INCIDENTS ON THE MATILDA WATTENBACH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 23, 5 June 1912, Page 7

INCIDENTS ON THE MATILDA WATTENBACH.

Tlio “Daily Southern Cross” of September 9, 1862. contains the announcement of the arrival in Auckland on the previous morning of “the good ship Ma-

tilda Wattenbacli.'-' 954 tons, Captain W. Gbudie. with 352 passengers of the N-m conformist body, after a quick pas-age of 98 days from Gravesend. Following is a brief account of the voyage, and She list of passengers. - On the following day is printed “The Albertland Gazette and Ocean Chronicle,” written on board. The first number, dated Saturday, June 14. 1862. ■ ommences with a number of advertisements redo lent of shipboard, followed by a let’er waffling success from the lapt.iin r.nd surgeon superintendent. The log of the Matilda Wattenbach .p to that date is next in order. To quote:—“We eaiVd from the List India <locks on the alternoon if Thursday, May 27. amidst the booming of .ninon and the enthusiastic cheers of th I'lsau. s of spectators. At Gravesend we .iii jiored along with our consort, the Hanover, ami sailed thence at 1.30 a.m. on S.itur day. May 31.” Some bad weather was experienced during the early pa., of tlie voyage. Following is a list of general news, and a birth and two I iih notices-. Then comes a bold heading. “Original Poetry." The number i loses with i humorous list- punning on the names of pas engers:—“Tliere are four Kings who have but one Crown with a Dent- and a single Brown among them. There are four Fishers with a solitary Pike; one Fowler, with a Bird, five Cocks, three Partridges with three Legges and four Dadeocks. There is a. Bull with a Hobhey, six Boots, a Stott, with four Bells and a Dobell. Further, there i- a. North, ■six Wests, and three- Westerns." This number is printed bv Samuel Johnson in 35.50 N. la,t. and 13.35 W. long. The second number, dated July 3. 1.862, • un menees with a poem. “Our Own Hirer, Onrawliaro,” and an article. “We Are One," on the aim and purpose of the band of emigrants. The log of the Matilda Wattenbach is continued. !•••!>>" more a daily list, of the weather experienced. On June 27 they spoke H.M.p. screw corvette Arvona and exchanged news. They also saw the Ecliptie i.nd the Octavia. There is chronicled an accident to a young sailor, who subsequently died from his injuries. On .Inly 5 the equator was crossed and the ship visited by “Mr and Mrs Neptune." A graphic account of the ceremony is given. General news and advertisements close another interesting number, printed in lat. 13.58 S and long. 34.2 . The third number is devoted to a description of a gale met with on July 19. and lasting until July 27, and in which the ship lost two topmasts. The last stages of the journey, tin sighting of land and the arrival in port are briefly described. On the morning after their arrival tiic Nonconformists were extended a welcome by the citizens of Auckland. The. ceremony took place “on the green in the rear of the Pouncil Chambers." Dr p,il leiit.ecupied the chair, and on the plat .form were several clerical gentlemen aud leading merchants of the city.