ARRIVAL OF THE MONGOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1160, 21 February 1874, Page 16

ARRIVAL OF THE MONGOL.

The ritfiiftl of astcamer to tho northward on thoiuom inn-of theltfth was immediately followed by the appearance ofthe ve«*.ol horsolf between the Heads, whoro sho loomed up a big burquo- rigged boat, showing a great deal of side above water. Sho was at once pronounced a strangor by tho shipping authorities of the Port, and thon a vory general conclusion that sho would bo portlier tlu» the expp-ted. Mongol was wived. »t,

I and proved to be correct. And a fine stately vessel she looked as she steamed rapidly through the Cross Channel, and then, just as folks were beginning to speculate on the probability of her coming right up, she eased steam and came to an anchor in the Quarantine Ground. This was regarded as an ominous proceeding, but then again it was thought that it was but a prudential measure on the part of the pilot, who, doubtless retaining a lively remembrance of the Mikado's little misadventure, had taken the precaution to select the widest part of the channel as a mooringplace for the Mongol. As soon as she was moored, Captain Thomson, the Health Officer, together with Dr O' i)onoghue and Mr Monson, of the Customs Department, proceeded down to her m the steamer Golden Age, and were met by tho unwelcome intelligence of sickness on board in the form of scarlet fever, measles, and bronchitis. This, of course, left but one course to be pursued, viz., to quarantine the steamer, and communicate with the Board o Health at Dunedin. Accordingly instructions to hoist the yellow jack at the main were given, and the Golden Airo returned to the Port. During the forenoon a meetiii}? of the Board of Health was held, and m the afternoon Professor M'Gregor, Dr Webster, Dr Drysdale, and Captain Thomson, members of the Board, proceeded to the Mongol in the Golden Ace and made known to the Captain the decision arrived at, and which ran as follows :—" That the ship Mongol remain in quarantine in the meantime, and that she be thoroughly fumigated. That the 14 emigrants for Otago be placed on Quarantine Island, and all usual and necessary steps be taken to fumigate and cleanse their baggage, bedding, and personal effects. That the cargo for the port be placed in lighters, and fumigated prior to being landed. That in the event of the Colonial Government bo de siring it, the whole of the passengers on board the Mongol be landed on Quirantine Island, and their effects be thoroughly cleansed and fumigated." A copy of the above resolution was handed to Captain Flamank of the Mongol, by Captain Thomson, and then Doctor Davidson, the Surgeon-Superintendent of the Mongol, came to the "■an"-way and replied to certain interrogatories from Professor M'Gregor. He stated that the emigrants were shipped at Plymouth, and were taken from tne Depot there, and that they were unhealthy at the timo scarlet fever and measles having previously appeared amongst them. Two of the families had been removed from the Depot iv consequence, and several of the intending emigrants had to be left behind. On the morning of the day that the steamer sailed from Plymouth a family was sent on shore because its members had only lately recovered from scarlet fever, and were in a very weak state therefrom. Moreover, as Dr Davidson remarked, the infection of fever must have been about them. Professor M'Gregor then asked Dr Davidson whether he considered it prudent to undertake the voyage with emigrants in such a very unsatisfactory condition ? lo which the Doctor replied that he certainly did not, and expressed surprise that the Emigration authorities at home had not detained her. He furthermore remarked that if one case of fever had been apparent on the day she sailed, he would have taken the responsibility of detaining the steamer. The emigrants, however, were, to all appearance, well on the day sne sailed, but on tho following day fever and measles appeared amongst them, and remained throughout the j Pa Ac<fording to the Doctor s report, 07 cases of measles, I 21 cases of scarlet fever and 8 cAses of bronch tic hail been treated during the passage, and out of tnat number 12 resulted f *t*lly, viz , 4 cases of measles, 5 of scarlet fever, 3of bronchitis. Besides these there was 1 fatal case of diarrhoea, 1 of ulcer, 1 of de»tti from inanition, and a death from sunstroke. A list of those persons deceased, with their ages, &c. has been supplied us, but ! s evidently incorrect in one or two particulars as to the causes of death. We, however, publish it, with dates, as follows :— January G- Arthur Lammas, infant, inanition. January 9— Jane Matter, 3 years, bronchitis. January ID— Kuuiv Batty, 1 year, uleeration. January 22— Elizabeth Lammas, 3 years, diarrhoea and measles. January 23 —Arthur Spragget, 5 years, measles and m ihgnant sore throat; William Lammas, 1 year, inanition. January 24— Henry Cullimorc, 18 months, measles and "landuiar swelling. January 28-George Spragget, 10 vcars, malignant sore throat. January 29— Ann i Johnson, 10 years, ulcerated sore throat and mania. ! February I— Elizabeth Timins, 6 months, measles and scrofulous swelling of joints. February 2-Mizabeth Kendall, 12 months, bronchitis. February 4- Emily Hewitt, 9 years, sunstroke. February 7— Henry Turter 2 years, scarlet fever and diarrhoea. February B— Robert Toombs, 11 months, measles and bronchitis. February 9 -William Withams, 28 yeais, diarrhoea. February 11— Emma Johnson, G years, suarlet fever and ulcerated sore throat. From the above it appears that the deaths were confined to children of ten ye*rs of age and under, exceptiDg in the case of William Withams. The steamer came into port i\ lth 4 cases of scarlet fovcr, o of abuess 1 of diirrhoea, 1 "f bronchitis. The preeau- 1 tion was taken to destroy all tho clothes and bedding used by infected persons durinsr tho voyage, whilst tho infected persons were carefully isolated. No doubt Dr Davidson has had a trying time of it. Ho looked W< When C the Mongol left Plymouth, she had 245 statute j adult immigrants on boaid, besides a number of paying passeuirors, and her crew of 54 men and toys. The immigrants come out through the New Zealand Shipping Company, and are for distribution through the Colony as follows :-10V statute adults , for Otago, 71 for Canterbury, 91 for Wellington, 72V ! for Auckland. We were not impressed favourably by the appearance of those who were to be seen from the deck of tlie Golden Age. They seemed to lack nhyuque. and were palo and unhealthy looking. Those of the Otago contingent wore described as particularly hoilthy, not one having succumbed to disease during the passage. They are to be lauded on Quarantine Island to-morrow morning. The Mongol is one of the steamers engaged to run in tho new Australian and American Miil Lino, and has demonstrated her ability to undertake the running of the mail service by making the quickest direct passage from England to New Zealand on record. Her time from land to land wa* 50 dtys 8 hours, and 51 days 18 hours from Plymouth to Port Chalmers. We recollect what stress was laid upon the performance of the stoamer Otago, when that vessel made the passage from JCnghnd to Melbourne in 52 days, but tho Mongol has beaten that by four days at the fewest. Sho is a handsome bout of 22(15 tons register and 1463 tons* currying capacity. Her length is 300 feet, beam 3.j feet' and depth ot hold 31 feet (i inches. She is fitted with a compound engine of 400 horse-power nominal, and 1000 horse-power indicated. Her accommodation i-, "oixl ; there is a magnificent saloon, with ladies ealiin and retiring room, bath-rooms, ice-house, &c. She is, built with tlw'oo decks. We gleaned the above facts with some difficulty, as we were debarred from boarding the Mongol. From the same cause we were unable to acquire a detailed account of her passage. A ll that wo caild gather on that point was that she left Plymouth at noon of the 23rd of December, crossed the Equator on the sth of January, and rouDden the Capo of Good Hope on tho 23rd day out. Captain Flamank intended to have run the easting down in between 48 aid 4() dep. latitude, but on account of theheiil >h of the passengers, ho selected the warmer parallel of 45 degrees. The coast of New Zealand was made at tho Snares on the morning of the 12th, and Utago Heads reached at 8 30 a.m. on tho 13th. Light head winds prevailed during the passage, and for twenty-nine days the ship was propelled by tteum only. Only two vestols were sighted on the wav, ana the only land that hove up w s ono of the Canary Islands. Her cnglueß are described ub having worked iv a mostsatiafaetory m Miner They were on y stopped onco, for ono hour, for repacking the pistons. Mr Lawrence is the chief engineer. Of the passengers on board tbo Mongol. 23 are nrat-ctass, 2 seoonclcla»B, and 21)9 free assisted immigrants. Wo could not obtain tho namos of tho first-class passongorii. j A definite decision, based upon advices re- , coived from tho Colonial Government at Wellington, wax come to by tho Board of Health on Saturday ro•■noting tho stoiunor Mongol aud hor sick passengers. ' & was resolved, and vory wlsoly so too, wo think, to place tho whplo of thorn on Quarantine Island, in wWcb cliMj»i»g retreat, wid BUiroundcd ty tho gmo*

forts and conveniences with which the place is provided, tho sick willnodoubtspeedilybecomeconvalescent.and the convalescent well. As soon as the decision was arrived at action Wis taken upon it. Captain Thomson, the Health Officer, and Mr Colin Allan, Immigration AgeDt, proceeded to the Mongol in the morning, and notified to the captain what had transpired ashore. As the Mongol happens to be provided with a powerful and handy steam launch, it was arranged that she should land her own passengers by its aid, and very shortly after the launch was to be seen in the water, and spinning about the harbour at a great rate. The launch first landed the Otago contingent of passengers, and the remainder were removed ashore in the course of the day,