SHIP HEREFORD FROM LONDON.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 39, 15 July 1874, Page 2

SHIP HEREFORD FROM LONDON.

Yesterday morning a ship was signalled from the North, and as the Wemington from Wellington is now due it was thought that the vessel would be her. It proved, however, to be the above-named ship (although the number when run up was not correct). It was not until the as. Taranaki came in that the ship’s name was known. Captain Wheeler reported that he spoke the vessel, and all were well on board. The ship was brought up to an anchorage otf Rhodes Bay, and at 1.30 p.ra. the health officer, commissioners, and his Honor the Superintendent left the wharf in {the s.s. Clyde to visit the ship. On arriving alongside, no disease having broken out during the voyage, she was at once cleared, and the commissioners proceeded to make their usual inspection. The first place visited was the single girls’ compartment. On going below, the appearance presented as though one was entering a bazaar, the beams and sides of the ship being placarded with various mottoes and devices in colored paper, highly eulogizing the captain, doctor, and officers of the ship, Chinese lanterns being hung in all directions, and it only wanted the tables to be covered to imagine that one was in a fancy fair. It appears that the single girls, who come out under the matronship of Mrs Palmer, decided to give an entertainment on board the vessel, and last Wednesday, Bth inst, was fixed for the time, and the captain, doctor, and officers of the ship were invited to attend, and the compartment was put into proper trim. As reported, the entertainment was a thorough success. It need hardly be said that this compartment was the picture of neatness and cleanliness. The second visit was to the married persons’ compartment. Here 85 families were located, and although there were so many, every one appeared happy. Thorough enquiries were made throughout, and all expressed themselves highly satisfied with the treatment they had received. The single men’s department was next inspected, and here, as throughout the whole of the ship, the place was found in splendid order. A visit was paid to the galley, which was found to be large, and had acted well, as had also the condenser, which was able to supply 500 gallons of water per day to those on board. From the accounts on all sides, the voyage appears to have been a most pleasant one. The single girls, who came out under the matronship of Mrs Palmer, and who appear a very superior lot of. young women, speak in the highest terms of her kindness to them. Dr Husband, the surgeon superintendent, who is an old friend, has won golden opinions from all on board for the attention he has paid to one and all, and to this, although last but not least, must be added the names of Captain Elsden and the officers of the ship. The ship is a splendid model, and compares most favorably with the first-class clipper ships that have during the past few months come into our port. She has lofty ’tween decks, admirably suited for immigrants ; her lighting and ventilation is excellent ; her cabin accommodation is very superior ; and the poop, which is very commodious, has been assigned during the voyage to the single girls. Thanks arc due to Captain Elsden for his courtesy in giving our reporter every information. The single girls were landed yesterday afternoon, and the single men and married persons will be brought ashore to-day. The following is Captain Elsdcu’s report: — Left Gravesend on Saturday, the 18th of April ; landed the pilot on the 20lh, but owing to thick westerly and southerly winds did not clear the Channel until the 23rd ; weather continued dirty, and increased to a gale until the 29th, and variable winds were then encountered to meeting the N.E. trades, which were entered on May 7th, in lat 27deg N,, and long 23deg W. ; they proved light. The Equator was crossed on May 18th, in long 25deg W ; the S.E. trades were light. The meridian of the Cape was passed on June 10th ; ran down the eastings in lit 44deg and 45deg. On Sunday, June 14th, the patent steering apparatus gave way which caused the vessel to be hove-to for forty hours to repair damage, June I7th, encountered a severe hurricane veering north to west (bar, 28°.32), and which blew away the lower main topsails, smashed the after hatch besides doing other damage. A continuation of strong gales from N.W, with heavy high seas, thick weather, and rain prevailed for many days, during which no observations could be obtained. Variable winds were experienced up the coast to arrival as above, having made the passage from start to anchorage in 81 days. The following vessels were spoken during the passage. May B.—Signalled ship Sussex bound to Auckland. May 10.—Signalled Iron Crown bound to Rangoon, May 32.—Spoke German brig Sailer, from Iquiqne to Falmouth and sent home letters, July 12th.— Spoke ship Jauc Nichol Fleming from Otago to London. The ship has a large cargo and comes consigned to Messrs Miles and Co. The following testimonials were presented : “ To the Commander of the ship Hereford, Thos A. Elsden, Esq. “July 9th, 1874. “Sir, —We, the undersigned emigrants on board the Hereford, cannot allow you to part from us without expressing our deep sense of gratitude and thankfulness for the skill and bravery displayed by you in the many hours of trial and danger that you have, under the guidance of the Almighty, been instrumental in bringing us safely through. “ VVe trust that you will convey to the officers and crew of the Hereford under your command that we also thank them for their brave services and for many acts of kindness and forbearance shown to us aud our children. “We hope and trust that your lives may be happy and prosperous, and that God’s blessing may ever be with you. “ Signed by all the passengers.” “To the Commander of the ship Hereford, Thos. A. Elsden, Esq. July 13th, 1874, "Sir, The single men immigrants on board the ship Hereford, under your command, request your acceptance of this testimonial, as a token of their gratitude and thankfulness for your kind ard watchful care, combined with your fkill in navigating your ship through the many perils and dan-

gers encountered on the voyage from England to New Zealand, They also request you to convey to your officers and crew their sincere thanks for many kind acts; and they wish you all many years of happiness and prosperity in your brave calling.” Signed by the single men. “To Edward Husband, Esq, Medical Superintendent of the ship Hereford. July 9th, 1874. “ Sir, —We the undersigned emigrants on board the ship Hereford, beg to express our gratitude and thankfulness to you for your unremitting and kind attention to our health, comfort, and welfare during the voyage to New Zealand from our native soil, “ We beg you, sir, to accept these our kind expressions, although we are sensible that nothing we can say will add to your worth or reputation. Yet, as men who have received so many acts of kindness as we and our families have at your hands, we feel it a duty to ourselves to bring you acquainted with the feelings of our hearts. We sincerely hope that a long life of usefulness will be yours, and that at its close your end will be peace. “ Signed by all the passengers.” By request of the single girls the following address was read by Mr March, Commissioner, and presented to Mrs Amelia Palmer, matron of the ship Hereford : “July 10th, 1874. “ Beloved Matron and dear friend—- “ We, the undersigned, female emigrants on board the ship Hereford, have now been under your kind care for a period of three (3) mouths, and cannot, after your many acts of motherly kindness and constant watchfulness over our welfare, both spiritual and temporal, permit you to take leave of us without giving expression to the deep feeling of gratitude that we all entertain towards you. 11 We trust you will enjoy many years of health and happiness, and we fervently desire and pray that the choicest blessings the Almighty can bestow upon you may be yours, both through time and eternity. 1 Accept, dearest Matron and friend, these our humble expressions of our grateful hearts.” [Signed by all the single girls,] POST OFFICE NOTICES. Mails close at Chief Post Office for the following places, as under, subject to necessary alterations: — For Dunedin direct, per s.s. Phoebe, on Thursday, July 16th, at 11.30 a.m. For Dunedin, Bluff and Australian colonies, per s.s. Claud Hamilton, on Friday, July 17th, at 2.30 p.m.“ For Akaroa, Timarn, and Dunedin, per p.s. Coomerang, on Friday, July 17th, at 11.39 a.m. For Northern Provinces per s.s. Ladybird, on Saturday, July 18th, at 4.30 p.ra, J, J. Fitz Gibbon, Chief Poblmaster.