EARLY SHIPPING DAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17040, 14 May 1923, Page 11

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.

PASSENGERS PER MAORI. (From the “ Lyttelton Times,” June 30, 1858.) We have been favoured by the agent for the Maori with the following classified list of immigrants on board her, intended for Canterbury : Married couples :—James Barker, wife and three children, James Bishop, wife and seven children, Win. Bland, wife and child, Jas. Aldridge and wife, Alfred Cliillingwortk, wife and two children, Enoch Cole and wife, Henry Cousins and wife, Wm. Ekin and wife, Benjamin Ellis, wife and five children, James Flint, wl fe and two children, Thomas Hardcastle, wife and seven ch hi” aV l m r ?*"■ wife on® child, Mark Judson and wife. Caleb MAW*’ " le an j fire cl “M*-en, Arthur Miller, wife and two children. John Mors, wife and one child, Wm. Moody wife and six children. Thos. Peake Wife and three children, Thos. Pearce note and three children, Henry Pratt Wife and one child, Edward Scott', wife and one child, John Stansell, wife and Six children, ,J o h n strange wife and one child, Peter Tucks and wife, George^Turkey, wife and two children, John At hite and wife, Robert Woods and Wife, Thos. Widdowson, wife and John Webb, wife and three children.

Single men :—Samuel Barrel], Win J John Brown, John Bell, Thos. I Bell, Ronald Cousins, Henry Daws i ■James Dearsley, Godfrey Evans, John ( Hughes, H. R, Hughes, Henry King. AV alter King, Ambrose Moody, Thus i Pearce, Henry R. Pratt, Ch a s Tur ? neT - Tiffin, Joseph Ward, Rich- ■ ar «. 1S ’ Watling. Single women:—Caroline Alder- | Maria Barnard.'Elizabeth Carrel], Har- i riett Collis, Edith Cullen. Sarah Flint Elizabeth Flint. Mari., Flint, Emma Flint. Harriett Hughes. Dinah Jones Maria Page, Christina Pearse, Elizabeth Pearce, Amelia Pratt. M. Ann Pratt, T.ury Rainbow, Mary Sawtell Mary Stocks, Harriett Sawver. Eliza beth Turkey, Emma Turkey—Total souls. 161. ARRIVAL OF THE MAORI. (From the “ Lyttelton Times,” Julv 12, 18S8). Arrived—July 14, ship Maori, 709 tons, G. Cl. Petherbridge, from London, March 25. Passengers for Canterbury : —Saloon, Messrs Wilkinson, Paiainet, Ainlej, Bushell, Traherne and Price, Mr and Mrs Butler, Mrs Honeyman, Mrs Price and 177 second cabin and steerage passengers, whose names were given in a former number. Ihe Maori, which we formerly stated aa having sailed from Gravesend on March 26, arrived on Wednesday lost, making a voyage of 110 days. After starting she met with strong southwest gales which continued for twentyone days, and prevented her passing Madeira till her 25th day of departure. On May 15 the fore-top mast and three f o P~B a ll ft ut masts were carried away, which cauaed a further detention, and during the last ten days of the voyage ahe made very little headway from calms and light winds. She made Steward Island on Monday last. Taking the voyage altogether, it was fine and agreeable. Three births and seven deaths occurred. All the latter were natural, one having died of consumption, and another having come on board in a state of debility from previous illness. The following is a list of the deaths: —Second cabin, James Wilson. single. Steerage, James Barber, single; Henry Cousins, married—no children; Mrs Moss and infant; Lucy Rainbow, single ; and Thomas Heslop, single. When the immigrant* per Maori landed they were temporarily furnished at the Barracks, which, we are glad to perceive, have been considerably improved and enlarged with additional rooms, and otherwise rendered more commodious and comfortable than heretofore. The immigrants are, with very few exceptions, a prime, healthy lot. including several mechanics, and nearly all of them have been already engaged. GATHERING FRESH LAURELS. (From the “ Lyttelton Times,” July 21. 1858). The White Swan, our screw steamer, appears to be gathering fresh laurels whithersoever she goeth. Her trip hence to Otago occupied only 23} hours, and back to Lyttelton 22 hours. Some passengers who went in her to Otago and returned bv the same opportunity have expressed to us their highi est satisfaction with the comforts they experienced and the courteous urban- ; ity of the captain ar,l officers on board. A BRIG ASHORE. [ (From the “Lyttelton Times,” July 28, 1858). W e (Wellington “ Independent,” ’ July 21) regret to report that intellil gence reached town early on Sunday > morning that the Mary Clarke, a l large brig of 170 tons, W T ood, master, i was ashore on our coast. She had 5 shipped the greater part of her cargo, consisting of produce, at Canterbury, ' and was on her way to Sydney with several passengers, including female*, 5 having to call here to complete her t loading with potatoes. She passed ' the roadstead in a strong wind from : the land on the previous morning and J whilst taking in shore during the night ran on a reef, close to the Waitara. Every aid was rendered by the harbour 1 department in boots, and crowds flocked to the scene to give assistance > if needed. Most of the cargo was * landed more or less damaged, but all i idea of getting the vessel off the reef into the river was abandoned and yes--1 fcerday the wreck was disposed of. The * brig was surveyed and condemned on E Monday but has since been dismantled and has broken up during the late westerly gal£. The cause of the wreck appears to he owing to her hax r ing over-run her distance. She ■ i had onlv been out 4S hours from * | Pigeon Bay. The captain is excui- ’ j pated from all blame, but appear* to : j have committed an error of judgment I by approaching too near the coast in J thick and rainy weather.