THE S.S. DURHAM.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2103, 19 November 1880, Page 3

THE S.S. DURHAM.

Tho first voyage from London direct to this port made by this well-known Eteamer was completed yesterday in fifty-nine days. This is a few days in excess of the passage made by tho Norfolk, which was here some time since, but taking into consideration the exceptionally adverse weather wkich had prevailod in the latitudes where strong fair winds are usually met with, the time made by the Durham is complimentary to her Bea going capabilities. It may be staled that it is currently reported in connection with this steamer's visit that she will be kept for the future in this trade, i e., between this port and London, and from enquiries made on board the report would appear to be quite reliable. Briefly, the reason given for this is that Messrs Shaw, Savill and Co., who have for so many years been identified with tie Anglo - New Zealand trade have become interested in the vessel, and believing her to be well adapted for a pioneer boat in what is to be at no distant date a direct steam service to this colony performed by full-powered vessels, they will despatch her regularly to Lytttlton in future, acting in conjunction with Messrs Money Wigram and Sons. The Durham, as is known, is an auxiliary powered boat, capable of steaming ten knots, and as she spreads a lot of canvas, and possesses the requisite lines that distinguish a smart sailer, she is by no means an unsuitable vessel for opening the trade her owners had in view in sending her to Lyttelton. Her passenger accommodation is very good. The furniture is plain, less ornamental perhaps than useful and serviceable. Throughout the ship, however, room and light and ventilation for the passenger, whether he be in tne first, second, or third cabins, are the conspicuous and attractive features, and justify the remarks made yesterday on board by several

of her passengers, that the Durham was a fine " family ship " The rig of the vessel is that of a barque, and her specialties are, for passenger promenades, a very fine poop deck, good clear main deck, and forward a roomy forecastle deck. Below, her 'tween decks are divided into second cabin and steerage, and as there is Bft. Gin. between the two decks, and movable ports at close intervals, the surrounding atmosphere is constantly pure and fresh, and the cabins cannot bo otherwise than light and cheerful. The saloon state rooms are unusually commodious, and are in all respects well appointed. The vessel ia capable of carrying from 300 to 350 passengers comfortably. Upon the present occasion she has brought, all told, 240, the names of whom will be found elsewhere. She carries a crew of 105 persons, and registers 1637 tons, her engines being 300 horse-power nominal. She was built, about six years and a half aeo. specially for the Melbourne trade, and continued to rnn in that trade until within a few months since. The name of her commander, Captain Anderson, E.N., is a household word in Victoria, to whose chief seaport he has made some thirty-three or thirty-four voyages. On the present voyage to Lyttelton he appears to have gained the esteem of all on board, testified to in an advertisement. The officers of the Durham are all old servants in the employ, and mostly count their date of service in the boat with that of her maiden trip. Their names are—Chief officers, Mr H. C. Carr ; second, Mr F. Johnson; third, Mr Morphean ; and fourth, Mr Thompson. The engineering staff c insists of—Chief, Mr J. McDonald ; second, Mr J. Harding; and third, Mr H. Lambrook. The respect in which these gentlemen ware held by the passengers is also referred to in the testimonial presented to their chief on the arrival of the steamer. The representatives of the press are indebted to Captain Anderson and his officers for a very cordial reception and the following report: Left Plymouth at 1.50 p.m. on September 20th, and had light winds to passing Madeira on the 25th, and to St. Vincent on the 29th. Crossed the Equator on October 6th in 15 W., and signalled St. Helena on the 11th. Passed the Cape of Good Hope in 41 S., on October 20th, then blowing a S.E. gale The Leu win meridian was crossed November7th. Tasmania November 12th, and the Snares sightedlastTuesdayatßp.m. The N.E. trades met with were unsteady and light, as were also the winds in the S.E. trade latitudes. In running down the easting, which, for the purpose of getting winds, was done between 41 S. and 47 S. only three or four days steady westerlies were met with. The weather generally was threatening looking, and had a good deal of easting in it. The health of tho passengers throughout was excellent, with the exception of a lady named Mrs Dorothy Maker, who died from heart disease on October 2nd.

The agents of the vesßel, Messrs Dalgety and Co., entered her manifest at the Customs yesterday, and in the evening the steamer steamed up the harbour direct to a berth at No. 5 jetty, from which it is expected she will be despatched for London early next month. The following is the list of passengers by the steamship Durham, from London: —Saloon Misses Sanders (2), Le Pelley, Gray, Ingram, Fletcher, Pamely, Hyan, Hawkins (2), Davidson (2), Forsyth, Morgan, Sanders, Corrie, Moorshead, Tylee, Macmillan, Mitchell, Mesdames Hume, Hawkins and family, Tylee, Wilmott and child, Thomson, Bush, Anderson, Sanders, Dunn, Going, Wadsworth, Le Pelley, Wilson and family, Sheppard, Revs. Mitchell, W. Dunkley, Dr. J. E. Willmott, Captain Hume, Lieut. Archer, R N-, Messrs Sanders, Dunn, Going, Wadsworth, Wilson, Sheppard, Fletcher, Caxton, Heskett, Dennis, Vig-ers, Allen, Tucker, Waller, Maker, Frost, McKay, Miller, Pritcbett, Vinecome, Bailer, Barr, Hume, Richards, R. S. Hawkins, Tylee, Tylee jan„ R. M. Cotton, A. Thomson, Bush, Hodge, Richardson, Hare, Denny, Farrar, Greenstreet, Sandiman, Dawes, Beckitt, Tanner. Steerage—James Metcalfe, Elizabeth Metcalfe, Mary J., JohnW., and James Metcalfe, Mrs Ann Hobbs, Mary Jones, Mary Moore, William Edmonds, Elizabeth Edmonds, Leonora, Arthur, Alice and Ada Edmonds, Charles Evans, Miss J. Keir, Mary Ann Smithen, Mrs J. Faulds, J. Faulds, J. Milligan, Mrs Milligan, Kate j Mehaffey, Faith Hepburn, Mrs M. Comiskey, Thomas Sutherland, Mrs M. A. Sutherland, Lydia, Annie, Thomas, Mary A., David, Edith and Frank Sutherland. Michael Hurly, Mrs E. Mugford, J. Mngford, Miss T. McClelland, Mary O'Kane. Joseph Dale, Percy Foddy, M. J. Forsyth, W. S. Phipps, Mr 3 M. A. Phipps, Mary Ann and Joseph W. Phipps, Henry Stacy, Robert Brownridge, Jane Brownridge, Alice and William Brownridge, Effie 3ogs. T. Johnson, W. Stevens, Eliza Osborne, W. Walton, T. Walton, Jack and Eliza M. Walton. Mrs J. Purchase, E. J. and Walter Purchase, Joseph and Alfred Smeihurst, Mrs L. and E. M. Slattery, Joseph and Mary Smethurst, Squire Smethurst, William and Mark Smethurst, John Qourlay, Albert Ellis, E. H. Thorn, Mrs A. M. Thorn, E. P. Thorn, Charles Worrell, William Stead, Owen J. Rowe, Elizabeth Moore, Evelyn Moore, W. &.. Martin, Mrs E., Ralph, William, and Herbert Martin, John and Agnes Manson, George Marquand, H. S. Tye, Arthur Claridge, Frank P. Claridge, Thomas Gregg, William Craig, J. C. Craig, Samuel Beresford, Richard Davis, Charles J. Hansen, Mary Hansen, Robert Neil, Ernest Muchmore, Albert Bowden, Henry Milner, Albeit Brownriage, D. Phillips, W. H. Moore, Charles Davis, W. Walton, J. Bundle, A. F. Bridges, Miss Jane Butt, Helen Hawkins, Ernest Hawkins, Edward Hussey, MissE. Innes, J. D. Thompson, Robert Inne3, Clara Elson, William McWhinnie, Henry Martin, Edward Fortune, Mrs Neilson, Anna Neilson, and Peter Neilson, John, Rachel. Ada, and Alfred E. Wheeler, Isabella Melrose, F. J. Kilner, James Murphy, John Sullivan, George Waite, Alfred, John, and Charles Rogers, Chas. Birss, Julia Warner, Charles Corrigan, John McLean, John Kempthome, Thomas Joyce, James Cashan, Edward Prendergast. T. W. Driscoll, F. Eaton, J. Innes, J. Durnard, and J. Crickard. Dalgety and Co., agents. [advt.] TESTIMONIAL TO CAPTAIN ANDERSON. Sir,—We, the undersigned passengers on ss. Durham—being now at the close of a pleasant passage from England to New Z ealand—desire to express our hearty appreciation of the care and courtesy exhibited for the last eight weeks by yourself and the officers of the ship. In spite of persistent head winds for tfce greater part of the voyage, we have been brought here, without mishap or casualty, in 59 days. Wo feel that we owe this, under God, to your excellent management; and, therefore, before we separate, we wish hereby to express our acknowledgments to yourself and the officers, and to congratulate Messrs Monoy, Wigram and Sobs on having in their service such an efficient and conscientious commander. (Signed) Andrew Thompson, For passengers signing the testimonial.