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Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 69, 30 April 1873, Page 3

LEANED FROM THE JOURNAL OF A PASSENGER PER SOUTHERN CROSS. Tuesday, 15th April.—left Auckland in Cross at 4.30 p.m., together with 7 lady and 1G gentlemen passengers ; there were also on board n little girl ami a baby. Being a lover of children, I secured a bunk-above these cherubs. They, however, behaved tlumselves admirably. Wo also had on board a horse, whoso owner, Mr Graham, very luckily-for himself lost his passage, 7 p.m.—Off Waiheko. The wind having increased, Captain Sellars thought it advisable to seek in the pretty little bay of that name for that repose which we could not obtain outside. 0 p.m.—Again ventured to put to sea, but the wind (east by south) proved too much far us, and we had to put buck ; sea«siuk passengers in a state of ecstacy at the prospect of being in snug quarters foz the night. At Waiheko we rigged a temporary dock house, with tarpaulin and oarc, for three ladies who did not care about facing the beat of a cabin full of passengers. Wednesday, 7 a.tn. —We again trusted ourselves on the briny, and wore very thankful to arrive at twelve o’clock at tbs Kawau, where we found

tho revenue f . Her Ringleader, the schooner .Sunbeam, air,'. ■ cutter Bella. 3pm. W £ /inoro with some of the pnsaentrerß, very g! u. v- ''the opportunity of atrotchins ouraeiTe? once more on terra finna. We were received on landing by the ‘ ex-Govcrnor, Sir >.orgo Grey, who kindly showed us over his reallv well-kept and beautiful gardens j after which he took us through his library, which is. I suppose, the moat, valuable in this colony. Wo t,' U ' I hf ola,ll ' some very lino paintings, but as fur George was not with us at the time, I was unable to ascertain by what artists they were produced. I hursday.—-No hopes of getting away. Walked to the top ot the island after examing the dairy, situated about halt a rude from the house. On our road wo interviewed an unhappy wallaby w net mid been pretty well peppered with buek shot, by some of the Blanche men. This animal very much resembles the kangaroo, but is a good deal smaller. lie was blind in one eye, and so severely wounded that ho was unable to move out the way when a lady playfully prodded him in the nbs with her parasol. .Returning, we perceived in mo distance 3 herd of cuttle and goaio kangaroos. jtriday. A wet, miserable day, the wind not appearing to abate in the least. The schooner Ellen came in with the cheering intelligence that there was a fearful sen on outside. Two other cutters boat into the harbour, but as they anchored oil another part of the island, 1 was unable to ascertain their names. Great hopes were entertained by the passengers that we might go to Auckland for provisions, as we had run out of meat; but our attentive and obliging steward soon dashed our hopes to the ground by going ashore and returning with a fat ft Sleep. Quito an excite* tnout was caused at II o’clock this morning by tuo arrival, one after the other, of the W. C. Wentworth, the Joliba. and the Mary Miller, the Wentworth left Auckland on Monday and the two others on Thursday morning, since which time they had been attempting unsuccessfully to make headway against the storm. In the afternoon some four or ilvo of us went, ashore to ask permission to shoot some wild cattle which wo could perceive on a neighbouring bill. Fortunately, however, for iho comfort of these animals. Sir George, not admiring our externals, I presume, wo had no clean boiled rags—declined to give na the coveted permission, lie assigned a vorv good reason for his refusal, viz., that the last party to whom ho had given permission to shoot cattle, kangaroos, quail, and rabbits, had not been contented with them, but had shot some t .mo pigeons. Sir George probably thought wo should follow his previous visitors’ example. Sunday.—Awoke to tind it pouring with Tain, and the wind, if anything, increased in violence. Prayers were very creditably road at cloven by M" Mann, who had great difficulties to contend with in t.hrt shape of bad light and a miniature prey book. In the afternoon a party ot us went, by invitation, to spend a few hours in tho ox-Govornor’s hous&. While the ladles were regaled with tea, two other passengers and myself accompanied Sir George to the library, whore that gentleman posted us up in the age and history of a number of very valuable works, the most worthy of note being : a manuscript Bible, 1,200 years old, said to ba the best in the world, and a Testament 800 years old, both beautifully illuminated j a Coptic manuscript of St. John’s Gospel, grotesquely illuminated, and curiously bound in wood ; an Ahyssynian manuscript of the fmir gospels, also illuminated ; W. Gaston’s works, the first printed in ling laud in 1490 j and the only manuscript in existence of the New South Wales language, compiled by the Rev. X,. lE. Threkeld and a native, und presented to Sip George in 1857. This work was subsequently unsuccessfully claimed by the New South Wales Government. Monday.—Prepared for a start, but the weather proved too bad. The Jessie Nichol arrived from Auckland in the morning, and the Rangatira from, the South in the evening, just before dark- Going on board the Rangatira with Captain Sellars and some others, wo were very hospitably received by Captain Hepburn, with whom we had tea. The conversation turning on the late gales, the captains of the Joliba, the Mary Miller, the Rangt - lira, and the Cross were unanimous in saying that they had never encountered such continued gules on the coast of New Zealand, and that wo were particularly lucky in being comfortably at anchor. Very lucky it was for her that she arrived when she did, us she had lost her foremast at Wellington,, and her boom between Tam and this harbour. She had burnt all her coal, except some that was beneath her cargo. She had burnt two of her boats, together with some of her cargo, including several cases of clothes pegs (not Perkins’ patent), and was altogether in a very helpless state to faco bad weather with a nasty’ coast upon bor lee. Tuesday morning.—-The Rangatira steamed out of the harbour for Auckland, having flret taken on board one ton of coals from the Joliba and two tons from the Cross, leaving us a bag of potatoes (of which we had much need), together with somo P. 8., sodawater, lemonade, &c., which were also very acceptable. Nino of our passengers left by the Rangatira in the hopes of catching the Paterson in Auckland. Do not think they will wTi gain much by this move. Wont ashore with one companion, and was very kindly shown over the grounds by Sir George Grey. This gentleman has, I believe, the largest and "most varied collcction of trees, shrubs, that ia to be scon, at any rate, in this hemisphere. Walking over the island, wo turned up quail, rabbits, English pheasants, and kangaroos at every step. Sir George pointed out to us gomo tree kangaroos, which wo had never seen before. Ho also told us that ho had on the island seventeen varieties of game, among w hich wore elk and deer. We were unfortunate enough not to meet with these, however; the weather was cold, and they were probably in the bush for shelter. II p.m. —As I am about to take my night-cap, blowing as hard as ever ; refreshing very (query, grog or weather ?) Wednesday.—Nothingof im portanco transpired} no prospect of the wind dropping. As the rain was falling in torrents, euchre and P.B, were tbo order of the day. Thursday.—Towards evening the wind dropped a little, and our spirits were raised in proportion.