THE HURUNUI FROM LONDON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3638, 8 December 1879, Page 2

THE HURUNUI FROM LONDON.

Tba first of tho overdue Home ships to pat in an appearance *a3 iho N.Z 8. Company's ship Hurunui, Capt-in Barclay, alter a passage of 113 days from London. The ship, was signalled at 830 am, in tow cf the s.s. ; Penguin, which Iwd pi.-ked her - up off the Sale Bool«! t ar& at 10 a.m., she brought np off Diainonl Harbour; the p ». Lyttoltoh having hold of her. TLo Health and Immigration Officers trent off to tho ship at 11 a.m., and finding all well, hoarded her, togother with tho Customs' and Harbour officials, Agonts of tho vessel and representatives of the Press. Tho officials at dice began their inspoctkm of tho passengers, which is now required to ho a very Btriot individual inspection, in order to prevent the admission to the Colony of av.y ono likely to beciine a chargo npon the Government through infirmity or other cau-e. While the inspection was going on Captain Barclay was interviewed touching th<*' passage oat, as it was evideut that neither of uo ordinary lind bad can3«d the Uumnui to malte so lorn? and t«dfcvas a passage, tbe voynge lloms from the Bluff having OCenmule in eighty days. The chief canso of tho exteiidul j'RSgaeo wn3 tho very nnfavourable weather cir.-t with -it tbo commencement:, as it was not until 15 days uftur -leaving Gwveeend that the Harunui took her departure from the Scilly Islands. The latter part of tho voyage wa3 equnlly tedious, the ship being enly 70 miles from thtt Snare 3 on Nor. fcs, and flight <Uyg later tho was only between tho Sunre.i nud tho .South Traps, onjy 1 10 m ; lea of eastim* boiujf modo in that timo, strong eastfly wiads ami cuhns having been experienced tho «:n!o time. Thua twouly dnj3 at least were tateu up iv exerss of ordinary passages. The waattn r during the remainder of the pmsngewas fair, t;. hoary gules lmvia? boeu encountered. Tha Hurunni brings 251 pacaengars in all ; 255 left I. >mlou, but there were live deaths and one hirih. Tho health of the passengera has been fair throughout tho pussngo, though thoru baa been a good deal of Moktiosj amongst a few. some of a somewhat neriom nature. From tho medical officer, Dr W. .B!ey, win mute* hia first vi3it to New Zealand, we lcarh that there were twoaceidents at tho earJy part of thepissa^e, both resultiag in fractures of tho thigh. On August 22, George Waterfall, a lad. had. hia thigh fractured in two places throngh a heavy .f«H ou deck.and the other accident happened to William 8. Male, who fell frcm.tho rigging. Dating the passage, diarrhcaa btoko out in a family in n, very virulent manner, necessitating much care on the medical offioer'a part to prevent contasrism. Tbo patients were isolated, and every precaution taken with success. There •wore slight -symptoma of diarrhoaa amongat the other passenger*, but nothing of great import. There were five deaths ou tho pasßaijo, viz. : Sept, 5, Henr? A. Watts agp.d 20 month;, from tabio i mesentorica. Nor. 3, Gortrude lit. Hole, agod tlve months, from Iho ramo cause. Nor.' 14. TV. J. Davis, ngod two yoirs, from diarrhoea. Nov. 20, EmmaPividaon. froinpuerfcoral lever, having been delivered of a still-bom cbild on Nor. 10. Dr Bley spoke of thi3 as being a moat serious oaso. Nov. 24, Thomas Da vie, aged, eight months, from diarrhoea. One hirth took place, viz., Mrs Mollor of a daughter on Nov. 5. The passengers speak well cf tho kinunoss and attention shown them by Captain Barclay, Dr Bley, and the officers of the ship, and presented the two former with testimonials signed by all on board, wherein was expressed the pgteem in which they were held for their unvarying caro and kindness throughout the voyage. One old friend Cap Lain Barclay cortainly appoars to have beon as much appreciated this paseago a? ho has been in tho pa3t, having had a pleasant word for all at all times, and used his beat endeavours to make all as comfortable a< possible. A few complaints were heard regardiui; the accommodation afforded in the third clara, eorae of tho cabins hoinc inside ones, and entirely without any light whatever, and needing more- ventilation. Tbi3 was caasal by a double row of cabin», along eaoh side o* the ship, to which accesH is piited by an alley thwart ships. The cabins therefore next thu vessel's side were undoubtedly tho best as regards light, having tin benefit of the ports, while the others were quite dark. It appears that the *bjest in arranging the cabins in that manner was so ai to allow of the bonks being placed fora and nft. instead of thwart shipa, tho formic certainly leing tho moit comfortnblo plan. In one case where complaint was mnde to Captain Barday of insufficiency of room, ho took immediate steps to remedy tho mutter. Tho second cabin accommodation wm vary Rood and roomy, hoing situated aft in tiie 'tween decks, the third class midship 3. and tho single men ot|that class forward. The pasjoagois worn well satUUed with the quality and quantity of tho food, no coinpinints being made on that score. Tho usual amusements took place on board in tho way of singing, theatricals, so., and altogether the passenger* seem to have had a plejsint; timo on boird. Air Sutherland still occupies tho post of ohiof officer, while Mr Jameson U second and Mr Michael third. The following in Captain Barclay's report ot Ihe passage -.—Left tho docks on August 11, and proceeded down to Grcenhitbo, whore the ship was swung to adjust her compassos ; embarked pay sangora that afternoon, and towed in to Gravesend, lowing there at 1 p.m. oa August 15 ; towed down an far as the Ouse next day, when the tn;j cast 08. Westerly winds and very dirty weather wora oxperienced for sevoral days, the ship driftinir about hi tho Channel. Passed the ship Euterpa off Prawle Point, and finally got cloar of tbeChaunelon August 30, taking departure from Scilly that day. Bad a good ruu across the Bay, lost the north-east trades in 14deg north, and then met with light south south-west winds to crossing- tho Equator on Sept. 28, in 24.45.1 eg west. Picked np tho south-east trades en tho Line; thay proved good, and were carried to 23deg south on Oct. 7. Passed the Cape on Oct. 21, i« 40deg south, with strong westerly winds, and mat with fresh westerly gales, lasting for tha next fire days, tho best day's ran being 277 miles. After that had moderate and variable weatorly winds. Passed Cape Looawin on Nov. 10 in4t.lWeg Routh, and Tasmania oa Kov.6, with a Stroug northerly brcoza. Had. variable weather thence to Nov. 21, when the ship was within 70 miles of tho Snares. The wind then camo away from the eastward, and h 11114 at that quarter, blowing hard at times, for the noxt niao days, and an Nov. 30 tho ship had only made such progress as to have reached between tho Bn&res and the j South Traps. Thence hod light variable winds I and calms up tho Coast. Was off the Peninsula on Priday, got a southerly breeze tbat sight, and when off Sole Rooki, the wind suddenly fell away calm. Signalled tho n.s. Penguin, and was taken in tow by nor arriving at an auchorage oil Diamond Harbour at 10 a.m. ou Saturday. No vessels bound to the Colonies were spoken on the voyago except the Euterpe. Thn Hurunui enterod at the Customs on Saturday, and will be brought in to tho No. 3 wharf to-day.