EARLY SHIPPING DAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17036, 9 May 1923, Page 10

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 oi extracts from the early files. GREETED WITH TRYING WEATHER. (From the “ Lyttelton Times,” January 20, 1858.) The weather dining the past ten days has been of a trying character. Ever since the arrival of the Westminster particles of mother earth in cloudy volumes have been hurrying from the interior to the coast as if to give a welcome from the soil to the newcomers. Great as the treat may be to step ashore alter a long voyage, it is by no means an agreeable form of enjoying the land to have its surface flying in one’s i ace, impelled by a scorching north-wester. Such may lie a warm and eager greeting to those sick of sea, but the manner of it does away unpleasantly with the ideas of solid earth and terra finmi which have consoled the tossed about one on the oceane billow. A BOATSWAIN’S DEATH. (From the " Lyttelton Times,” February 3, 1858.) A melancholy accident occurred in this harbour on the afternoon of Friday last. John Smith, boatswain of , the Ashburton, was going ashore in u boat with five others to fetch water to the ship. About halfway between the Ashburton and Rhodes's Bay lie went to the fore part of the boat to do something to the sail, and when coming aft again, stepping over the casks, hi 6 loot slipped and he fell backwards overboard. The men immediately threw him an oar. which, how ever, he did not seem to care about taking. They then threw out the second oar, which he refused likewise, although both went close, to him. In a tew seconds he was heard to give a groan, and lie then sank and was seen no more. The boat remained on the spot for half an hour to threequarters. and every exertion was made to recover him. The sail was taken down, the empty water casks were thrown out of the boat, and everyone was on the watch. The conclusion arrived at by nearly all is that th,e unfortunate man was seized by a shark. Smith was about thirty-two years of age. and was a great favourite with all hands. ARRIVAL OF THE ROEHAMPTON. (From tho " Lyttelton Times,” March 10, 1858). Arrived— March 7. barque Roehamp ton, 469 tons. Candler, from London via the Cape of Good Hope. Passe nChief cabin.—Captain and Mrs J. Brandon, three sons and four daughters. Mrs C. E. Dampier and two sons. Mr and Mrs das. Morrison, Mr Youle. surgeon-superintendent. Second cabin Mr and Mrs William Payne, one son and one daughter; Mr C. Prebble and Mr J. -Jones. Steerage.—G. Mason, wife and two sons; J. Tiley and wife, R. Ashworth, G. Lewis, and R. Zimmerman. Assisted Immigrants. Married couples.- H. J. Waters, labourer. wife and five sons: S. Bartie. gardener, and wife; H. Derrett. labourer, wife, three sons and one daughter: P. M’Kinlay, tailor, wife and daughter; J. Miles, labourer. wife, two sons and two daughters; -J. Langford. carpenter, wife, two sons and one daughter; TV. Widdowson. carpenter, wife aud daughter; J. Wrenn. labourer. wife and son; J. Horrell, car- ; pen ter. wife, one son and two daughters : T. Hills, labourer, wife and son; W. Smith labourer, wife and three daughters: J. Rons. labourer and wife; J. Gulliver, servant, wife, ami /lour sons; G. E. Baker, farmer, wife, three sons and one daughter; W. Barnes, smith, wife and two daughters; B. Monk labourer, wife, two sons and one daughter; T. Pve. smith, wife, one son and three daughters; J. E. Stanton, smith, wife, one son and one daughter ; W. M.'Don aid. sawyer, and wife. Single men—T. Tuton, gardener; J. Turton. brassworker; D. Smith, miner; F. Thiele, servant ; W. Weston, carpenter; R. Turner, printer; W. Hayward, sawyer; J. Hoesack labourer: K. Horrell. labourer; R-. Smith, labourer; Oockroft. mason; A. Bower, mason. W. Lockwood, mason ; G. Hannah. carpenter: J. Morgan, gardener; J. Ford, carpenter;. J. Smith. gardener; J. M’Kinlay. smith ; J. Miles, labourer; and W. Baker, farmer. Single women —E. Weston. C. Smith, S. and E. Parsons. R. M’Kinlay, C. C'heeseman, S. Gulliver, A. Miles and H. Horrell. SUMMARY. Statute Adults.

Married couples—Eight labourers, one gardener, three carpenters, three smiths, one sawyer, one house servant, one farmer and one tailor. Single men—Four labourers, three carpenters, three gardeners. three masons, one farmer, one brassworker, one printer, one sawyer, one miner and one house servant. There are seven natives of Scotland among the assisted immigrants and. one German. The remainder are English. 'There were no births or deaths on board.

Chief Cabin 11 Second Cabin . . . 4 Steerage— Married couples and families 5 Do. Government immigrants . 56 Single Men . 3 I>o. Government immigrants . 20 Single women immigrants 8 92 Total statute adults . 108