IMMIGRANTS BY THE FRIEDEBURG.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1409, 2 September 1872, Page 3

IMMIGRANTS BY THE FRIEDEBURG.

The first shipment of immigrants direct from Germany arrived in Port Lyttelton on Saturday last. The fine iron ship Friedeburg, Captain Kopper, made the passage from Hamburg in 102 days, and it is very satisfactory to , report that the immigrants have arrived afc their destination in excellent health and spirits. The ship was signalled outside the heads on Friday afternoon, but the name of the vessel could nofc be ascertained until the following day. This fact suggests the urgent necessity that exists for the establishment of telegraphic communication between the Godley Head lighthouse, the signal station, and the telegraph offico in Lyttelton. Tlie expense would nofc be very great, in fact ifc would appear as trifling contrasted wifch the utility of the work. The lighthouse-keeper could soon be instructed in the art, so thafc fche names of vessels could be telegraphed to Lyttelton and Christchurch immediately upon the signals being made out. His Honor the Deputy-Superintendent, Mr J. E. March (Chief Immigration Officer), Dr Haast, Mr Ruddenklau, and Mr Monson left Christchurch for Lyttelton by the half-past eight o'clock train. Messrs Ruddenklau and Monson proceeded to port in the capacity of interpreters — the former as between the Government officials and the German immigrants, and tho latter as interpreter between the officials and tho Danes and Norwegians. Tho party was joined in Lyttelton by Drs Donald and Rouse and Captain Gibson, who, together with Mr March, are tho Immigration Commissioners for the province. The s.s. Gazello, Capt McLellan, was chartered to take the party to the vessel. The Gazelle started about 10 o'clock, taking the Ben Moro in tow, bufc some delay was occasioned through fche barque getting fast on a bank, which has formed a short distance from fche wharf. As soon as sho was got off, she was towed to ;fche middle of the stream and leffc there, and the Gazelle proceeded to the ship, which was lying afc anchor two miles outside the North Head. On approaching the vessel, the flag flying at the stern bespoke her •country, and there was no longer any doubt as to her being the Freideburg. Drawing nearer the immigrants were mounted on the bulwarks of the ship anxiously awaiting our arrival, and tho chorus of a cluster of single women on the pocp settled the point as to their nationality. Seen from the deck'of tho Gazelle, the largo group of immigrants presented a somewhat novel spectacle. Three or four nations were there represented — fchcG«rmanic,theGennanic Polish, tho Norwegian, and the Danish, all chattering away in the language and dialects of their respective countries. Dr Donald, as Health Officer, was the first to go on board, and as all was well, the whole party followed .shortly afterwards. Tho immigrants wero in the veiy best of spirits, and spoke hopefully of the future in their adopted home. Unfortunately, not one of them could speak English, and they expressed a considerable amount of anxiety in consequence, but they were in a great measure consoled when told that ther* were several of their countrymen in the province, and thafc they would soon be able to pick up the language in a country where English was universally spoken. Among the immigrants there aro some who have won decorations for services in the field. Ono has been iv the Holstein, Austrian, and FrancoGerman wars, and another in tho two latter •campaigns. The usual official inspection by the Immigration Commissioners was commenced shortly after going on board. Beginning with the single women's compartment, the muster roll was called over, and the girls were asked (through tho interpreters) whether they had any complaints to make. . Their general reply was that they had been well treated during the voyage. In tho married couples' com-partment,-every, head of a family was asked separately if he had anything to complain of. In the majority of cases tho reply was a negative one, but thero were a few who complained of the quality of the water and the insufficiency of diet served out to them. Dr Temple was asked to express his opinion with reference to tho dietary scale, and he said ho thought the quantities of some of the items were too small. Amongst the married couples, one immigrant was pointed out as having walked from the Russian frontier to Hamburg (a distance of aboufc 800 miles) with his wife and five or six children, sleeping afc farm houses and oftentimes in the open air on their way to join the ship. It was a curious fact, that while those on one side of the vessel (Polish-Ger-mans) complained about the insufficiency of food ; those on tho opposite side (Norwegians and Danes) expressed entire satisfaction. The former were asked how thoy could account for thia, and their reply was that the latter were richer than themselves, and besides bringing more comforts with them, had money onough to enable them to procure what they wanted. The same thing, however, was noticeable in the single men's compartment ; here tho Danes and Norwegians were perfectly satisfied with thoir treatment on board, while a few of the .Germans and Polish-Germans complained of the quality of tho water and the insufficiency of the dietary Bcale. The captain and doctor speak very highly of the conduct of the Norwegians and Danes and mosfc of his own countrymen during the voyage from Hamburg. We were pleased *o observe the cleanliness of the »hip in every

part, and ifc is doubtless owing fco the caro taken in this respect that the health of the passengers has been so successfully maintained. Speaking of the immigrants as a whole, they are undoubtedly a vory good selection, and if they follow fche excellent advice given to them by the two interpreters, they will have no reason to regret coming to New Zealand. Their ignorance of English will doubtless be a considerable disadvantage to. them for some time, but they will nofc be long in acquiring a sufficient knowledge of the language fco enable them to get along comfortably with those by whom they may be employed. It is probable fchafc many of them will find employment from bheir own countrymen. The Friedeburg sailed from Hamburg on the 18th of May, having on board 292 persons, representing 241 adults. On the voyage oufc, there was one death — a child 11 months old — and six births, thus increasing the number of souls to 297. Of this number 200 are above ! 12 years old, 82 aro between 1 and 12 years, • and 15 under 1 year. There are 61 single j women, 33 single men, 53 married couples, ' and 97 children and infants, including the six ! born on the passage. Wifch regard to nation- ' alities, the numbers are as follows : — Germans (including Polish), 102 persons above 12 years, 68 children and 5 in fants ; Nor- ' wegians, 51 persons above 12 years, 5 children, and 3 infants ; Danes, 47 per- : sons above 12 years, 9 children, aud 2 infants. This total of 10 infants does not include those born since the sailing of the ship. The ship ' is admirably adapted for the conveyance of immigrants, and is superior in many respects to fche vessels that come from London. The height between decks is Bft and Bft (lin, the ventilation is good, bufc there is an insufficiency of light in all the compartments. Captain j Kopper has made one trip to Queensland in the Friedeburg with 300 immigrants, and he ' is highly spoken of by those who have now \ readied Canterbury under his charge. The surgeon-superintendent, Dr D L. Temple, who speaks German very fluently and Danish moderately well, deserves to be complimented upon the healthy condition in which so many persons have reached their destination. The immigrants will disembark afc noon today, and will be conveyed by special train to Addington. The Barracks will be open to employers on Thursday. Wo are informed that afc the Immigration Barracks no fewer than 90 applications for domestic servants! have been received.' Mr March has remained on board the ship smce Saturday, and will nofc leave until the disembarkation is completed. Messrs Ruddenklau and Morrison will acfc as interpreters during the stay of fche immigrants at the Barracks.