ARRIVAL OF THE JOSEPH FLETCHER
The New
Zealander March 20th 1858
Two sails were signalled at an early hour yesterday morning – a ship and
a schooner. Owing to the ebb tide and a strong southerly wind, during the forepart
and calms during the latter part of the day, it was between 7 and 8 p.m. before the ship fetched her anchorage.
She proved to be that standard favourite the Joseph Fletcher, Capt POOK, 110
days from Plymouth, having been kept
knocking about for upwards of three weeks on the coast in consequence of the long
prevalent easterly weather. The schooner, which had not come in last night, is the Emily
Alison from Melbourne. The Joseph
Fletcher brings a numerous and, seemingly, a superior body of passengers. We are
indebted to Capt Pook for the following particulars of his passage. The Isabella
Hamilton was to follow immediately after the Fletcher. And our old friend
Captain FOSTER was on the lookout for a new ship which he is to command in the Auckland trade. Sailed from Plymouth on 29 November with 20 cabin and 115
second cabin and steerage passengers, had a favourable run out of the Channel but were
detained 8 days in the Bay of Biscay
by strong S W gales. Crossed the equator on 28 December, passed the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope on 23 January, 55 days from Plymouth. On 24th February were
within 100 miles of the West Coast of NZ, 87 days out when our fair wind failed us and we
were becalmed for 3 days after that we had a continuance of strong easterly winds with
thick weather and a great deal of rain and had to beat all the way to Auckland. We
had one death during the passage, William ROW, aged 2 years, son of Mr & Mrs ROW of
New Plymouth. There has been no serious sickness on board, nor have we had any
accident. We have had one birth, Mrs JACKSON, a son. Sgd:
John POOK
LETTER OF TESTIMONY
Ship Joseph Fletcher, 19th March 1858
Dear Sir – As our voyage will in all probability terminate in a few
hours, we cannot think of leaving the Fletcher without thanking you and the
officers of the ship for the personally kind and considerate manner in which we have been
treated since we left England.
Of your skill and experience as a commander, we say nothing; it being already too
well known for us to offer an opinion on, we merely beg, individually and collectively, to
assure you of our full appreciation of the numerous acts of kindness we have met with and
to express a parting wish for your future health and prosperity.
We beg to remain, Very truly yours,
BUTTRESS, Thomas
HODGKINSON, M E
HODGKINSON, Samuel
INVERARITY, M
INVERARITY, W D
KENDERDINE, J J
MARTYN, Adah
MARTYN, Ellen
MARTYN, John
MARTYN, Mary
MATTHEW, S L
MORSHEAD, E
MORSHEAD, Mary, Olympia, Isabella & Edward Jr
MORSHEAD, P
ROCKES, Charles Cecil
ROOKES, Annie
TAYLOR, W H
To the Captain of the Joseph
Fletcher (Capt. J Pook),