ARRIVAL OF THE MAORI
The New
Zealander November 5th 1859
The
good ship Maori, Captain PETHERBRIDGE, arrived in port early on Wednesday morning
after a pleasant but protracted passage of 113 days from the Downs
whence she sailed on the 12th, taking her final departure from the Lizard on 17
July. Her passage has been unusually devoid of
interest. Sighted no land nor spoke any
vessels connected with these colonies. Caught
a light north-easterly breeze off Cape
Finistere
which carried her pretty well up to the Equator which she crossed on 22 August. Met with very indifferent south-east trades. Passed the meridian of the Cape
of Good Hope
on 20 September; did not go lower than that latitude in running down her Easting. Passed to the southward and out of sight of Van
Diemen’s Land
making the Three Kings on Thursday 27 October at 1
p.m. Had light westerly winds along the coast to
the Hen and Chickens after which she experienced an alternation of land and sea breezes. There were four deaths, three of infants under 15
months old, the fourth was that of Mr Herbert PAGE, a cabin passenger, which took place as
recently as Saturday 29 October. There was one
birth – a stillborn child. The Maori
is a fine ship of the old school with excellent accommodation for passengers. She came into harbour in high order and at once
took up her berth at the end of the Queen-street
Wharf
with all the promptitude of a steamer. She
brings 132 passengers all told or 103 statute adults.
They appear to be of the same superior class as those which have lately been
arriving among us. From the Official Passenger
List we learn there are 99 English; 12 Scotch, 7 Irish; and 14 Jews and among these are to
be found 27 labourers, 14 farmers; 12 female servants; 2 mechanics; 1 carpenter; 1
engineer and 1 governess, together with the sons and daughters of those with families.