SUEZ MAIL. (From the European Mail)

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 305, 25 April 1874, Page 2

SUEZ MAIL. (From the European Mail)

The marine department of the Board of Tiade have recently published sonic official coircipondenco relative to tli© health of seamen, from which it appears that ve«Ki'N, however seaworthy, tire frequently sent to ■sea it it h unhealtln men unions; the crew. Mr B. Jf Wilson, acting Jlntivi Coiiiiil nt Cnllno, reports that many seamen pass tlnough the office at that portwith chrome di-e-ues, andthiit "there is an increase in the number of British M-aincn who become inialidcd on the outward loinge, and nre die-charged licit* as being unfit fo pioeeed in their ships. A« they generally have, lome stundmg diteaee winch they contrive to hide w hen engaged at home, it is perhaps the owners' bimne«s to employ a medical inspector to prevent these oceuricnc.ee, which, if done, would be a treat suing to them " Tliese and other extracts show us, as indicated in the Ship Cap/aim' Medical Ouiile, that jnanv sailor*, after the \es-ol has put to sea, lav up for da\«, \viek», and month*, and eventually take money from Hie owners that they have in nowise earned. Theie i« a permii'stve section in the Merchant Shipping Act of 1867 authorising the medical inspection of ship's crews befoie signing nt the smiill rate of 2* per head, but no action whatever is token under it, and in the chief portsof the kingdom no inspectors hare as yet. been appoinlod, although the Act has been in operation fhe jienrs. It would be well if the Royal ComniK-tion on unsiaworthy ships asked for evidence on this ooint, for there can belittle doubt thatve«s>els me frequently imperilled, and perhaps lost, because they irj put to sea with unhenltln, and hence, incompetent, crews. Mr Sothern has been good enough to infoici an "interviewer" that lie plays Loid Dundreary in. the same wig and whiskers which were made for him when he first assumed the part. "lain not a superstitious man," saM Mr Sothern, " but lam convinced th.it I never play the part as well as when I have the original wig and whiskers on." The Hon Jefferson Davis, who for some time has been suffering from dropsy of the heart, arrived in Liverpool on February 15, in the State Line steamer City of Alabama from New Orleans. His physician had ordered him to take a sea voyage in the hope that it would improve his health. The following is a list of the thips nnd number of emigrants sent out to New Zealand by the Agent-General for that colony during the month ending January 31 : — Rakaiu, for Canterbury, with 365 souls; William Davis, Otngo, 291-; Do ret to. Auckland, 315? Wcnnington, Wellingt >n, 291; Apelle», Canterbury, 301 ; Golden Sea, Wellington, 367 ; Asia, Otago, 468 ; total, 2,401. The ihip Ro>al Danp, 1,632 tons rogistor, 3,000 tons biuden, tailed from Grayosend on the 24th ult., bound for Brisbane, Queensland. Captain Cooper. The Royal Dane i» the 128 th Tctsel th, t has sailed under the land order system of emigration and under the immediate direction of the Queensland Government office, 32, Charing Cross, London. She carries 520 persons, divided into full-paying, remittance, assisted, ami free passengers, consisting of 26' A members of families, 170 single men, and 8S single women.