THE SHIP RODNEY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4530, 27 September 1875, Page 2

THE SHIP RODNEY.

No department of the Government has given so much trouble in its organisation as that of Immigration ; and in no other branch of the public service is a x>erfect system so essential. The difficulties that surround it are so numerous, however, that experience alone can suggest thosu conditions on which success must depend. Hitherto immigration has been conducted with an average amount of success ; at the same time, the list of casualties and deaths is a long and melancholy one. The money loss to the country has been enormous, and any facts, therefore, that serve to throw light upon an exceedingly difficult problem, should bo made as public as possible. Fortunately the voyage of tho ship Rodney, from London to Wellington, serves this very useful purpose. Th's fine ship, now in port, conveyed to our shores in average goyd health, over five hundred immigrants, and counting passengers and crew there were little short of six hundred souls on board. This number presented a small community in itself, and if located anywhere in New Zealand might prefer a request to be constituted an electoral district, with a representative in a Provincial Council, if not in the General Assembly. It was, however, debarred from enjoying the privilege of representative government, being placed under tho mild despotism of one man, Captain Louttit, aided and assisted in all matters affecting the health, discipline, and wellbeing of the immigrants, by Dr. Harms, surgeon superintendent. No two men perhaps could be found who are better fitted for such a work. The discipline on board was perfect, as our previous reports attest ; and the ship made one of the fastest runs to this port on record, to the mutual satisfaction of all on board.

Having said this much, as a matter of bare justice to these gentlemen, let us inquire what are the special features of the voyage of the Rodney, as bearing on the general question of immigration. For, be it borne in mind, good luck, or good fortune, had nothing whatever to do with it. The ship was staunch and well ventilated ; the regulations were rigidly enforced ; skill and untiring attention did the rest. The immigrants were neither bettor nor worse than nine-tenths of those landed on our shores, yet in all other cases, so far as we know, the immigrants are as much an undisciplined mob, (we do not use the word in an offensive sense,) when they land as when they first set fooc on board, while in this ease they were under complete control, the males being formed into watches and trained in fire drill, boat lowering, &c, so that the most perfect order was observed, and efficiency displayed, at the practice in port in the presence of the Hon. Major Atkinson, Minister for Immigration, and other gentlemen. What we desire to see is that the case of the Rodney should be the rule and not the exception. A great experiment has been tried, and that successfully, and what has been done in this case should be done in all. There is nothing to prevent it, and we trust, now that the Government are in a position to draw up a report on the best method of ventilating immigrant ships, and of enforcing discipline and preserving the health, comfort, and lives of all on board, that the opportunity will not be lost.

And first as to ventilation. The great peculiarity of the system adopted on board the Rodney is that the lower hold is thoroughly ventilated. This is neglected in immigrant ships. The lower hold is never ventilated, and yet a very slight consideration will convince any one that this is of prime importance. The food consumed on the voyage is stowed there, and unless the hold be thoroughly ventilated it will become impregnated with foul air and noxious gases, thereby inducing diarrhoea and other diseases. Indeed it is not too much to say that n great deal of the disease on board immigrant ships is traceable to this cause. In the case of the Rodney, the ventilation of the lower hold had been cut off in London for this voyage, those charged with looking after this most important matter conceiving that ventilation consists in sending down a column of cold air 'tween decks, making no provision for tho escape of the heated or foul air ; but Captain Louttit, when the health of the immigrants began to suffer, on the report of Dr. Habkis, altered the system of ventilation. He went back to tho plan originally duvised by himself, and ventilated the lower hold. The health of the passengers sensibly improved, every part of the ship was cool and healthy, and the risk of loss by fire became reduced to a minimum. Indeed, but for these tell-tale ventilators, in all probability tho Rodney would have been added to the number of vessels burned at sea, the smoke escaping through one of them having given timely warning to prevent such a catastrophe. Had the Cospatrick been so ventilated, in all likelihood she would not have been burnt. Side ventilators are likewise essential to health in all immigrant ships. Tho heated or impure air always rushes to the high or weather side, and if no escape be possible it will impair the health of those inhaling it. A system of side ventilators, such as that described by Captain Louttit, appears to be essential to the health of immigrants. The want of it ha 3 doubtless occasioned much of the mortality on board Now Zealand immigrant ships. "Small openings near the " bulwarks should be made of cast iron, " very strong, to be fitted with a cap "packed with indiarubbor, to screw " tight down, and consequently water " tight." This would secure a perfect system of side ventilation, and with the ventilation of the lower hold above referred to, would give a free circulation of pure air at all times in every part of the ship. It would be necessary, however, for the Government to issue printed instructions to captainß of ships for the management of the ventilators, because their usefulness might be destroyod through ignorance or neglect.,. Our spaoa does not enable us to go at length into other matters bearing on the question in hand. Suffice it to say that by training the male immigrants to fire drill, boat lowering, and working together in watches, Captain Louttit established the most perfect discipline, giving him complete command, in the fullest sense, of his ship. The passengers were of tho greatest assistance in working the ship while beating into harbor; every man knew his place and stood to it, while not a woman or child was to be seen on dock. The importance of this in a case of fire, or gale, cannot be ovor estimated. A

similar method should be adopted on all immigrant ships. One word in conclusion on another matter. So very much depends on the character and capability of the matron, that we think the Government would do well to change the present system, and employ properly trained matrons. _ It would be of incalculable use.to the single women during the voyage to be under the eye of a vigilant matron, and it would also be of ultimate advantage to the country. But we cannot enlarge upon this point. The present system throws far too much responsibility upon the Surgeon-Superintendent. We have said enough, however, to direct the attention of the authorities to the matter.

In a recent issue of our paper we drew attention to the case of the ship Rodney, as furnishing a conspicuous example of how an emigrant ship should be commanded, as well as giving highly valuable hints as to how Bhips engaged in the passenger trade should be ventilated. We do not intend to travel over the same ground upon this occasion ; but we deem it proper to make public the official rec.ignition, by the Government, of Captain LouTrn's services, aided by Dr. Harris, who is no longer connected with the ship. The letter, from the Under. Secretary for Immigration, which we print below, is as full and explicit an acknowledgment of the special services which Captain Louttit tendered, as could well be expected from such a document.; but we think the public will agree with us in saying that its very completeness is the best argument that could be used for the Government going somewhat farther than has been done. We think that special services, of such an important character to the safety of life and property on board ship, should not pass withouu some substantial recognition by iha Government, as an encouragement to captains to do their very best when engaged in couveying immigrants and merchandise to these shores. It is not for us co indicate the form which any substantial recognition of the kind should take ; we simply affirm that all the circumstances of the case command it as an act of hare justice and sound policy. Wo hold that it is always well to recognise conspicuous merit. In this case the Government acknowledge conspicuous merit on the p irt of. Captain Loottit : let the correct thing be done therefore, and encourage others to imitate him in future. We have not said a word hitherto regarding certain attacks that have been made upon the captain of the Rodney. Indeed, they are wholly unworthy of notice were we not well aware of the source whence they proceed. We may have a "word or .two to say upon that subject on another occasion, which will be both personal as well as general in its application. Meanwhile it is sufficient to intimate, to those more immediately concerned, that it is unsafe any longer to practise a system of petty tyranny over captains and doctors of emigrant ships which come to Wellington, and that in future the safe course to pursue will be that which a Btrict adherence to duty requires. The following is the letter referred to by us above :

Immigration Office, Wellington, September 20,1875. Sib,—As lam instructed by the Hon. the Minister for Immigration to inform you that he cannot allow your official connection with the New Zealand Go vernment to cease, without conveying to you his entire appreciation of the zeal and energy with which your arduous duties as captain of a ship carrying so large a number of immigrants have been carried out, and especially with regard to the maintenance of a proper system of discipline—boat and fire drill—never before noted in our immigrant ships, but which, humanly-speaking, reduces to a minimum the chances of such fearful catastrophies as the destruction of the Cospatrick. I am further directed to inform you that the report of the Immigration Commissioners, which has just been received, is of the most favorable character, both with regard to the suitability of the Eodney for the conveyance of immigrants, and their treatment and management on board during the recent voyage, and to this they attribute the good health and condition in which the passengers arrived. You will be good enough to convey to Dr. Harris the thanks of the Government for his care and attention, which Major Atkinson was glad to see has been appreciated by those who were under his care.—l have, &c, C. E. Haughton.