THE AUCKLANDERS ABOARD THE CITY OF MELBOURNE.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1665, 19 June 1875, Page 2

THE AUCKLANDERS ABOARD THE CITY OF MELBOURNE.

LETTER FROM MR. B. TONES

Honolulu, May 29, 1875. Dear Sir,— The good ship City of Melbourne arrived hete at six o'clock this morning, after a fair average passage of 15. days. Since leaving Auckland, we have had nothing but a succession of head winds, at times strong, with heavy rain, squalls, and a confused heavy cross sea. Nautical authorities say "it has been blowing somewhere;" and, after consulting Reed and Brett's almanac, I believe they are right. The passage has been anything but a pleasant one for passengers The " City" has comfortable accommodation for about 26 saloon passengers, and now has on board 67- The consequence is in the tropics, the closeness aud heat of the cabin is almost unbearable, and I notice a strong taste for early rising has developed itself We have one bath and abut ten bath-towels; the scramble in a morning is most amusing, commencing at about 430 a.m. The sensation of getting up to bathe by moonlight is a new one. Try it. The New Zealand passengers have suffered severely from seasickness, and the numerous discomforts we groan under: even jolly Captain Petheibridge, though he does his best to keep us lively, admits that it requires a large amount of Mark Tapley spirit to get through. Sir G. A. Arney, though he admits his misery, does bis best to support the dignity of the Bench by a c»re in dress few of us display. On Sunday lass he afforded us a hearty laugh. To support his own position and the day, he was got up with unusual care, and had. after many ineffectual attempts, ju-tt settled the tie of his cravat to his satisfaction when a playful wave burst through the port (the City's ports are eighteen inches square), an.l deluged his two dressing-bags aud himself. His look of horror convulsed us. He has not been half bo particular since. One of the forward passengere (a Melbourne man), died suddenly of heatt disease on Sunday night last. We buried him on Monday at sunset. Divine service is held every Sunday by Rev. Mr Bowen, of Canterbury. I have not yet landed, so cannot give you any dcs cription of this place, but will in a future letter, and notes of anything I may see in my travels that I thiok may interest you All our New Zealand passengers are well, but often wish themselves back in Queenstreet, and look wiih longing at the Southern Cross fast sinking in our wake. I have often joked old New Zealandsrs on the homesickness and haste to return to New Zealand, but I now appreciate their feelings.—Yours truly, B. ToNKS;