DISASTER TO THE EMIGRANT SHIP OXFORD.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1018, 6 April 1883, Page 2

DISASTER TO THE EMIGRANT SHIP OXFORD.

The Government have received a despatch from the Agent-General (Sir F. D. Bell) in reference to the disaster to the emigrant ship Oxford, Sir Dillon says that none of the emigrants appear to* bear any injury, and during the whole of the lime they behaved extraordinary well, and showed much courage and quiet endurance under T'ery. trying and anxious circumstances in which they were placed. Mr Smith, the despatching officer, has inspected them since their arrival at Plymouth, and reported favourably as to their health. A few are anxious not to proceed bn their voyage, but probably only a few of these, Sir, Dillon adds, will persist in declining to re-embark. The AgentGeneral is unable to give the exact date at which shipowners will be ready to embark again with emigrants, either by the Oxford or some other ship. He understands, however, that the damage to the ship is so extensive as to require possibly a month or six, weeks to repair. The Agent-General concludes by expressing his intention of urging upon Shaw, Savilie, and Co. the necessity of providing another suitable .vessel rather than keep the passengers waiting for so long a time as six * weeks allowed by the ‘Passengers’ Act. The Government have also received information that the steamer British Queen, which left London on the 24th March, has 250 emigrants on board for Wellington and Canterbury.