotonous our passage has been, when I tell you that we have not sighted a single vessel since starting. On the 9th July we sighted Easter Is'and, so called from its being discovered on an Easter Sunday by Captain Cook. It is of considerable extent, and is inhabited by 2000 cannibals, who, I have no doubt, would have been very glad to have exercised their digestive organs on the pioneers ot the Panama Route. The only other land sighted was one of the Gallapagos, celebrated for Terapin, or land turtle ; it is the only place where they are found, and they attain the size of 4 or 5 cwt. each. Unfortunately we could not stop to get any. The general resource at night was whist, snd I think I played almost every night. We have a piano on. board, but I amrorry to say that very few of cur ladies availed themselves of it. The attempt at public amusement was a representation of " Box and Cox," very well got up, and an iuterlude a la Christys, of whom jour humble servant, with bis face "coiked," formed one. The weather has been so fine that we have had .no opportunity of testing the qualities of the vessel. lam happy to say the only "rounds for complaint v.ere bad water and bad bread, the water was condensed and was generally lukewarm, half salt, and of a deep red color. There is a first-class haker on board, but the flour was all more or less musty. There has been a meeting >>f the passengers this merning, ai*d it is decided, I am happy to say, to present Capt. Machin with a piece of plate, in commemoration of the first trip having come to so successful an end.