EARLY SHIPPING DAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17030, 2 May 1923, Page 10

EARLY SHIPPING DAYS.

VOYAGES FROM THE OLE COUNTRY. TALES CF 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 th* early TO NAVIGATE THE BAYS AND KIV KBS. (From the ••.Lyttelton Times. ’ X ove mbe r 17, 1855.) We have the gratification, of being able to announce that the long-desired steamer to navigate the Canterbury bays and rivers will shortly make hei appearance. Our enterprising townsman. Mr Thacker, hu-s purchased the Alma, forty tons, twelve horse-power, screw,. and she may bo expected here in about a fortnight. This is the same boat that Messrs Bishop, Goukl and Imvood had contracted to purchase— Canterbury “ Standard.” IMM IG AT JON FIG V R ES. (From the ‘ Lyttelton Times,” November 24, 1855.) The Provincial Government Gazette ” contains the returns of immigration and emigration to and from the province for the quarter ending September 30, 1855. The numbers immigrating to this province, coastwise, appear to have been 105, 100 of whom were from Wellington, and five from the other provinces. Twenty-two emigrated from this to other provinces .5 New Zealand during the same period. From Great Britain and the neighbouring colonies we received 200 immigrants, from Great Britain 180, New South Males 8, and Van Pieman's Land 0. The total of emigration to the neighbouring colonies from the province was 29. The total excess of immigration in favour of the province over emigration during the quarter was 254 souls, as will appear from the following statement : Immigrants. From the other provinces of New Zealand .... 105 Great Britain and the neighbouring colonies .... 200 305 Emigrants. To the other provinces of New Zealand .... 22 To New South Wales ... 29 51 Excess in favour of this province 254 Two vessels with immigrants arrived from LoncTon and two from New South "Wales with stock during the quarter. The returns show that seventeen vessels had arrived in this port from July 9 to September 29. making an aggregate of 3242 tons. AN EPOCH IN OUR HISTORY. (From the ‘ Lyttelton Times,” November 28, 1855.) The arrival of the Alma from Melbourne is an epoch in our history, steamboats plying between the different townships interest all in common. That a more rapid communication between the growers of produce throughout the province and the port of the settlement has become a necessity is admitted by all. No interest can bo of sufficient importance—could we imagine one us existence—to obstruct the introduction of any practicable system to supply this desideratum to the onward progress oi Canterbury. The Alma has been purchased to help on the work. Me arc not sufficiently up in the line to give any opinion as to the capabilities ol this vessel—still, from all we .hear, there appears no reason to doubt her success, if attempts at the impracticable are not indulged in. .Most sincerely' do we wish that this first attempt to facilitate the commercial transactions of the province by steam communication will be successful and amply repay her owners. IMPROVING POSTAL COMMUNICATION. The Liverpool shipowners are taking active steps to improve Anglo-Austra lian postal communication and profess a probability of being able to reduce the time to sixty days out. STEAM NAVIGATION OF THE RIVER. (From the ‘‘Lvttelton Times” .December 12, 1855.) The Alma made her first trip to .he ferry w harf on Monday last, and is reported, of satisfiaotorAly. She started from the jetty at Lyttelton about two and reached the ferry in two hours and a-lialf, including stopping outside the heads for the pilot, Mr Geo. Day. Immediately after unloading she steamed foi Sumner, and although detained there about two hours, anchored at Lyttelton soon alter ten the same evening, making the two trips and unloading in little more than eight hours, notwithstanding the detentions. ARRIVAL OF THE ISABELLA HERCtJS. (From the “.Lyttelton Times,” June 5, 1856.) Arrived —January 4. ship Isabella He reus, 569 tons. Sewell, from London. Passengers: C. Alison, wife and four children; G. Burrell, wife and infant, E. Burrell and wife; Eliza Berth wick and two children; John Burns and wife; John Cole and wiles Miles (’ole and wife; Joseph Cricks, wife and son ; Henry Dress and wife ; Herman Fagen. wife and daughter; S Golding and wife; J. Hunt, wife and three children; Joseph Harrell, wife and three children ; Emblem Hughes and two children; Richard Hcmmans and wife; Fritz Heltenberg and wife; Charles Morgan and wife: Tom Moore, wife ind infant; Richard Russell, wife and two children; Edward Stuggall and sun; Jos. Stokes, wife and infant; John l’ammar end wife. Single men- R. Oitaway, F. Bean, v. Bennett. M'. Clark. J. Clark, D. Crease, H. Cole. J. Cotton. R. Cob'juld. H. Dean, H. Elding. .1. Elliott, R. G. Fleming. G. M\ Fleming, 'l' Friedenthai. W. Gefhen, M\ Hay ton. H. Hinchen. L. Holst. M’. L. Jane. \Y. Jones, .7. James, Johan Kissing, D Roster, J Laurismann. J. Leahmain, F. Teurs, Johan Mayer, J. Manaells^

T Preece. 13. Raby. H. Rust, PF. Schmidt. W. Swigy, dob Todd. D Todd. Single women—M. A. Dauscb, V Bennett. A. Frazer. C. Oldfield. C. O’Neil, M. Simmons. C Vogeler. It. Whitley. G. Warnel. E. Warned, M. A Warned. Martha ANarnel. Died on the passage— Adults : December 30. .1. D. Sinclair, twenty-nine years, passenger for Otago : December 12. Charles Hughes, twenty-six years, for Canterbury ; December 10. Hannah Sleggall. twenty-five years, for Canterbury; January 3. Esther Tock. twenty-two years, for Canterbury. Infants: October 11. Luc-v Allison. Emily Burrell. H. Hughes. Geo. Hunt. Two births occurred. Passengers for Otago—Chief cabin : Mr and Mrs Edwards and family. Assisted passengers. F. Alexander, W. H. Alexander. F. Barker. F. Barker. M Binnie. W. Brown, M. Duncan, J. Duncan. J. Rabinet. wife and four children. FT. Harrison. W. Jackson, NT. Martin. J. Robertson, N. Robertson. C. XJrquhart. This vessel brought no regular mail The quarantine flag was hoisted lithe medical officer had inspected hex.