SHIP EASTERN MONARCH, FROM LONDON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1992, 24 July 1874, Page 2

SHIP EASTERN MONARCH, FROM LONDON.

The Eastern Monarch, of London, 1706 tons legister, commanded by Captain Alexander Donaldson, and chartered by the New Zealand Shipping Company, for the purpose of conveying immigrants to Canterbury, arrived off Port Lyttelton on the night of Monday, July 20, having, in spite of contrary winds at the commencement of the voyage, made the passage from land to land in 71 days and 19 hours, and from port to port in 73 days 12 hours. By the courtesy of Captain Donaldson, we are enabled to subjoin some particulars of what may bo considered, looking at the moderate nature of the winds' experienced by the Eastern Monarch, ono of the fastest passages evor made to a Now Zealand port by a sailing vessel. Tho Eastern Monarch left Plymouth on Thursday, the 7th May, at 7.30 p.m., and experienced light and variable winds from W. and S.W., as far as the Canary Islands, whioh were sighted on the 22nd May ; the ship passed between the islands on the following day, and on leaving them fell in with the N.E. Trades, which, although moderate, carried her as far as the Equator. She crossed the line on June 5, in west longitude 29 deg 29 mm; picked up the S.E. Trades ut onco, and hold them as far as 31 deg 51 mm W. lat., 22 deg 50 mm lon. On the 23rd Juno she passed the meridian of the Cape, in S. lat 40 dog 36 mm, and experienced favourable weather in running down her easting, winds varying from N.W. to S.W., and of moderate strength. Tho Snares wero sighted at 2 p.m. on July 18. A heavy galo from W.N.W. was experienced off Otago on tho 19th, Lyttelton light being sighted at night on tho 20th. The ship was kept off and on until daybreak*, when she stood in for the port, and anchored at tho Heads. The voyage throughout was of a very pleasant character, tho cold experienced in our southern latitudes being less severe than many of the immigrants anticipated. Only one circumstance occurred to mar the happiness of those on board, namely, the loss by drowning of a seaman named George Sweet, who fell from the rigging at about eight o'clock on tho morning of July 16, when the ship was rapidly approaching tho termination of her voyage. At the time that Sweet fell overboard, the ship was making about 13 knots. Life-buoys were thrown to the unfortunate man, a boat was lowered immediately (the ship being hove to) and search made by Mr Stubbs, tho second officer, but without avail, as neither the man nor life-buoy could be scon after tho vessel was hove to. It was thought that tho heavy sea-boots and clothing worn by Sweet caused him to sink before the boat could reach the spot. During the voyago every effort was mado by Dr Dunkley, tho excellent Surgeou-Snperintendi nt, in order to instruct and amuse the large body of immigrants placed under his care. Concerts were held, in which many of tbe immigrants took on aotive part, and all folt a lively interest. Readings wore given by Dr Dunkley and Mr Hallainoro, one of the saloon passengers ; interesting lectures on New Zculimd, Coylon, ahd India, with reminiscences of tiger hunting in the latter country, were delivered during the voyage by the worthy SurgeonSuperintendent, the meetings being frequently presided over -by Captain Donaldson, of whom the passongers and immigrants speak in terms of the highest respect. The regulations of the New Zealand Government with reference to education, seem to have beou duly carried into effect by the schoolmaster (Mr Ward), who was enabled to instruct a considerable number of children during the passage undor difficult circumstances. On June 5, . after crossing the Line, an admirable concert was givon by the sailors, who displayed the most coinmendablo taste- in docorating with flags, ia., the portion of the ship sot apart for the entertainment. Whilo song and dance and merry jest helped to dispel the monotony of tho voyage, moro important matters were not neglected. In spite of tho arduous duties of tho medical oflicer, more than the usual number of Sunday services appear to havo beon held, and the moral as well as the physical health of this floating village seems to have been woll cared for. Tho Eastor_rMonarch brings 552 souls, representing 473 statufco adults. They appear to be a woll selected aad healthy-looking lot of immigrants, and whilo the larger proportion of tho men aro agricultural labourers and miners, there is a considerable sprinkling of others, such as carpenters, fitters, machinists, shoemakers and tailors. Seventyfour siDgle women have come out by this ship : most of them belong to tho class of domestics, and Boom to bo woll adapted to the colony. The immigrants unito in testifying to the kindness and courtesy invariably shown by Captain. Donaldson and his officers, and presented them with suitable testimonials. The single women were landed last night. The Eastern Monarch, is an iron ship, and was built at Sunderland, during the present year, by Messrs Mounsey and Poster j she is 1706 tons register, and is classified Al for 100 years. In her construction, tho greatest caro has been taken, in order to obtain the maximum amount of strength. Her length over all is 270 feet, breadth 40 feet, depth ot hold 23 feet ; and she is fitted with the most modern appliances, including a steam engine and stoam winch, for the purposo of hoisting anchors, and loading and discharging cargo, &c. The threo lower masts aro of iron ; hor lower yards and topsail yards aro of stool, and sho is also fitted with doublo topsail yards aud doublo top-gallant yards. Her'twecn decks arounusually lofty aud light, tho ventilation being admirable. The fittings of tho handsome- saloon aro of a chaste and elegant character ; tho decorations, consisting of maple and waluut fretwork panellings, relieved by handsome silver mountings and appropriate gilding and carving. Tho passengers' private cabins are lofty and commodious, and what is somewhat unusual in vessols trading to New Zealand, each cabin is luxuriously fitted with velvot pilo couches, handsomo Brussels carpets, and olcgaut mirrors; in fact, tho accommodation is iv all respects similar to that of a first-class ocean mail steamer. Tho Eastern Monarch is owned by tho Royal Exohange Shipping Co., of London, of which company Messrs John Patton, Jun., and Co., of London, are the managors. Tho command of this, tho pioneer vessel of tho company, has beon entrusted to Captain Alexander Donaldson, a gentleman well known in mercantile circles aB a skilful navigator. While ljing in the South West India Dock, the Eastern Monarch was visited by hundreds of persons interested in shipping, and her noblo proportions and splondid accommodation were the thorne of general admiration. SHIP PEERESS, PROM LONDON. This ship arrived in harbour on Thursday, having worked up as far as Camp Bay agaiust an cob tide, where sho anchored. To-morrow morning she will bo towed higher up tho harbour by tho s.s. Moa. Sho is by no meaus a handsome ship, and having met with very heavy weather on hor passage, more especially a severe galo in the Bay of Biscay, she presents a great contrast to tho Eastern Monarch. The immigrants, who aro bound for Timaru, appear to bo a vory suitable lot for tho requirements of that district, or indeed for any. Thoy consist principally of ioua fide agricultural labourors, with a sprinkling of mechanics and of good, healthy, strong, country girls, who look as if they could work. In spite of tho long aud tedious passage, tho immigrants speak iv tho highest terms of the great kindness and consideration shown them by the captain and officers. Mr John Smith, a delegate from the National Agricultural Labourers' Union, was a passenger, aud expresses himself as generally plooscd with the arraugoments on board. He has come to reside in the colony. There wero six deaths aud four births during tho passage. Tht following is the captain's leport -.— Left the S.W. India Dock on -lurch 27, having embarked tho immigrants tho previous day ; left Gravesendon tho 29th, and anchored in tho Downs. Owing to heavy weather, did not leavo until April 5, when tho ship was taken in tow, and finally took hor departure from tho Start Point on April 11, tho wind being strong from N. to N.E. It increased, rounding to N.W. and thon to S.W., increasing iv strength until reaching a heavy gale, accompanied with terrifio squ.dls and high seas, tho ship rolling and straining heavily and taking largo quantities of water on deck. At I p.m. ou tho same day the gale continued to increaso, and tho ship was woro to the I*s. U. At 4 p.m., it was blowing a fearful hurricane, and tha. fore-topsail was blown away. At 5 p.m., tho main- topsail .was blown to ribbons, ship at tho time rolling and straining heavily, tho seas washing tho decks foro and aft. Woather continued bad until tho lith. At 2 a.m., on that day, the vessel shipped a heavy sea, which carried away tho topgallant bulwarks and main rail on both sides ol the vessel, and also a portion of tho lower bulwarks, tho main hatch aud winch being smashed to pieces, and tho deckhouse stove in. In tho afternoon, tha gale abated. Madeira was passed on April 27. The N.E. Trades wero light, and the meridian was crossed ou May 10. The S.E. Trades woro very

light. The eastings were run down in 4 deg 50 mm. Sighted the Island of Palma on June 2. When in lat. 28deg 21min S., long. 19deg 53min W., the ship wns surrounded with waterspouts, one passing witbin 50 yards of her, and having a most destructive appearance, also accompanied by a violent whirlwind. The ship was kept off, aud sho steered clear of the danger, A gun was fired, which had the effecs of dispersing the most dangerous waterspout, ond violent showers of rain followed. The meridian of the Cape was passed on June 14, in lat 41 deg 4 mm S., the wind at this time blowing a heavy gale, with high confused sea. One sea struck the ship, staving in the port side of tho deck-house. And thence to passing the meridian of Tasmania experienced a succession of heavy galee, accompanied with squnlls of hail and suow. Passed the meridian of Tasmania in lat 48 deg 36 mm S. Thence to within 50 miles of the Snares had strong W. and N.W. winds. Tho Snares were sighted on July 18, 103 days out from the Start. A strong gale was experienced on the coast, a portion of the port bulwarks being stove in. On Monday, July 20, another gale from the 5.3. W., accompanied with squalls of hail and snow, waa experienced. The land being in sight, stood in next day, but the weather was so bad that tho captain deemed it best to come on to port, and Godley Heads were sighted at noon on Wednesday.