ARRIVAL OF THE IMMIGRANT SHIP LA HOGUE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 4114, 27 May 1874, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE IMMIGRANT SHIP LA HOGUE.

Before people liad ceased to talk about the arrival of the Wonnington, her long passage, and the prospects of her immigrants, wo have had another immigrant veeael, of much larger sizo, and carrying more immigrants, come to an anchor in the harbor; before people had done congratulating themselves on an immigrant ship having at last come in without disease on board, another English vessel has brought a clean bill ot health. That Wellington should have been fortunate enough to have two immigrant ships arriving on two consecutive days, each perfectly free from disease of any kind, is a fact which should prevent us for some time at least from complaining that there has been mismanagement in the matter of immigration. The arrival of the La Hogue was not unexpected, as aho is 94 days out, and, therefore, may bo said to have been due for some days ; still, coming so close on the Wennington, the Bignals were watched with unusual interest yesterday morning, and the announcement of her name, and the welcome news that all were well on board, wero received with some gratification. Pilot I Holmes has had a heavy run upon his bodily ! powers with these two ships. It waa with t.ho greatest difficulty ho could gefc on board j the La Hogue, the seas breaking constantly over his boat, and threatening to upset it, but the La Hoguo was brought up in fine stylo, the wind having turned just in time to allow her to come up tho channel without a steamtug, bufc not to admit of her anchoring close to the wharf. As Bhe was lying out some distance, and the wind and sea wore rather high for even the adventurous boatmen, her agents, Mo9srs W. and G. Turnbull and Co., determined to utilise thoir steamer, the Stormbird. Steam was accordingly got up, and about two o'clock tho representatives of the firm, with the Health and Immigration Officers, went on board, and a start was made for the ship, the steamer being met with three hearty ; cheers as she rounded-to under the La Hogue's stern, and as the sight of the bountiful supply of fresh provisions which had been thoughtfully sent off met the eyes of tho immigrants. On goirg on board it was found that there was no disease of any kind existing, though one poor woman was lying below in a very sickly stato, to whom Dr Johnson immediately attended ; that there had been three deaths and six births during tho voyage ; and that tho people on board generally oxpressed satisfaction with tho treatment they had received at the hands of Captain Carvosso and bis officers, arid with their accommodation and food. Altogether, things wero in capital order as far as the immigrants wero conccrnod. i The ship herself is a very fine vessel, and is capitally suited for carrying immigrants. Sho is by no means a new vessol, and many will, no doubt, remember her as the Bluckwull liner which used to trade between Sydney and London. She is Sunderland built, and was for some time one of the Dunbar fleet, when Bhe performed mnny good and serviceable voyages. Frigate-built, and in many respects resembling tho equipment of a man-of-war, she is very comfortable aft ; and a remnrkablo featuro is the great size of her poop, which is nearly one hundred feot in lengi.h, and affords a most oxteimve promenade for her passengers. According to the usual division iv these immigrant vessels, the ringle men wore forward, the married couples amidships, and the single women aft, where thoy had very comfortable quarters. Tho La Hogue comes into port in fair condition and in good order, and her general appearance is creditable to her captain and officers. Unfortunately, there is no possibility of her coming much nearer than she is at present for somo days yet. The demand at the wharf for accommodation is so great that every inch of available space is takon up as soon as vacated ; and it would too seriously interfere with tho Coastal and Melbourne steamers were a large ship allowed to take one of tho end berths, which she would necessarily occupy for a considerable time. Consequently the La Hoguo will be unable to come to the wharf until tho McCallum Moro's berth is vacated, unless the Harbor-master make some special arrangement, for tho City of Glasgow's old berth has not sufficient depth for a deeply laden vessel, and for the Wennington being made fast where the Newcastle barques generally lie. In addition to the inconvenienco to which the ship is subjected, it seems that ib will be necossary to keep her immigrants where they are for a week. Pressed for room with the Wennington's large crowd, the barracks at Mount Cook cannot by any exercise of ingenuity be made to receive any considerable portion of the La Hogue's complement, and il would bo a yei % y poor apology for landing were they to be put ashore, which is always their great ambition, at the Somes Island barracks, from winch the stigma of quarantine can hardly be shaken off. There seems to be no help for it bub to keep them aboard their floating home ! until proper provision can be rnado for their aeeommodalion, notwithstanding the grumbling which is bound to ensue upon such a proceeding. The following is tho report of the ship's voyage out, kindly supplied by tho captain through his agents : — The ship La Hogue, 1331 tons, Captain D. B. Carvosso, left Gravesend on the 20th of February, with 353 adult immigrants. The pilot left her off the Start after a fair run down Channel, on tho 24th of February, but for tbe next five days slie was detained bj strong head winds in the ohops of the Channel. The Line was crossed on tho 23rd of March, aud the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope on the 13th ; ran the easting down between the latitudes of 47deg and 49deg, and liad a bad average run of winds. On Sunday, the 24th of May, the Bhip was off tho South Cape of New Zealand, and the sou-west gale then brought her faat up the coast. At 2 a.m. on Sunday morning sho was off Dunedin, and conaequently her run up to port from there has been extraordinarily rapid. The voyage lias been therefore accomplished in little more than 93 days, a very good average run. Three deaths of children occurred duving the voyage, from cramp and other infantile affections ; no oontagious disease of any kind made its appearance, and the general health of the immigrants was excellent, owing in great; measure to the skill and care of Dr W. Russell, under whose charge they wero during the voyage. The following are the names of her cabin passengers : — Rev James Murphy, Rev John Murphy, Messrs Percy Scott, Gilbert Wilson, Wm. Alexander, A. H. Court, Darby, Turnbul), Jacobs, and Gibson, fier cargo consists of 400 tons railway iron, and about 1000 tons general cargo. It is interesting that of the two ships which aro now lying in the harbor, the Wennington came by tho Northern route, the La Hogue by the Southern. After discharging her cargo, the La Hogue will proceed in ballast to Sydney, and there load for London. THE IMIIIGBAKTS. Compared with tho shipment by the Wennington, the immigrants by tho La Hogue aro about up to the same standard ; they seem healthy and able-bodied, able and willing to work hard in the new country that is open to them. There wore in all on board when the ship left Gravesend 500 soule, equal to 353 Btatuto adults, and it is a great thing that bo large a number have arrived without harm of uiiy kind having occurred amongst thorn. The following is the official approximate list of themselves and their professions : — Married couples without children — 2 laborers, 1 wheelwright, 2 carpenters, 1 farm laborer, 1 fireman. Murried couples with children — 14 laborers, 2 farm laborers, 3 painters, 2 mil way laborers, 1 tinsmith, 2 gardeners, 1 shepherd, 2 wheelwrights, X brickmaker, 1 iromnoulder, 1 carter, 4 blacksmiths, 9 carpenters, 1 warehouseman, 1 ostler. Single

men — 30 laborers, 5 lads, 1 stoker, 1 butcher, 2 bootmakers, 2 stonemasons, 2 engine cleaners, I bricklayer, 1 ploughman, 3 painters, 13 carpenters, 1 striker, 1 blacksmith, 6 farm laborers, 1 tinman, 2 wheelwrights, 1 fireman. Single women —10 general servants, 1 nurse, 1 laundress, 7 housemaids, 7 young girls. Applications to engage these immigrants are to be mado to Mr Rodward, Immigration Depot, Mount Oook. Any of the immigrants who are engaged for service in the country districts of the Province will be forwarded by tho Immigration Department. The following is a list of the immigrants, as summarised from the full record in the " European Mail" : — There arc 7-l< families, comprising 21 single females, and 23 single males over 12 years of age, and 157 children undov 12 years ; 77 single men, and 21 single women. Taking the two sets of single men | and single women, there are about 100 of tho former, and 40 of the latter.