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The
Voyage of the "Surge" (7)
We Sight Otago Coast  11th
December, Tuesday -
At 2 o'clock in the morning, got up at 4 to see it. It was
very fine. Otago on the coast is very mountainous. Kept it in
sight and I am sorry to say that
the wind came against us and it is uncertain to say on what day we will
arrive in Welhngton. Got up the chain cables today. Lat. 46.9, Long.
171.15. In the evenmg,
one of the most beautiful sunsets that I have ever
seen.
12th
December, Wednesday -
No Lat. or Long. A perfect calm, a beautiful day. Ship
making very little way and steering NNW. Between 12 and 1
o'clock, the lifeboat was lowered and several gentlemen had a row on the
smooth sea and a breeze springing up, they had a strong pull to reach the
"Surge" and when they did, they seemed quite exhausted. The fog today was
very dense but of a light colour.
13th
December, Thursda~ -
A fine day, high wind and against us. Lat. 44.28, Long.
172.16. Sighted Banks Peninsular at about 2 o'clock. The hills
seem very high - all in high spirits. Put the ship about 3 o'clock. The
last 24 hours, we made 90 miles of Northing. Lowered main Royal Yard
having no further use for it.
14th
December, Friday - A
fine bright morning but ship making very little progress but towards noon,
a breeze sprung up and with a fair wind, we made good way Lat 44.10, Long.
173.47
15th
December, Saturday -
Another fine morning but very little wind, though fair and ship
scarcely going 2 knots per hour. The Kaikoura Mountains covered with snow
at 12 o'clock about 10,000 feet high. Sun very hot. Wind fair but ship
going very slow. Lat. 42.32, Long. 174.19. Off
Wellington
16th
December, Sunday 1855 - 107
days. Arrived off Wellington Harbour. Most lovely weather
and perfect calm. The cliffs most magnificent, like mountains. Half past
10 o'clock, ship slowly drifting towards the mouth of the Harbour.
No pilot yet come out - the sun most powerful - if this is a specimen of
the climate, must be most delightful. The pilot came on board in a whale
boat at 10 minutes past 3 o'clock. We had been tacking about from noon,
and a breeze having sprung up, we were tacking off the harbour
for a long time. The pilot, Doherty brought the "Surge" to anchor off the
town of Wellington at 10 minutes past nine o'clock in perfect safety and I
retired to my bunk.
Note:
The "N.Z. Spectator" and "Cooks Straight Guardian" of December 19th, 1855
carried
the following news items -
On
Sunday the "Surge" one of F. Young and Co's fine ships, arrived from
England having sailed from Gravesend on 31st August. The "Surge" brings a
number of cabin and
steerage passengers, the latter under arrangement entered into with the
Provincial Government. The English papers supply details of the Battle of
Tchernaya. The "Surge"
on her passage, spoke a vessel which sailed from England on September 6th
and reported that no other event of importance connected with the war in
the Crimea had occurred. The Queen had visited Paris, and had met with a
most enthusiastic reception. She intended proceeding to Scotland in the
Autumn. The
newspaper also carried the following as the passenger list of arrivals by
the "Surge" -
Mr and Mrs A G Percival; Mr and Mrs D Walker and son; Messrs E
and G Owen, Revd. R R and Mrs Bradley; Mr and Mrs H T Spratt and 4
children; Messrs A H Ledlie; J Carson; T Gill; J M Inshaw and 70 in
the steerage. Passenger list
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