ARRIVAL OF THE STAD HAARLEM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3435, 15 April 1879, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE STAD HAARLEM.

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(JVom IK* Own Correspondent of the LytleUon Times,

DUNEDIN, Apeii. 14. This fine steamer, which has been expected for the last few days, was signalled from the Heads shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday, but owing to the state of the tide she was unable to cross the bar. During the night a heavy ■ea got up, and early this morning it was breaking right aorosß the ontrance, and the signal "Bar dangerous" was hoisted at heads, owing to whioh fact great fears were entertained that the vessel would be unable O cross the bar at high water. It was then decided by the local representative of tke N.Z.B. Company to oharter a steamer and proceed outside, and in the event of the Stad

Haarlem not being able to cross the bar at high water, that she should at once proceed on to Lyttelton, from which port the Dunedin immigrants could be forwarded by rail. The tug Zoputai, having on board Mr H. S. Smith, General Manager of tho Company, Messrs Currie and Mill (local agents), Mr Maroh, Immigration Officer, Capt. Thomson, Health Officer, and Mr M'Callum, DeputyHarbour Master and the representatives of tho Press left the rniiway-pier shortly after nino o'clock this morning. On the Heads being reached, Mr Smith, accompanied by Captain Thomson, went off to tho Stad Haarlem in a small boat. It was then high water, and the sea was breaking right across tho bar. The Harbour Master, and thoße with him, saw at once that it was hopeless to expect to get the Stad Haarlem across on that tide. When Mr Smith put tho question very pointedly, " Can you guarantee that you will be able to get the vessel in on to-morrow's tide," Captain Thomson felt himself compelled to reply in the negative, whereupon Mr Smith took upon himself tho responsibility of ordering the vessel oh to Lyttelton, for which port she sailed at noon. Before proceeding down the harbour this morning, Captain Thomson received the following telegram from the Hon Mr Stout: "If, by the steamer stopping till to-morrow, it will allow her to enter, I think Bhe should wait ; at all events, the immigrants should be landed by steamer if possible. Of course, if tho bar remains dangerous, she must proceed to Lyttelton." Captain TbomBon informs us that there was 22ft on the bar at high-water this morning, but the sea was breaking very badly right across it. Indeed, Pilot Kelly told him that he had not seen tho sea so bad at any time during the past five years. The Stad Haarlem was drawing from 18£ft to 19ft. Under all the circumstances, though he was naturally anxious to see the steamer enter the port, Captain Thomson could not but agree that it was a wise resolve to order the steamer on. The immigrants for Otago will be landed at Lyttelton and brought on here by rail, so that on the ground of expense of conveyance there will be a saving effected by the alteration, as only 140 (the number for Otago), instead of 340 immigrants, will now have to be conveyed by rail. The Stad Haarlem was detained five days at the Cape, which accounts for her somewhat lengthy passage. There were five deaths of infantß, and no infectious diseases are reported. Mr March, Immigration Officer for Canterbury; Mr Collin Allan, Immigration Officer for Otago ; and Mr Elliott, Under-Secretary for Immigration, will leave by the express to-morrow morning for Christchurch, to inspect the Stad Haarlem immigrants. Those for Dunedin will be forwarded down on Thursday. j