SHIP GAINSBOROUGH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 52, 1 March 1878, Page 2

SHIP GAINSBOROUGH.

This vessel arrived at the outer anchorage last evening at eight o'clock, after a long passage of 118 days. The immigration officers boarded the ship this morning, and found all well on board. The health of the passengers has been excellent throughout. There are 15 immigrants for Nelson— 7 single meu and 8 single women, 7S£ for Wellington, G3 for Weslland, 48 for Marlborough, aud 15£ for Hawke's Bay. Six births and two deaths occurred during the passage. The imiuigiauts speak in high terms of the kindness of Captain Carter and Dr Reed, and flattering testimonials were presented to these gentlemen. The immigrants are a remarkably healthy-looking lot, especially tbe single girls, who seemed particularly brightand happy on arriving at their destination. The apartments were all kept in good order, and when our reporter took a turn round with the doctor everything was found to bo as bright as a new pin. The immigrants were exercised in iire aud boat drill once a week. In the latter case dogswere thrown overboard, and the boats were "lowered iuto the water and in full chase under a minute and a half. Everything was done in the way of relieving the monotony that a voyage to New Zealand entails. Concerts were frequently given, and on Christmas Day there was a grand pantomime. A manuscript paper, called the ''Gainsborough News," was published at intervals. Some of the contributions were exceedingly racy. The Nelson portion of the immigrants will be lauded to-morrow, and those for Westland will be taken on to their destination by the Murray. With the exception of those for Marlborough the remainder will be carried on to Wellington by the vessel. The long passage the ship has made is attributed to the absence of winds, she having been particularly unfortunate in this respect. The vessel comes iuto port under a jury jibboom and topmast, she having lost theaj in a gale a few days ago. Regarding the vessel, she was built at Deptford in 1866, and is constructed of iron. Although not a clipper, she is a weatherly vessel. The longest distance logged iv one day was 273 miles. The Gainsborough comes unde& charter to the New Zealand Shipping Company. Having uo cargo ou board for'Nelsou she will not come into harbor. The vessel will remain here until Monday or Tuesday, as she has to be fitted with a new topmast and bowsprit, The Gainsborough brings five saloon passengers, who were brought to the shore by the Lady Barkly this afternoon. Of the passage Captain J. Carter reports:— Left London ou October 23rd, and towed to Plymouth. Embarked emigrants there and sailed on November 3rd, and took our final departure from the Eddystone Lighthouse ihe same day. Experienced light winds from S.W. for two days, then strong winds which culminated into a gale from W. to W.S.W. This gale drove the vessel back to within one hundred and fifty miles of Plymouth. The weather then moderated, but a heavy cross sea prevailed, in which the ship rolled about a great deal i n Nov. 11 experienced a heavy gale from the westward, with sea ruuuing high and furious squalls at intervals. hove the ship to under fore and maiutopsails', the barometer standing at 25.17; split two or three storm sails; the gale lasted until Nov. 13, when it moderated; on that day sighted a large ship steering eastward, with three topmasts and jibboom gone, but she made no signals; had variable winds aud calm weather up to catching the N.E. trades on Deo 3rd These carried the vessel as far as far as lat. 5.14 I>,, when the S.E. trades made their appearance; crossed the Equator ou Dec. M in long. 30.52 W.; the S.E. trades proved very moderate aud wore lost on Dec 2.ird in I -it 21.37 S., long. 28.20 W. ; on the same day sighted tJjo Island of Trinidad; passed the meridian of Greenwich on January 7th, and the (Jape of Good Hope on January 14th; ran the easting down betweeii the parallels of 44 aud 46, the wind prevailing irom the north moderate; thence had the wiud from the north, passed the longitude of Cape Leuwin ou Nov. 3rd; from thence had strong head winds aud light fair winds until Feb! 19, when we experienced a strong wiud from the N.N.W. Tue bowsprit carried away, and before the ship paid off before the wind took away the foretopmasfc and main royahnast: then the wind increased to a gale; cleared away the wreck and rigged a jury bowsprit, and then set up the jury topmast; sighted the land between Cape Foul wind aud Rocks I'oint, but iv consequence of light variable ;iirs did not round the Spit till Wednesday night, arriving here yesterday. Sighted a jSc-rtli Grcrmaa schooner on Nov, IBj ex-

changed signals with the ship Killkenan, of Greenock, from Liverpool to Bombay, 15 days out; on Nov. 24th exchanged signals with the American ship M'Nea, 29 days out from New York to Melbourne; on Dec. 12 spoke the schooner Enchantress, ot Palmouth, steering North.