Immigrant Ships
Transcribers Guild

Transcript of Memos Relating to the
Ship Opawa Sailing

Held at the National Archives, Wellington (Reference:Im 5/4/31 366)

 7, Westminster Chambers
 London SW
 11 September 1878
Via San Francisco
No 799

Sir,
I have to advise the sailing of the ship "Opawa" from Plymouth on the seventh day of September, with 168 emigrants equal to 149½ statute adults to be landed at Lyttelton, and 122 emigrants equal to 105½ statute adults to be landed at Timaru.
I enclose the original promissory notes.
The gratuities, payable on the recommendation of the Inspecting Officers in the Colony, are the following viz:-
To the Surgeon Superintendent Dr R Bowen Hogg £50, and ten shillings per adult on the number of emigrants landed alive;
To Captain Friston £25;
To the Chief Officer £10;
To the Officer who serves out the provisions £5;
To the Matron Mrs Triggs £5;
To the sub Matrons Eleanor Parkin and Jane Hobbs £2 each;
To the schoolmaster Mr William Newbury £5;
To the constables:- Ordinary £2 each; for water closets £5.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
your most obedient servant

(signed)

Sir,
With reference to my report on the eligibility of the "Opawa" for the conveyance of emigrants to Timaru and Lyttelton I have now the hours to inform you that this ship was fitted in the southwest India docks with fore and aft Berths partly on the block plan with passages towards the ships side and partly with lougers having continuous passages around them.

A small portion of the after end of the 'tween decks next the lazarette is taken off for the storage of medical comforts and a portion at the fore end for a part of the crew both are separated from the emigrants compartments by double bulkheads.
The single woman's compartment extends from the medical comfort room to the fore part of the after hatchway which is fitted with a permanent booby hatch, half of which is the ladderway for the single women and the other half  is trunked in and acts as additional ventilation for the married compartments;  the matrons cabin is on the port side just aloft the after hatch, and the hospital is aloft that again, at the after end of the latter is a ladder way leading through a bulk hatch to the bathroom and watercloset in the poop:  there is an air shaft just before the mizzen mast, and there are 2 bow air funnels at the after end trunked down to within six inches of the deck on either side 6 bow Bitt ventilators and 2 Poisins in the deck and 6 side scuttles.
The married compartment extends from the single woman's bulkhead to that of the single men, both of these bulkheads are double; the ladderway is in the main hatch, part of which is fitted with a booby hatch, and part with a skylight, and the compartment is further lighted and ventilated by the half of the after hatch before mentioned, by a sky light and air funnel between that and the main hatch, by 9 side scuttles and 4 Poisins  in the deck:  the hospital is on the starboard side abreast the main hatchway, the sewing room and a small room for medical stores are on the port side, the dispensary is one of the poop cabins on port side.
The single men are in the fore end they have the fore hatchway properly fitted with permanent booby hatch for this ladderway and the compartment is further lighted and ventilated by a large air shaft through the midship deck house, 4 bow Bitt ventilators in the deck, 8 side scuttles, the hospital is in fore end of the midship deck house.
I examined the provisions, stores and medical comforts with the emigration officer (Capt Geary) and Surgeon Superintendent (Dr Hogg) and rejected the first supply of Salt Beef as some of the pieces were tainted, the second supply was good: I also rejected the extract of meat packed by McCall and had other supplied in lieu: some of the flour, the quicklime, and the stout were in improper packages, I had them properly packed before they were put on board: the surgeon was furnished with a list of the quantity supplied and a copy is enclosed herewith.
The condenser was reported by the Board of Trade Surveyor at Plymouth to be efficient and the engineer a competent man.
There are two life boats on the after skid fitted with Hill Clarks disengaging hooks and hung to the davits so that they can be swung out immediately ready for lowering when required: all the boats were got out at Plymouth quickly and well, crews told off to them and assigned their respective fire stations and the attention of Captain and Surgeon was directed to your special instructions as to fire drill.
The ship left the docks on 28th August and after adjusting her compasses at Greenlithe proceeded to Plymouth where she arrived on the 1st instant.  The emigrants were mustered and inspected by the emigration officer (....) the medical inspector (Dr Eccles) in presence of the Surgeon Superintendent (Dr Hogg) and myself on Friday the 6th instant, and embarked immediately afterwards; and on Saturday the 7th instant everything being complete I delivered your sailing instructions to the Captain and the ship sailed at 10:45 am with 290 souls equal to 255 statute adults embarked under your orders and 3 souls equal to 2½ statute adults in the cabin, one of these being Dr Robert Dobson for whom the company had given permission that he should proceed in this vessel: as per Surgeons Certificate herewith enclosed.
The Captain had instructions from the company to land the Timaru emigrants at that place if the weather permitted.
I appointed Wm Newbury as school master and Eleanor Parkin and Jane Hobbs as sub matrons.

I have the honour to be
Sir,
your most obed. servant
(signed) Edwd A Smith
Dispatching Officer

(Signed)
 (Signed)
(Signed)
Lyttelton

10th December 1878Report of the arrival of the ship "Opawa"
from Plymouth to Lyttelton Canterbury
 Lyttelton
 December 14th 1878
Gentlemen
Subjoined is a classified summary of the principal events which occurred on the board the ship "Opawa" and of the observations which I have to bring under the notice of the Immigration Commissioners.

Port of Final Departure Date of Final Departure Date of Arrival No of Souls Aboard  No of Births on voyage No of Deaths Total No of Souls Landed
     Adults Children
Plymouth Sept 7th 1878 Dec 7th 1878 290 3 Nil Nil 293

Nominal list of Deaths on the voyage
Name Age as per nominal list Date of Death Cause of Death
 

                    Mothers Name            Date of Birth            Sex of the child

                    Mary Langford           Octr 11th                Female

                    Rose Hendron            Novr 12th                Male

                    Mary Meara              Dec 4th                  Do

The ship belongs to the New Zealand Shipping Co is almost a new vessel strongly built of good speed and well adapted for carrying emigrants.
The children made fair progress.
At the end of the voyage the Immigration Officer awarded the prizes to those who had obtained the highest marks - The schoolmaster  Reuben Newbury was assisted by his wife who held a first class government certificate as a school mistress.
The distilling apparatus on board  was "Winehawkins" improved patent and condensed from 300-350 gallons of good water daily.
There was not patent ventilating apparatus on board.
The highest thermometrical  reading in main hatchway 84 degrees Sept 27th and the lowest 45.F  Nov 7th.
Many of the single men and women were scantily clad and therefore unprovided with suitable clothing for the cold weather.
I would also suggest that twice as many Holystones than are usually put on board should be sent if the decks are to be kept clean.
This is my first voyage with emigrants.
I remain gentlemen
your obedient servant
(signed) R Bowen Hogg
Surgeon Superintendent

 Immigration Office
 19 December 1878
 

Memorandum No. 239/78

The Under Secretary

I have to report that on the arrival of the "Opawa" I left two families on board viz: Patrick Meara whose wife had recently been confined and A Langford who had two children ill.
Four days after arrival I received a telegram from Dr Rouse stating that the cases had better be removed to the Quarantine Station.
I attach report by the Surgeon on each Case.
The Patients are now convalescent.  I have further to report that Patrick Meara and family were utterly destitute of clothing, they, had not even a change.  It was considered necessary, to destroy what few things they had and I have taken the responsibility of ordering some clothing for them.  Meara has given me a promissory note for their value and will repay the government as soon as he gets into work.

(signed) A S March

Report of case of Patrick Meara
   XX years an emigrant on board NZ ship "Opawa" presented himself to me on Sunday afternoon last the 8th instant complaining of chilliness, pains to the back and abdomen and diarrhoea - for which he had at bed time ten grains fevers powder.  The following day Monday he was no better the feverish symptoms and diarrhoea were continuing for which he was put on beef tea milk and rice and the powder repeated at night.  On Tuesday the 10th owing the nature of the evacuations and the rise and fall in the temperature night and morning I sent for Dr Rouse who met me in consultation and advised his removal to the Quarantine station - to which place we proceeded in the afternoon.  Since his admission he has been in bed with exacerbation of temperature in the evening and remissions in the morning, the diarrhoea having continued more or less until last night when he was only disturbed once.
At present he is progressing favourably the treatment being rest in bed, cleanliness and liquid nutriment as milk eggs and beef tea and stimulants when necessary.  This man enjoyed good health up to the date of the ships arrival.

(signed) R Bowen Hogg
Surgeon Superintendent

Report on the case of William Langford aged three years

On the 19th Nov he began to have a cough which soon proved itself  to be "whooping cough" and for which he was treated with Ipecacuanha and belladonna up to December 6th when he became much worse being more feverish and having increased difficulty of breathing which after examining the chest I found was due to the onset of acute bronchitis with diarrhoea complicating it.
The treatment was counter-irritation to the chest with expectorant and diaphoretic medicine and milk beef tea and rice.
He continued about the same up to the tenth instant when Dr Rouse saw him with me and prescribed for him and as his brother Alfred Langford aged 6 years was suffering very much with Whooping cough and diarrhoea it was considered advisable to remove them as well as the Meara family to the quarantine station.
Since they have been in the hospital their coughs have been distressing, but up to the present there have been no urgent symptoms and both are progressing satisfactorily under good nourishment and suitable treatment.

R Bowen Hogg
______________________________________
 Immigration Office
Christchurch 27th Dec 1878

No.249/78

The Under Secretary

I have already reported in my memos: of the 19th December that I had to remove two families from the ship "Opawa" to Ripa Island.
Dr Hogg the Surgeon of the ship has been in constant attention on them up to the present time and the families are not yet in a fit state to be removed.
Had the "Opawa" been placed in quarantine the lag days would have expired on the 16th instant.
I think Dr Hogg is however fairly entitled to the fee of one guinea per diem during the time he has been detained in charge of them and I recommend accordingly.

(Signed)
Immigration Officer
______________________________________
25 February 1879

Mr Kennaway,
Referring to dispatch No. 3 of 2 February 1879, from the honourable the Minister for Immigration, and in pursuance of instructions from the Agent General that I should report on the remarks of the Surgeon Superintendent of the "Opawa" as to the deficient supply of holystones and also on the statement of the Immigration Officer as to the want of sufficient clothing amongst some of the Immigrants.
With regard to the quantity of holystones the quantity supplied under the Contract of May 1878 is just half as much again as the quantities heretofore supplied and if they were properly taken care of I consider the supply to be ample in a few instances the surgeons have applied for an extra supply before starting and whenever they have done so I have received the Agent Generals permission to supply whatever may be required in excess of the quantity provided under the Contract but unless the quantities to be supplied are increased in the Contract I have no authority to require the Company to supply more and it can only be done as it has always hitherto been done on the special requisition of the Surgeon.
With regard to the deficiency of clothing, the person who examines the Emigrants' boxes is instructed to inform me whenever any Emigrant is without the minimum supply of clothing specified in the Printed Instructions issued to each Emigrant., she has frequently called my attention to such deficiencies and whenever any have been reported to me I have taken steps to have such deficiency made good I will again call the examiners attention to this matter in order to avoid, if possible, any cause for complaint in future.

(Signed) Edwd A Smith
Despatching Officer
______________________________________

Via Brindisi
No. 361
6 May 1879
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd of January, No. 3, transmitting reports relating to the ship "Opawa".
In reply I beg to enclose a copy of a memorandum via my Dispatching Officer; and also to inform you that all the staff surgeons now at home have been asked if they think the supply of holystones is sufficient.  Should their replies show that it is insufficient the quantity put on board future ships will be increased accordingly.
I have the honour to be
Sir
Your most obedient Servant,

(SIGNED)
Agent General

The voyage from Plymouth to Lyttleton was not without excitement.  There was the usual sea sickness, births, contagious diseases, a man overboard, rough weather and seas.  The Opawa was to have berthed at Timaru but was unable to get in to the port due to gale force winds.  It wasn't all bad, there are several accounts of fun activities on ship during the voyage.

The Opawa dropped anchor in Diamond Harbour at 10 am on 7 December 1878 and after an Immigration and Health inspection was docked at the Gladstone Pier with the assistance of the Steam Tug Titan.
 

A full account of the voyage was reported in The Lyttelton Times.  The report is reproduced below:

   Ship Opawa, from London
The N.Z. Shipping Co. ship Opawa, Captain Friston, arrived from London via Plymouth on Saturday morning with immigrants.  The Health and Immigration Officers accompanied by the representatives of the N.Z. Shipping Co., left the wharf for the ship in the government launch at 11.00 am.  It was found that the passage had been a fine weather one., but from the time of passing Cape Leeuwin the ship meet nothing but unfavourable winds.  The equator was crossed 28 days out, the meridian of Greenwich 21 days, later, and that of Cape Leeuwin 72 days after leaving Plymouth.  A week of the time has been spent working up the coast, most unfavourable weather having been experienced,  as was plainly evidenced on reference on the chart, where the track marked off  showed anything but favourable progress.  The passage has occupied  91 days from Plymouth, or 84 from there to making the land, and had anything like favourable weather been met with the Opawa would have given a very good account of herself.  The whole of the immigrants appear to be a very good and useful lot, and have certainly conducted themselves well on board.  They all expressed themselves most thoroughly satisfied with the treatment they had received while on board the ship, and with the unvarying kindness and attention shown them by Captain Friston, the Surgeon Superintendent, and the officers generally the Opawa has arrived in excellent order everywhere.  Each of the divisions occupied by the immigrants was found to be in a very high state of cleanliness and neatness, while the essential matters of ventilation and light had been well considered.  We are glad to state that no death occurred during the passage and what sickness there was most successfully combated  by the superintendent, Doctor R. Bowen Hogg, who without doubt has won the good opinion of all on board by the kind manner in which he has attended all cases where his medical skill has been called into use, and the mild but yet firm manner in which he has maintained the evident good discipline that prevailed through out the voyage.  We congratulate him on the success that has attended this his first voyage to the colony with immigrants, as the Opawa would certainly compare very favourable with any immigrant ship that has come out here.  There are altogether 236 soles on board, equal to 237½ adults.  3 births occurred on the passage.  The officers are:- Chief, Mr Cruickshank, who was in the ship last voyage; Second, Mr. Solaby, and Third Mr. Bond who occupied the same post when the Opawa was last here.  There were several amusements organised on board to wile away the tedium of the passage, and a newspaper was instituted by two saloon passengers, which afforded a considerable amount of interest to all.  Fire and boat drill were regularly practised, and while the commissioners were aboard the fire alarm was sounded, and in two minutes water was through the hose, while the boats were all manned and ready for lowering at the same time.  On looking through the several divisions of the ship, we found the single women under the charge of Mrs. Triggs, the matron, and Mrs. Parkiss, sub-matron.  the matron gives all the girls and excellent character, and all seemed to be extremely comfortable and contented.  105 out of the total number of immigrants are for Timaru.  The girls speak of the kindness shown by their matron, and have evidently done all they could to lighten her labours.  The married peoples compartment contained 36 families.  There are 65 children in all, and that there were no serious sicknesses among so many speaks volumes  for Dr. Hogg's care and watchfulness.  All in this compartment appeared quite happy and they must certainly be complimented upon the excellent condition in which it was found.  The single men's division quartered 97 strapping fellows who look thoroughly fitted for a colony life.  Here good order and decorum was very noticeable.  Through out the ship not a complaint was heard and the food was abundant and of excellent quality, such being the testimony of all who were interrogated on this subject.  The whole 3 compartments were found in a excellent of cleanliness and order, and the commissioners appeared to be thoroughly satisfied with the appearance of the 'tween decks generally.  One casualty happened on the voyage, which was the loss of a seaman named Charles Johnson, who fell from the lee mizen rigging on October 3 and was drowned.  Every possible effort was made to save him, but being unable to swim he was lost, though a life buoy was thrown within a few feet of him.  Dr. Hogg in his report states that the ship left Plymouth with 36 married people, 51 children, 8 infants (which number was increased by 3), 39 single women, and 97 single men, in all 290 soles equal to 287 adults.  He goes on to state on the whole, and more especially in a medical aspect, the voyage has been a successful one, in as much as there has been no death among the immigrants, whilst the number has increased by their having 3 births.  Unfortunately whooping cough manifested itself 4 days after embarkation; both child and mother were insulated, and every means taken to prevent infection; the malady however fully developed itself among the little ones.  After being at sea 12 or 13 days, a case of measles broke out, when the child was at once isolated with her mother until she fully recovered and the infection was prevented from extending.  The highest thermometrical reading in the "tween decks in the main hatch was 81 deg. on Sept. 27, and 43 deg. on Nov. 7.  In conclusion, Dr. Hogg remarks, his best thanks a due to Captain Friston and his officers and the ships company generally, for the prompt and willing assistance they always rendered in the furtherance of every object that was in any way conducive to the comfort and well being of the immigrants.  We may add that Dr. Hogg recommends that the government should see that the immigrants are better provided with clothing and bedding for the cold weather.  He mentioned several incidences in which some of them were badly supplied., and as a matter of course felt the change in the temperature very much.  He also mentioned the want for more holystones and thought that there should be nearly twice as many put on board immigrants ships than is the case, as there could be no possible excuse for not having the decks etc. fully cleaned.  In addition to the immigrants the Opawa brought 3 saloon passengers.  There are 103 immigrants among the number for Timaru.  The single girls for that place were landed on Saturday; and the whole of the remainder will come ashore today.  The following is the report of the passage, furnished by Captain Friston:-

The ship Opawa was towed out of Plymouth on Saturday, September 7.  the tug cast off, and the pilot left her at 2pm when clear of the Eddystone lighthouse.  Had calms for 2 days.  On Sept 12, in 44 north, 11.59 west, we got light north east wind with fine weather, which was carried to 14.30 north, 26.4 west, where, on Sept 26, overhauled the N.Z. S Companies ship Waipa, and continued in her company for 3 days; experiencing light baffling airs.  The south east trades were picked up on Oct 1 in 3 north, 22.30 west.  On Oct. 3, noon, Charles Johnson, while working in the lee mizen rigging, fell overboard and was drowned.  A life buoy was thrown within a few feet of him, but he could not swim, and was therefore unable to reach it.  In the meantime after yards were backed, starboard life boat was launched, and both ship and boat cruised over the spot where Johnson had fallen for a hour and three quarters; picked up both life buoys and the heaven with which he had been working.  Men were at each mast head but saw nothing of him after he went down, whilst apparently struggling towards the life buoy.  The ship was going from 8½ to 9 knots per hour at the time.  At 2 p.m. all hopes of finding the body were given up and the ship was kept on her course.  A. Swanson, A.B., who had been a ship mate of Johnson for 5 years, said deceased could not swim.  Crossed the Equator on Oct. 5 in 28.3 west; sighted the island of Trinadad and lost the south east trades on October 12; experienced light and variable winds to 38 south, which was reached on October 22, where the ship picked up the first of the westerlies; sighted Gough's Island next day; Oct. 24. encountered heavy gale from the eastward, and the royals were taken in for the first time; past the meridian of Greenwich on October 26 in 41 south; the meridian of the cape on Oct. 31 in 44 south;  of Prince Edward's Island  in 44 south on Nov. 4 in a  dense fog; the Crozets in the same latitude on Nov. 7 and Kerguelen's Island on Nov. 9 in 45 south.  During a heavy gale from the westward on Nov. 9 sprung the main and mizen royal masts and the sea washed away the fixings of the main hatch.  The winds held good until the meridian of the Leeuwin was crossed on November 18 in 45.3 south, and then went round ahead, and continued light and baffling until November 22; strong westerlies prevailed to Nov. 25 and then veered round to south east, and blew a high gale with high sea; barometer 28.70.  Friday, Nov. 29 expecting to sight snares, when the wind suddenly fell calm.  Saturday made 38 miles and sighted snares at 7 p.m.  the wind then came dead ahead, and continued so with fog and rain.  Tuesday, December 3, stood in under easy sail during dense fog, and sighted White Island at 6.30 a.m.  Wednesday, Dec. 4, fog cleared, and was followed by light baffling airs and calms, ship scarcely steering.  Thursday, wind light and baffling, from north, north-east to north, north-west; 4.30 p.m., whilst standing in towards Timaru suddenly fell calm,  which was immediately succeeded by strong gale for south, south-east; hauled ship out at once, deeming in unsafe to put her upon a lee shore; 10 p.m.  Wind suddenly fell light baffling airs and calms.  Friday, 6 a.m., off Akaroa, light baffling airs and calms all day; 9.30 p.m., sighted Godley Head light Saturday,  4.00 am, got Pilot 8 miles from Heads.  Took steam tug Titan when off Camp Bay, and dropped anchor at 10.00 a.m. off Diamond Harbour.  Saw no ice during the voyage, and only encountered 2 squalls of hail and sleet,  but after passing Gough's Island on Oct. 23  an unusual quantity of mist and wet weather was experienced, which was carried more or less right up to Banks Peninsula.  The 3 best rounds were made on Nov. 9 and the 2 following days, viz., 320, 307, and 291 knots.
Ships spoken during the passage:- September 10, Paramatta, Plymouth to Sydney 5 days out; September 26, N.Z. Shipping Companies Waipa for Dunedin, left downs September 2; October 3, French steamer K.T.P.D., bound for Rio, October 17; Martin Scott, of Greenock , 15 days out from Liverpool to Calcutta.
Captain Friston desires to thank his saloon passengers for their kindness in maintaining a weekly paper for the amusement of the immigrants.
The Lyttelton Times
9 December 1878 Page 4
 

On New Years Day, 1879, William Bowman became the second, of what would grow to become five sailors, to be absent without leave from the Opawa.  The first to desert the ship was Joseph Smith who was absent on 16 December 1878, only ten days after the ships arrival.  The third and fourth deserters, Alfred Johnson and John Christian (from Finland and Norway respectively), deserted on the 4th of January 1879. The fifth and final sailor taking his leave E.R.Stock deserted on 17 January 1879.  As well as these deserters left in the port of Lyttelton there were ten others who left with "mutual consent".  These included the ships surgeon Dr R Bowen Hogg.  An entry in the Agreement and Account of Crew shows William's desertion and his subsequential loss of pay.  The only pay he would have received was the advance he received on signing aboard the ship.  Also mentioned in the Agreement and Account of Crew are the particulars of the personal effects of the unfortunate sailor who was drowned during the voyage.  I have transcribed the entry here as it gives an insight to the worldly possessions of these sailors:-
1 camphor wood chest; 2 pr of socks; several clay pipes; 2 pr of mitts; razors and box; 1 old black cap; 1 pr of braces, 1 silk handerchief, 1 tobacco box containing: a purse, a fish hook, a bit of line, 2 sail needles; 1 pipe & case; 1 New Testament; 1 pocket knife; 4 flannels; 1 neck tie; 2 singlets; 2 pr of cotton drawers; 2 old letters; 4 white shirts; 1 skain of silk; 1 cotton singlet; 1 old watch case; 1 pr of drawers; 1 empty bottle; 1 pr cloth trousers; 1 ditty bag1; 1 waist coat; 1 canvass bag containing a suit of oilskins 2 pr sea boots; 1 great coat; 1 cap; 1 pr socks; 1 pr of bluchers2; 1 pr of old; 1 looking glass, trousers/blanket,  a few playing cards, 1 pr drawers; 2 flannel shirts; 1 dungaree jumper3;  1 cotton shirt;   1 pr of trousers;  1 pr moleskin trousers; 1 pr serge trousers; 1 scarf; 1 cotton singlet; 1 counterpane4 & 1 pillow; The bed on old shaw one was thrown over board.
   1 a sailor's or fisherman's receptacle for odds and ends [19th century]
   2 strong leather half boots or high shoes
3 a loose outer jacket made from canvass, etc., worn by sailors
4 bedspread

Page 1 Passengers aboard the Ship Opawa intended for Lyttelton

Page 2 Passengers aboard the Opawa intended for Timaru

Page 3 Poem and Diary by Maria Wells, 27 year old housemaid, written aboard the Ship Opawa.

Page 5 The Sailing Ships of the New Zealand Shipping Company 1873-1900

Contributed and Transcribed by Bill Smith for the Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild 21 November 1998

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