EARLY SHIPPING DAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16985, 8 March 1923, Page 6

EARLY SHIPPING DAYS.

VOYAGES FROM THE OLD COUNTRY. TALES OF THE EMIGRANT SHIPS. The romance and some of the hardships of the early shipping days of New Zealand are recalled in the series of articles now being published by the “ Star ” relating to the early shipping days. Many people are interested in the subject, as there are still many old identities with us, while thousands of citizens of the Dominion are descended from the old stock which braved the voyages in the sailers of the ’fifties, ’sixties and ’seventies. The article printed to-day consists of extracts from the early files. No. X. THE DUKE OF BRONTE. The Duke of Bronte, 500 tons. Captain Barclay, arrived at Lyttelton on June 6, 1851. The following appeared in the “Lyttelton Times” next day:— The Duke of Bronte has at length arrived, after a long and. we understand, cold passage. She will land her passengers at a far more auspicious season than the former vessels —at the commencement of a New Zealand winter instead of amidst the beauties of its autumn. But they will find v as we have above remarked, that New Zealand is not England; and. while some inconvenience and discomfort must necessarily attend them at first, they need not fear anything like injury to their health and constitution. THE PASSENGERS. The following is a list of chief and fore-cabin passengers, who arrived by the Duke of Bronte: — Mr and Mrs Bray and four children. Mrs Wilmshurst. Mr and Mrs Tuson and two children. Mr and Mrs White. Mr William Pickering. Mr William Elwin. Mr Edward Taylor. Mr Geo. Hanmer. Mr Alfred S. Heathcote. Mr Julius Castle (for Wellington). Mr William Draper, surgeon-superin-tendent. Master Geo. Draper. Rev. Elijah Smith, chaplain. Mr and Mrs Sait. Mr and Mrs Mallam. Mr F. N. Campbell. Mr E. W. Whatmore. Mr Thomas B. Trew. Mr Edward Jones, schoolmaster. TRIBUTES TO CAPTAIN. The following testimonials were presented to Captain Barclay, of the Duke of Bronte :

Dear Sir, —Having been requested by my fellow passengers to transmit to you the enclosed letter, I take this opportunity of specially thanking you in my own name, and those of the steerage passengers, for haring during the whole of the voyage facilitated and assisted me in the execution of my duties, and for having made us all as happy and comfortable as it lay in your power to do. Wishing you in return every happiness and prosperity, 1 remain, yours very truly, W. DRAPER, vSurg.-Supt. Lyttelton, June 20. (Enclosed).

Dear Sir, —Ere you leave this port, we. the undersigned chief and forecabin passengers by your ship, feel desirous to express to you our most sincere and heartfelt thanks for having conducted us in safety to the termination of a long and arduous voyage. Also to bear testimony to your straightforward and gentlemanly deportment, as well as your unremitting attention to secure the well-being, comfort and harmony of the passengers of all classes. Wishing Mrs Barclay and yourself many years of health and happiness,—We remain, yours very faithfully. (Signed by all the chief and fore-cabin passengers). Lyttelton, June. 20. JOURNAL OF THE WEEK. (From the “ Lyttelton Times,” Saturday, June 14, 1851). The principal topic of the current week, that which is in everybody’s mouth, is undoubtedly the furious gale with which we were visited on Tuesday, and -which continued from the south and south-west with more or less violence until Thursday night. The Pauline, brigantine, which was riding off the town, dragged her anchors on Wednesday night and came on shore just opposite the house of the Rev. H. Jacobs. She had two anchors down, but all her j-ards and top masts aloft. The Perseverance, which was riding close to her drove in but, getting her yards down in time, she held or* at her anchors a short distance from the shore. The Flirt came on shore close to the jetty, and was much damaged. The long boat of the Duke of Bronte and 1 a boat belonging to Mr Pollard, which were moored to the jetty, were almost knocked to pieces, and several smaller boats suffered more or less injury. The Steadfast, Captain Spencer, arrived on Monday with about 130 passengers. She sailed from London three weeks after the Duke of Bronte, but had a. favourable and rapid passage, especially to the line. Owing to the violence of the weather, her passengers could not be landed until yesterday. She drove down the harbour on Wednesday night, but held on with a second anchor. We were glad to see her chose the first fine day to regain her ground and even come higher up within view of the town, nothing daunted by the late weather. The Duke of Bronte has landed all her steerage passengers. It is evident that our harbour, although tolerably sheltered, ought to be supplied with good moorings. This is not essential for the large ships, the. holding ground in the middle of the harbour being good enough, but vessels at anchor in front of the town ought either to be secured to good moorings or else to get under weigh before a south-west gale comes on, and bring to under the opposite shore where they can ride in perfect safety. The Duke of Bronte left Lyttelton on Sunday, July 20, for Guam, and the Steadfast sailed the same day for Singapore. The following is from the “ Lyttelton Times” of Saturday. July 26. 1851: The scene in our harbour on Sunday morning last was worth seeing. The Duke of Bronte and the Steadfast, the Endora and Maria, (barques), and the brig Raven got under weigh about the same time and, with a. fair wind, sailed out of the port. We need not to describe this string together a host of nautical terms or talk of “ white sails swelling to the breeze ” those who saw the Derwent come up the harbour on Wednesday may imagine the effect produced by the departure of five vessels at once, of no mean tonnage and under all the canvas they could shake out; the Bronte and Steadfast making the hills ring again with their parting salute. The voyage of the Steadfast • will be described in to-morrow’s issue.