The May Queen.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1016, 24 December 1881, Page 2

The May Queen.

It seems strange but it is true that, with all our boasted rapidity of intercommunication, such an event as the arrival of a vessel with a large number of special settlers should take place and not a word of it known in the Colony beyond the port of arrival. The May Queen, we learn from our Bay of Plenty exchanges, arrived at Tauranga on the 16th instant, with upwards of 100 statute adults on board, the greater part being for that port. The ship got aground, and off again ; the officers and passengers have been feted; testimonials have been presented, and the ship, probably, by this time, on her way to some other part of the world, without the facts being made known. From our contemporary we clip the following: — As briefly stated in our last issue the ship May Queen arrived yesterday, from London, with cargo and passengers for this port. The pilot went on board shortly before noon, and sailed the vessel in, although the lona was in

the harbor ready to tow the vessel, if required. Captain Best brought the vessel in on the ebb tide shortly after noon, and when rounding Stoney Point, he states the wind was very baffling, and as he found it impossible to weather the point, dropped anchor so as to swing her round. Unfortunately the cable parted, and the other anchor was then let go with a similar result. As the ship still had head way on her, Captain Best steered her into the blind channel, where she now lies. It seems a great pity that this trifling accident should have occurred, since it is sure to be magnified by those who do not know the circumstances, and also by those whose interest it is to run down our port. Many of the inhabitants are loud in expressing their opinion'of Captain Best, to whom they attribute this accident. Whether Captain Best is blameable or not we will leave nautical persons to decide, though it is our belief that had he hugged the beacon he would have given himself plenty of room to swing the vessel, and we also think that had he not felt certain of bringing the vessel in without any hitch he should have employed the services of the s.s. lona, rather than risk the reputation of our port which, though one of the safest in New Zealand, has yet its name to make. The May Queen is a very pretty little barque of 735 tons register, commanded by G. G-. Colville. She has on board 96 statute adults, of whom 46 are for this port. All the passengers on board look well, and say they have had a very pleasant voyage, but rather long, on account of the poor trades and numerous calms. Several small boats visited the vessel yesterday, the first one to arrive being Mr Cook’s Silver of the Seas with Dr. Armitage (Dr. of the port), Mr W. M. Commons, Messrs Shaw, Saville, and Co.’s Tauranga agent,:and Mr W. Matravers, the Customhouse officer. As soon as the Dr. had passed the vessel, the passengers in the other boats, which had come alongside, climbed on board, and at once fraternized with the new comers.

There were no deaths on board, and only one birth, Mrs Henry Walker, a saloon passenger, of a daughter, on October 28th, in latitude 38 degrees, 30 minutes ; longitude, 23.24 W. We are informed by some of the passengers on board the May Queen that an officer on board made himself conspicuous during the voyage in running down the Tauranga district, and endeavouring to induce the settlers for this place to go on to Auckland. This gentleman had never crossed the seas in his life, and knows nothing about the Colony ; but it is supposed he acted under the influence of friends, who were bound for Auckland. He described the Tauranga district as a perfect wilderness, and did his little all to prejudice people against locating themselves here. On arriving in port this gentleman pointed to the sand hills near the Mount as corroborating his statements, and no doubt the Tauranga passengers were sufficiently frightened at the first look of things. However, when they got up to town their ideas changed, and very soon all the influence exerted by their over-zealous shipmate was dissipated. Some of those we have conversed with assure us that they were agreeably disappointed in Tauranga, and that the aspect of the place is everything that could bo desired.

There must have been great lack of discipline displayed on board the May Queen yesterday, as we are assured by one of the saloon passengers that while one of his fellow passengers in the third class was leaving the vessel in the evening he was hissed and hooted by some members of the crew. The gentleman appears to have gained the ill-will of some of the sailors, and they took this cowardly way of expressing their disapprobation. This is a breach of discipline that ought to have been taken notice of by the captain.