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'Michael Angelo'

The Michael Angelo, left Gravesend on 2nd March 1873 with 140 immigrants, 64 statute adults for Otago and 72½ for Canterbury. The latter were originally to have gone in the Langstone, and were forwarded from Port Chalmers to Lyttelton at the expense of Messrs Shaw, Savill and Co. They arrive all well.

The Michael Angelo, a fine clipper ship of 1174 tons, built at Glasgow in 1865 by Connell, made two very successful voyages, to the South Island bringing passengers and general cargo. She made the first passage to Port Chalmers in 1873 in command of Captain MacKenzie Luckie. Sailing from Gravesend on March 1, she had-a good run to the Line, which was crossed on April 1. The Cape was rounded 27 days later and the Nuggets sighted on May 27, the ship arriving at Port Chalmers the following day, making the passage in 88 days, port to port. She brought out 197 passengers. The Michael Angelo made another smart passage to Nelson in 1875 which port was, reached on January 21, 81 days from the docks; The ship on this occasion brought but a number of passengers, including Volunteer Instructors who had come out to serve the Government she also landed 244 Government immigrants. Several deaths occurred during the voyage, in eluding Captain Luckie, three sailors, one adult passenger, and three children. Captain Luckie, who had appeared quite well a few hours previously, was found dead in his cabin, the cause of death being disease of the heart. As the ship was nearing port the body was brought on to Nelson and interred in the new cemetery on January 21. Several children were born on the voyage.

Passengers
Reference: Family Search
          Browse Canterbury 1873. For Canterbury  231k MS Word doc.     
          Browse Otago 1873.        For Otago           196k MS Word doc.

Otago Witness, 31 May 1873, Page 12
May 28 - Michael Angelo, ship, 1174 tons, Luckie, from London, March 1st. Calvert and Campbell, agents. Passengers : Mr and Mrs Crossman, Messrs Scott, Collins, Welsh, and 140 in the steerage. A consignment of books for the Athenaeum is on board the Michael Angelo, now in port.

Otago Daily Times 30 May 1873, Page 3
To the Editor of the Daily Times. Sir — We, the undersigned passengers per ship Michael Angelo, from London to Otago, beg to tender our thanks to Captain Luckie, Dr Welsh, and Officers of the ship, for their kindness and continued attention during the voyage. We are, Your most obedient servants,
J. W. CROSSMAN
Mrs CROSSMAN
GEORGE COLLINS
W. E. P. SCOTT
and 130 Steerage Passengers.

Evening Post, 30 May 1873, Page 2
The Dunedin passengers ex Michael Angelo, were brought to town yesterday forenoon by the p.s. Golden Age. The ship is expected to be berthed at the Railway Pier to-day.  31 May. The Michael Angelo, drawing 19 feet 6 inches of water, is berthed at the Railway Pier.
Port Chalmers. 29th May. The Michael Angelo has 70 [72] passengers for Lyttelton, who will be taken on in the Beautiful Star. Sailed: Beautiful Star, for Lyttelton, with immigrants per Michael Angelo.

Star 31 May 1873, Page 2
Lyttelton. Arrived. May 31 Beautiful Star, s.s., 145 tons, Hart, from Dunedin. Passengers Mr and Miss Thacker, Messrs Taylor, Cayley, and Tanby; 71 immigrants.

Christchurch 5th June. The demand for most kinds of labour in greatly in excess of the supply. All the men per 'Michael Angelo,' save three, found good situations the first day they were open to engagements.

Grey River Argus, 16 June 1873, Page 2
The Canterbury portion of the immigrants ex Michael Angelo were open for engagement recently. The numbers were, as heretofore, very disproportionate to the demand, especially as regards the single women. The rates of wages given were as follows :— Married couples— Farm servants, L50 to L60 per annum and found; single men, ploughmen and farm laborers, L38, and found; carpenters, 8s per day ; plumbers and glaziers, 10s per day ; domestic servants, L20 per annum.

Voyage Account

The clipper ship Michael Angelo, was towed up on Wednesday's afternoon flood, and moored handy to berthing alongside the Railway Pier. Captain Luckie, her master, repots leaving Gravesend on the 1st of March, and the Downs on the 2nd. Had adverse weather in the Channel, and indifferent N.E. Trades. Crossed the Equator on the 1st of March in long. 18.6 W., having had previously six days of light and variable winds. The S.E. Trades were fair, and carried to 27 S. Tristan D'Acunha was sighted and passed on the 20th of April, and the meridian of Greenwich crossed on the 22nd, and that of the Cape on the 27th., in lat. 40.17 S. Passed Prince Edward Island on the 3rd of May, and ran her easting down between the parallels of 45 and 48, which was characterised by winds chiefly from NE. to S.W. The Snares were rounded on Monday last, and the Nuggets sighted on Tuesday morning, arriving at the Heads same day. She brings a large cargo, as also upwards of 140 passengers. The latter have enjoyed good health throughout the voyage, no infectious disease having occurred. An increase to her population occurred on the 20th of May, in lat. 49.5 S, long. 129 8 E., when Mrs Sayers gave birth to a female child. The vessel comes into port in fine order alow and aloft. All the passengers' accommodations are very clean, especially that of the single females.  

Cargo

Nelson Evening Mail, 23 April 1873, Page 2
Wellington, April 22. Advices from the Agent General state that he had invited tenders for the conveyance of 1,200 tons of railway material from Sunderland to Lyttelton. The Agent General then agreed with Shaw, Saville, and Co., to send out a first-class ship on the 31st March, at 555. per ton. Tenders have been accepted for additional rolling stock to be shipped in June. The machinery for repairing-shops to be shipped in the Parsee and Woodlark, for Auckland and in the Michael Angelo, for Dunedin. More cylinders for the Waikato bridge are to be shipped in the Michael Angelo 350 tons rails are on board the Michael Angelo and Glenary, for Port Chalmers.

Stock of pianofortes, for Charles Begg, just landed, ex Michael Angelo

Birmingham and Sheffield Warehouse, Strathallan Street, Timaru, Edward Reece, ironmonger and iron merchant. Michael Angelo to arrive — Lyndan's patent Spades, Wright's patent Anvils, Slashing Hooks, Oat Kibblers, Skeith Blades ; also, 10 dozen of assorted Kerosene Lamps, &c, &c.

June 10th. Now landing, ex Michael Angelo. Corrugated Galvanised Iron, orb 5 to 9 feet. Fencing Wire, Ryland's. Nos. 6 and 8. Spanish Quicksilver, in 751b. bottles. DALGETY, NICHOLS, & CO., Bond street.

Brown, Ewing, and Co's shipments. The Michael Angelo from London, 23 cases drapery, purchased late in the English season.

June 20, Timaru Herald New Advertisements. From London direct. George Gabites Clothing Department. Men's, Youths', and Boys' Tweed Suits. G Cases, ex Michael Angelo, daily expected. An early inspection respectfully invited. GEORGE GABITES, (Late D. Clarkson.) Timaru, May 22.

Otago Daily Times 28 May 1873, Page 2 Customs Entries
Per Michael Angelo, from London : 259 casks 1496 pkgs, 39 bales, 522 css, 100 bxs, 10 hhds, 8 drums, order; 6 csks, Bailey ; 8 do, W Martin ; 4 pkgs, A R Livingston; 187 casks, 20 pkgs 7 cases, Turnbull and Co; 8 pkgs, Moore ;10 casks, Howden ; 3 cases, Blackadder ; 3 do, Gresham ; 4 do, Fergusson and Mitchell; 806 rails, 10 cylinders, 4 cases, Minister of Public Works; 75 packages, Lange and Thoneman; 16 do, Allan; 28 cases, Godfrey; 1 do, Wilkinson; 1 box, Driver and Maclean; 5 casks, 31 pkgs, Park and Curle ; 47 pkgs, Gunn and Ross; 74 do, 2 cases, 510 deals, Bright Bros; 4 pkgs, Taylor; 817 pkgs, 16 bales, Dalgety, Nichols, and Co; 1 box, 3 cases, order; 14 cases, R BMartin and Co; 1 do, G G Russell and Co ; 1 do, Hickson; 2 bales, Smith ; 3 cases, Farquhar; 20 tanks, 87 pkgs, Calvert and Campbell; 20 drums, J Mills ; 1 case, West; 6 do, Gabites; 1 case, Barnes; 27 pkgs, North ; 1416 do, 24 cases, W and J Scoular; 8734 do, Briscoe and Co; 74 do, Butterworth Bros: 3 cases, Crossman; 15 pkgs, Recce; 2 do, A R Kay; 27 do, Brown, Ewing, and Co ; 50 bundles, Booth and Finch; 54 packages, J Finch and Co; 130 barrels, Haworth; 42 packages, Edmond; 34 do, Thomson Bros ; 95 do, A and T Burt; 13 do, Couston ; 5 do, Johnston ; 9 bales, 26 cases, Lees; 19 pkgs, J Reid; 727 do, Oliver and Ulph; 1 case, Dalrymple and Co ; 134 pkgs, Sargood, Son, and Ewen; 1 case, M'Phevson ; 11 pkgs, A. and T. Inglis; 1 case, Leeds and Moore; 8 do, Solomon; 322 do, Heymanson, Low, and Co; 42 do, Ross and Glendining; 12 cases, H Wise; 79 pkgs, P Hay man. and Co; 28 do, Beaver Bros; 11 do, Watson and Sons; 685 do, Cargills and M'Lean; 2 cases, Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co ; 304 pkgs, 100 eases, H. J Gibbs and Co; 42 pkgs, Bing, Harris, and Co; 43 do, Harper and Co.

Charged

Otago Daily Times 4 June 1873, Page 2
Port Chalmers. Tuesday, June 3rd. (Before Dr Drysdale and E. M'Glashan, J.P.'s.) Broaching Cargo. John Liert, A. J. Anderson, and R. A. Anderson, were charged by Captain Luckie of the ship Michael Angelo with this offence, and remanded for a week.   Disobedience to lawful commands. Henry Perry, belonging to the same ship, was charged with this offence, but was dismissed, he agreeing to take his discharge from the vessel without wages.

Otago Daily Times 7 June 1873, Page 2
City Police Court Wednesday, June 4th (Before His Worship the Mayor.) SHIP DESERTION. Julius Engle was charged with abandoning the ship Michael Angelo without a written discharge. Captain Luckie produced the ship's articles by which defendant was bound, and, although not wishing to press the case, said that if accused was not punished others of the crew might follow his example. He was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment with hard labour.  

Otago Daily Times  4 June 1873, Page 2 A NEW CHUM'S FROLIC
City Police Court Monday, 2nd June
Peter M'Neil, alias M'Dermid, was charged with inciting Julius Engle to resist Constable Anderson in the execution of his duty. The constable said accused followed him from the 'Cricketer's Arms to Manor Place, and was encouragiug Engle to attempt to get away. A line of 20s was imposed, in default prisoner was sentenced to undergo 3 days' imprisonment. He was further charged with using obscene lauguage in Priuces street. The case was proved, and he was fined 40s, with the option of and additional 7 days' imprisonment. He was then indicted with stealing some personal effects from a fellow shipmate at the Immigration Barracks. Alexander Mitchell, a gardener, and late arrival by the ship Michael Angelo, said accused was in his company on Friday evening. They had some drink at the Prince Alfred Hotel, and afterwards went to the Barracks. Witness said the missing articles in his possession when he retired, and missed them on the following morning. Accused could have gained easy access to his (witness's) bed- The articles stolen comprised a £1 note, four shillings, two sixpences, a gold pencil case, a ring, a minute compass, and ten sixpenny and three twopenny New Zealand postage stamps. He identified the compass produced as being his, by the finger to the north being rusty. Prisoner told a most improbable story, and stated that he had the stamps on board, and posted a letter for Scotland last Saturday with one of them, although he had no idea when a mail went. The Bench had not the slightest doubt about the prisoner having robbed complainant of his property. Accused had made jury most incredible statement, which did not bear the aspect of truth. He was sentenced to a month's imprisonment, with hard labour.

Lightning

Star 25 August 1873, Page 2
Sydney. Arrived, Aug. 10, Michael Angelo, from Otago to Newcastle, damaged by lightning.

The New Immigration Barracks

Otago Witness 28 June 1873, Page 9
The new immigration barracks, at Caversham, though exceedingly simple and unpretentious in design, are erected upon perhaps the most complete system that could have been devised to fulfil the requirements for which the buildings have been erected. The site selected is from two to three acres in extent, on the slope of a hill fronting the main road to Caversham, and nearly opposite to the Benevolent Asylum. At the present time the grounds surrounding the building are exceptionally bare of anything attractive to the passer-by, but to the eye of a person of an observant turn of mind, or to an admirer of landscape ornamentation, there are many perceptible advantages in the situation, which might be turned to very beneficial account by the practice of the arts of the floriculturist. This will come about in due course, no doubt, but it will be no harm to suggest to the authorities that the four hours' labour per day which the General Government regulations enable the Barrack-master to extract from each of the male adults, should be devoted, as a primary duty, to filling up the hollows in the foreground, with the ultimate object of forming garden plots and landscapes, which would make the Immigration Barracks not the least attractive of the many well conducted public institutions which have assisted in no small degree to place Dunedin in the proud position of the foremost city in New Zealand. The building itself, which stands out prominently from its eminence, is not of any definable style of architecture externally, and its interior displays an equally marked lack of ornature. Ths single aim seems to have been to secure the greatest amount of practical utility, and in this respect the design has been completely successful. The main building is divided into four wings, reference to each of which will be made clear in the course of the description by the aid of the four points of the compass, and the whole is of two storeys — the dining rooms being on the lower, and the sleeping apartments on the upper floor. The entrance through the grounds takes the visitor first to the Barrack-master's residence on the left, and the "engaging" offices and Matron's residence on the right of a spacious court yard, in which are situate two luggage stores for securing the immigrants impedimenta, an ice house (without any ice) for keeping the stock of meat cool, and a wood and coal house. These places are all roofed and locked, and the asphalted floor of the court yard is always left clean and clear, so that no matter how many immigrants there may be temporarily housed in the barracks there need never be any appearance either of feculence or confusion. It should be stated that the four wings stand separate from each other, something like companies en echelon, but with this difference : that the northern and southern wings, being in line, project beyond both ends of the eastern and western wings, and the whole are conjoined in the centre by the "kitchen." Any description of this peculiar combination would fall short of conveying such a clear idea as is to be obtained by personal inspection, but it may be stated in general terms that the arrangement, which secures communication with each of the wings without going outside the building, greatly economises time and labour. The eastern wing, nearest to the road, is exclusively devoted to the accommodation of married couples and their families, who can be accommodated at the dining tables on the lower floor to the number of 130. Sleeping apartments for only half of these are to be found on the upper floor — the rooms for each, couple being very spacious, well lighted, and well ventilated. To be prepared, however, for any emergency, such as two vessels arriving together through one being long overdue, the whole of the western wing is composed of sleeping rooms for married couples and families. Lavatories, baths, night accommodation, and an abundant supply of water, are all at hand in convenient portions of the interior of the building ; and it would be a difficult task to be called upon to suggest any one improvement to add to the completeness of the arrangements and fittings. The north and south wings, which are set apart for the single women and single men respectively, branch away from the kitchen, as has already been stated, and as each is a counterpart of the other, it will be sufficient to state that the dining room arrangements very closely resemble those of the married couples' quarters, but instead of separate sleeping rooms, those of the bachelor and spinster condition of life repose in "bunks," of which there are ninety-six in each upper floor of the northern and southern divisions. The same lavatorial and other accessories are provided as for the married people, with the addition of rooms for warders, whose duty it will be to enforce the regulations and suppress the joviality of the young bloods when it exceeds the bounds of propriety. The kitchen is built upon a scale of some magnitude, as might be supposed, but beyond the appliances of an ordinary establishment there is nothing worthy of remark, excepting that the firing is made to perform double duty in winter, by heating the water for the hot water pipes, which circulate through every part of the building. At the extremity of the north and south wings are situate the wash-houses, where the linen of the establishment undergoes the purifying process. In this, as in every other part of the building, the mind has evidently been brought into play to discover laboursaving expedients. The water for the coppers is run in by piping ; hot and cold water pipes are laid on to the washing troughs, and the " suds," in charwoman phrase, are also carried away underground by pipes. There is a complete absence of any necessity for the lifting or straining which always made Mrs "Arris gird her strength for " a tremenjus encounter," when she felt "dispoged" to wash. The ground surrounding the building is divided into four yards, which serve the double purpose of drying and recreation grounds. The chief object, however, is to keep each class of immigrants entirely distinct from the other, and once within the building the chances of communication between the single men and women, for instance, is as remote as if one or other were at Timbuctoo. The dimensions of the barracks are of such extent that it is extremely improbable that they will ever be tested to their full capacity. Everywhere there are indications of abundance of room, and it is only proper to add that the workmanship, though exceedingly plain throughout, has all the appearance of being thoroughly substantial. The only immigrants who have yet had an opportunity of testing the efficiency of the building, were those by the Michael Angelo, and though the arrangements were not at that time in a very forward state, many expressions of the highest feelings of satisfaction were heard to fall from them in regard to the thoughtfulness and consideration of the immigration authorities in providing such excellent quarters and provender. These they were not permitted to enjoy very long, however, for the demand for labour in the Province soon attracted them to the scenes which would in all likelihood form their future homes. There is no doubt that the forethought of the Government in this direction will have its good results, for the contentment and success of the immigrants brought out are the incentives which alone will induce them to write favourably of the Colony to their friends at home, and, where possible, bring them out here to follow in their footsteps. It is what is called the "self-supporting " system of immigration that has done so much for America, and the study of that system by the proper treatment of the immigrants should be the aim of the Government of New Zealand. Mr Duke, the Barrack-master, whose courtesy we have to acknowledge, will always be willing to show strangers or residents round the building, should they desire to inspect the accommodation themselves.

Captain Mackenzie Luckie

LUCKIE, Mackenzie Age: 53 years
Date Deceased: 18/01/1875
Interment Date: 24/01/1875
Buried Wakapuka Cemetery Plot 070 Block: 05
Denomination: COE
Funeral Director: W E Fleming
Reference: Nelson City Council Cemetery Database

Nelson Evening Mail, 22 January 1875, Page 2
Henry.— December 22, drowned from the ship Michael Angelo, William Henry, seaman, a native of Demerara.
Luckie. — January 18, at sea, of heart disease, Mackenzie Luckie, Esq., Captain of the chip Michael Angelo, aged 53 years.

Nelson Evening Mail, 25 January 1875, Page 2
25 January 1875, Page 2
The ship Michael Angelo was brought to the Nelson anchorage by Mr Esson, the chief officer, after the severe shock he, as well as all, received through the sudden death of her captain (M. Luckie, Esq.,) on the 18th instant. Mr Esson found himself in the great Pacific Ocean, not only in charge of the ship, but with the safety of about 340 souls in his hands, and this after being almost three months at sea without sighting any land. Mr Esson carefully navigated the ship through many intricate windings from the end of the Sandspit to the Lighthouse on the Boulder Bank during the dark hours of a hazy night, where he brought her with her living freight safely to anchor. It will be satisfactory to relatives as well as employers to know that every token of respect was paid to the remains of the late Captain Luekie which were, by order of Mr Esson, placed in an air-tight coffin, and brought into port for interment.

Nelson Evening Mail, 2 March 1875, Page 2
The clipper ship Michael Angelo, Captain W. Esson, was towed to the outer anchorage by the steamers Charles Edward and Murray yesterday afternoon, and will sail for the Bluff to-morrow.