ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP MATOAKA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 232, 9 February 1869, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP MATOAKA.

This ship was signalled from the Heads at ■6 a.m., yesterday, and arrived in harbour at 11 am., after a passage of 86 days. The s.s Moa took the Health Officers down to the _*ship, arid on arriving alongside they found ihat all on board were well. Soon after the ■vessel-anchored, his Honor the Superintendent, Mr Marshman, Secretary for Railways, H. P. Murray- Ay nsley, Colonel Packe, and others arrived, and made an inspection of the .. ] fthip. irM T'he .single girls', compartment was a ■ pattern ' of cleanliness, but we cannot say the came for that occupied by the single men. The cooking apparatus and water condenser liad acted , excellently during the voyage. •The Vessel- tomes out in medical' charge of E. H. Marshall, M.D. . The following is Captain Stevens' report of the voyage -.4The Matoaka left Gravesend on Nov. I?. At 8 am. on the 13th/ the pilot left off the Isle of Wight ; had fresh N.E. wind as far as Madeira,, whfeh tihe wind changed to S.W. with rain, continuing two days; then got the.NJßJtraides which carried us to 6. deg. N. ; after experiencing variable winds for two days, got the S-E. trades, and crossed the equator in lat. 29.30 W. on the 22nd day out; •Was bri the parallel of Riol on the 29th day out ; sighted Gough's Island at midnight on Dec. 24, and passed the meridian Of the Cape of Good Hope on Dec 30, in lat. 42 deg. *; On Feb. IB and 17 passed several icebergs in lat. 47 deg. S., and long. 102 deg. to 107 E. From lat. 50 deg. S , and "long. 117 deg. E., had a succession of light N.E.,' and S.E winds, accompanied with rain and fog which retarded- the voyage at least ten. days. The _ Snares ' arid Stewart'slTsla,rid were passed (jn ■'-Feb. 5, but the fog prevented their beiijg sighted. The Peninsula was made on Supday last at noon, and the 'shin arrived at the heads as above. The Easting was run do\^n in lat: 48 deg., passing south of Crozets arid north' of Kerguelan's larid. Two births have •occurred during the voyage.