A PASSENGER BY THE BLENHEIM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 80, 30 December 1919, Page 4

A PASSENGER BY THE BLENHEIM

PIONEERING DAYS RECALLED,

(To the Editor.) - Sir, note your paper of December 24 contains a very interesting memoir of the late Mrs. Thomas Kibble 1 (neo M. M'Donald), one of tho. last surviving passongers of the Blenheim. Perusing the files of tho New Zealand Gazette, vol. I, I noted the following, and as it adds considerable interest to the memoirs published, I forward the extract, wmch is from the "New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator" of Saturday, January 2, 1811. (Note.—This paper was published weekly.) "Shipping Notice.— Arrivals-Barque Blenheim, 371 tons. Captain Gray, from Greenock, in 125 days." . "The Blenheim, Captain Gray, arrived on Sunday last from tho Clyde, having sailed on August 24. She brings one hundred and fifty passengors in tho steerago and eleven in the cabin. The colony has not received a finer body of colonists; they were all selected by tho Laird M'Donald, who has arrived with them, and we hone will find a suitablo location for his hardy followers within the district of Port Nicholson. A few Hills or gales of wind will not frighten these sturdy men out of their propriety; they nro just the men to war with a New Zealand forest, and in n. few years ro bring to market in abundance fine grain, such as may now be seen on the Hiitt. The vessel did not touch on tho passage at any port, and the passengers were healthy throughout. Two children died on the passage and six were born." The next edition of the Gazette gives the following passengers nj having arrived bv the Blenheim •.—"Mr. and Mrs. M'Donald and eight children, Captain and Mrs. Canvnbcll and four children. Drs. Sutherland and Campbell and Messrs. Cameron and M'Fnrlane." Comment on the above is needless. Tl a have many in our midst, descendants of this sturdy band of pioneers, who proved the truth of these words, and were I to write only nart of what I have heard from them of their fathers it. could only bo published in serial fornv-I am, etc., Historical Secretary.' Early Settlers and Historical Association.