EARLY SHIPPING DAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17219, 10 December 1923, Page 4

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 in 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.

ARRIVAL OF ST LAWRENCE. (From the “Lyttelton Times,” August 31, 1874.) Arrived.—August 29, St Lawrence, ship, 1094 tons, Johnson, R.N.R., from London, with 412 immigrants. This ship, consigned to the New Zealand Shipping Company, was signalled on Saturday morning, hut did not make the Heads until after the Cathcart. The ship then worked up the harbour with the flood tide, and came up to an anchorage off Rhodes's Bay. As soon as the shin Cathcart had been cleared, the Health Officers and Commissioners proceeded to the. St Lawrence, which was then off Camp Bay, to make the usual inspection. A vast difference of tho build of this vessel and the one just left was quite apparent—tlie former being one of the modern built ships, and th'e latter one of the old freight built ships, used in bj’-gone days for the conveyance of troops ; in fact she is what is called an old Black waller, and is, to say the least, well worthy of a visit to show tlie difference between what was termed the wooden walls of old England and the wooden ship now being built. Tho Commissioners, finding that no disease except measles had occurred during the voyage, passed the ship, and the usual inspection was then made. Chi going on board, the vessel appeared to he all poop and forecastle, but little main deck being available for the married

couples. The bulwarks were very high (nine feet), and the portholes, which had been kept closed during the voyage, gave no circulation of air. The

single girls’ compartment occupies the whole of the stern cabin. and was scrupulously clean and well ventilated. The ’tween decks, although not lofty, were fairly lighted and ventilated, though not what they should have been with such a large number of immigrants. The compartments for the married couples were well boarded, and tho seclusion was very good. An excellent hospital for women and children had been fitted up, and was a credit to the ship. Great praise is due to the nurse, Mrs Gosselin, for the care she took with the children, no less tfian fourteen being under her care at one time. The compartments throughout were very creditable. There was an excellent galley, and also a large condensor on board, both of which have acted well during the passage. The single girls, who are a fine, respectable lot of persons, come out in charge of Mrs M’Pherson. The surgeon-superin-tendent- is Dr Pattison. There are a number of good agricultural labourers on board, but. also a large number of tradesmen- Taking the immigrants as a whole, they are well suited to the colony. The following is the captain’s report : —Left the S.YV. India docks on May 16; embarked portion of the immigrants at Gravesend on the 18th, nnd left on the 19th ; anchored off the Nore Light, nnd proceeded down the Channel with a fair wind, and arrived at Plymouth Sound on the 20th, when she took on board the remainder of the immigrants. Left on the 22nd nt 5 p.m., with light northerly winds, which continued until the north-east trades were caught in latitude 23 degrees N., longitude 21 degrees W. Tlie trades were moderate ; the south-east trades were light. The Equator was crossed on June 19, and the meridian of Greenwich on Julv 9 in latitude 38 degrees south. Had westerly winds until rounding the Cape, which was passed on July 13. The easting was run down to 40 degrees south. The Snares were sighted on August 2*2; thence up the coast had head winds, wind blowing strong from the north-east. The light was made at *2 a m. on FHdav, thus completing the vovage in ninetveight da vs The immigrants will be landed to-day. ARRIVAL OF THE CANTERBURY. (From the “ Lyttelton Times,” September 1, 1874.) Arrived. —August 31, Canterbury, ship, 1252 tons, Straclian, from GlasThe ship Canterbury arrived off the Heads yesterday after a passage of eighty-four days. Yesterday afternoon the Immigration Commissioners embarked on board the steamer Mullocdi, and nroceeded in that vessel six miles outside the Heads, hut the weather coming on dirty, she bavins been unahb to board the shin, which is still outside. The pilot men report that two deaths have occurred still some p’i'Vhf <m board.