SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 356, 3 August 1875, Page 2

SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. THIS DAT. ARRIVED. August 3—Nil. There were no signs of the s.s. Phcebe up to the time of our express leaving, ARRIVAL OF THE STAR OF CHINA. ."-This fine ship was signalled on Sunday, and late on Sunday night ran up the harbor with a light N E. wind, and anchored oil* the Quarantine Station on Ripa Island. At 10 a.m. yesterday, the s.s. Mullough, with Health Officers, Emigration Officers, &c, proceeded to the ship. It was observed that the flags on board the vessel were hoisted halfmast, and on arriving it was ascertained that a poor woman named Sarah Keenan, who had been suffering from dysentery, had died during the night. This was the only death that occurred during the passage. Proceeding on board, your , reporter found that she was a well-fitted wooden ship of 194 tons register. This is the first tnpol this vessel to Australasia, as she has been hitherto • employed in the tea trade. She is an Aberdeen * built vessel, was built in 1863, and .rated A 1 at Lloyd’s for fifteen years. She Is the property of Me Adamson, and is chartered by the N.Z-.S. Co for this port. After discharging here, she proceeds to Newcastle, where she will take in a cargo of coals for Ohina, and return to England with tea. The immigrants are of good class throughout, and their accommodation has been excellent. The single women, fifty-eight in number, were under the charge of Mrs Millard, who was assisted by Miss Robinson; they are principally domestic servants; twenty-six are English, twenty-six Irish, and six Scotch. Sewing, as usual, was encouraged during the passage, and the things made were distributed at the end of the trip. The quarters occupied by these girls were rather dark, but fairly ventilated and very clean. The Health Officer, Dr - -Donald, after inspection, addressed a few words to the girls, urging them to be careful as to how they were employed after landing, and stating that ne sincerely hoped they would prefer being employed •at private houses, even at less wages. He (Dr Donald)’ had heard an excellent character given to tlietn by their matron and the doctor, and he hoped they would prove they deserved it. The married people’s compartment was rather dark,' and appeared damp, but was otherwise excellently.fitted and very clean. No less than sixty-three-children were with their parents in this part of the ship, and very healthy, rosy little colonists they looked, and thanks to the good doctor not one had died during the passage, though many were very sickly when they came on board. All the married people expressed themselves well pleased with the arrangements, and in fact throughout the whole ship all the,immigrants spoke in the highest terms of the captain, doctor, and officers. The three nationalities were represented in the married people a division, a great majority of whom were tradesmen. The single men’s compartment was the best lighted, and was very clean, and the men seemed a very good class of immigrants, a great ’ many being labourers. Two births, both boys, took place during the passage; afadi'-as before stated, only one death. Dr ... Hudson, the surgeon-superintendent, informs us that diarrhoea was very prevalent during a portion of the voyage, and this he ascribes to their long detention (three weeks) in the Tropics. Disinfectants were used regularly three times a week. The number-of thelmmigrants was as follows Adult 1 males, 36; adult females, 82; male children, 33: female children, 22; infants, 8. . , The following is the captain s report: Arrived at Plymouth on April 16th ; took in immigrants I’, there, andleft on 19th ; had. easterly wind at start, and then southerly and westerly to 42deg North, thence, after one day of N.E, southerly and westerly again to 3ldeg North, when the N.E, trades were caught.. Sighted Porto Santo on the 30th April, and on May 2nd saw San Antonio; earned N.E. trades to" 7;3odeg North, when they left the snip on May ; 11th; thence light airs and calms to the Equator, which was crossed on the 27th May. Ihe weather during this portion of the passage bmng 'extremely hot and oppressive. Ihe S.E. trades were 1 caught in latitude l.lldeg bouth, longitude 24deg W, and were lost on June 9th in latitude 28.30 deg South, longitude 38deg W.[; thence to the men- ; dlan of the Cape. W.S.W. winds prevailed and fane weather, this point of the voyage being reached on June 27th. The easting was run down in 45deg South, and there were several fresh gales and heavy squalls during this part of the passage; were oil Cape Leuwin on the isth July, and on 16th had a low glass down to 28.70 : laid-to for 16 hours, during which it blew hard from the S,W, With heavy sea. Thence had W.S.W. winds to the Snares, which were reached on July 27th. Were off Peninsula on the-3lst; lay-to all Saturday „ night: made| Pompey s Pillar ; had light, airs till arrival as above, thus making the passage in 104 days from Plymouth. We cannot conclude without stating that a more contented lot of immigrants have never reached our shores, and this is no doubt owing to the excellent arrangements made by the captain, doctor, and officers, for their comfort; the food throughout the voyage was abundant, and good of its kind. The following testimonials were presented to the captain ana officers and seamen, and to the surgeon superintendent:—“To the captain, officers, and seamen of the Immigrant ship Star of China. We, the undersigned, beg to offer our most heartfelt thanks for the activity and perseverance that have been jo conspicuously displayed by all on board, and think it no more than our duty Ito return you our sincere thanks.” Signed by all the immigrants. “To Dr Eadson, Surgeon-Superintendent of the 1 ship Star of China —We, the immigrants, sincerely wish to return our heartfelt thanks lor your kind attention to us one and all on our passage from England to New Zealand. We are all well aware that the health and comfort of all on board has been studied by you to the utmost, proving you to be a man worthy of the ti ust placed in you by the New Zealand Government. We cannot hud words sufficient to express our deep sense of gratitude lor the way in which you have tried to make our journey as comfortable and pleasant as laid ia power, and may God bless you for it, and prosper you in all your future undertakings, is the earnest prayer of all on board.” —Signed by all the Immi grants.