Day 71 – January 1st 1874, Thursday, New Year’s Day
Woke up at midnight by the single men and crew ringing the old year out and the new one in. This was indeed a piece of Dutch chorus or rough music, for the noise was something dreadful. In the morning, Sarah Ann had a mustard poultice on her side, not being very well all night. In the afternoon saw two whales on hte starboard side. Assisted the doctor in distributing figs, nuts, apples, and books to the children, after which he draped the Christmas tree with books and pill boxes. The model ship was won by an Irishman. Turned Jerry’s number as 42. Birds in sight but no ship.
Day 72 – Friday January 2nd 1874
No vessel in sight all day. Passed a rather sleepless night, wind in our favour. Sarah Ann better. Wm. Harris took ill in the night – had to turn in. Walter’s eye a great deal better and John quiet. The model ship was bought by Harry Jones to be drawn by 60 members at 6s each (my number 29) in the afternoon. Wheeler the seaman was cleaning the forecastle out instead of turning in, and for his pains he received a severe punching and kicking. While on the deck after having his legs drawn from under him from behind by a comrade for mislaying one of his boots, and making the place so wet, not having the time to finish before eight bells, this was cruel work. The doctor bet Mr. Isaac, a first class passenger, that he could not walk 8 miles on the ?poap? in 2 hours. But the bet was won, which was £1.00.
Day 73 – Saturday January 3rd
Passed a quiet night. Wind shifted to our port quarter. A rainy morning. Wm. Harris still ill in bed. No vessel in sight but several birds flying about of different sizes. Yesterday another sheep was killed. At 4:30pm Jack the sailor and the stowaway had a fight. Jack stripped off his shirt for the purpose, but very few blows were exchanged. Joe Pumphrey put in irons for refusing to do some work allocated to him. Walter’s eye nearly well. Alice went to tea with Fanny and Janey.
Day 74 – Sunday January 4th
Passed another quiet night. A fine cold morning. Wind still in our favour. Birds following the ship. Mustered on the main deck but no service. Joe Pumphrey out for an hour’s exercise but locked up again. Service on quarter deckbut no sermon preached. No vessel n sight during the day. Emma Jane had tea with us.
Day 75 – Monday January 5th
Ship sailed well all night, doing 11 – 12 knots an hour. A dull, wet morning. No vessel in sight but a few birds. This day passed much the same as many others. The model ship was drawn for and won by one of the first class passengers.
Day 76 – Tuesday January 6th
Passed a quiet night. Wind in our favour. Killed a pig today. Weight 66lb. A few birds in sight but no ship. This day passed much the same as many others.
Day 77 – Wednesday January 7th
No sleep all night until the morning. Fair wind all night. A few birds flying round the ship. Wm. Harris very ill – again obliged to go to bed. No vessel in sight during the day.
Day 78 – Thursday January 8th
Passed a quiet night. Wind still in our favour. A few birds in sight but no vessel. Wm. Harris a little better. Harry Jones bought the model ship again of the first class passenger for 15/-.
Day 79 – Friday January 9th
Ship sailed well all night. About midnight shipped a very heavy sea, which made her stagger from stern to stern. No vessel in sight all day but a few birds. Wind on our starboard quarter. Sailing at the rate of 13 knots. Mr. ….. locked Alice in the storeroom and John in the hospital. William Harris much better.
Day 80 – Saturday January 10th
This day passed much the same as many others. A few birds in sight but no vessel. Had a fine day.
Day 81 – Sunday January 11th
This day has passed the same as many others. A few birds in sight but no vessel. No service was held during the day, neither were we mustered. John Thomas Barlow fell and cut his forehead against the winch – in the evening very bad. Wm. Harris got well. Alice went to tea with her sisters.
Day 82 – Monday January 12th
Ship rolled very much all night. Very little sleep during the night. A fine morning. A fair wind, sailing about 8 knots. A few birds in sight but no vessel. In the afternoon killed another sheep. In the evening we had a calm. Had a ticket for the opera glass off Joseph Cawthine but Mr. Wicks won it – Carl the sailor having sold it to J.C. Went to bed at 9pm. Ship rolling very much.
Day 83 – Tuesday January 13th
A good breeze sprung up at midnight and continued all day. The boxes were got up today for the last time, two of which were examined but nothing found that was missing. A bird or two flying about, no vessel in sight.
Day 84 – Wednesday January 14th
Ship sailed well all night. A fine morning. At 1pm sighted the rocks called The Snares. The passengers greatly excited. Sighted Stewart Island about 4pm. Droves of birds in sight. A great many dark brown birds swimming in the water like ducks. Repaired Mary Feeney’s box side. No vessel in sight during the day. The mainland not in sight up to 8 o’clock. Packed up a few things ready for going ashore. Shipped a heavy sea while Harry was under the hatchway. He had a good ducking.
Day 85 – Thursday January 15th
A good breeze of wind all night. At 12 midnight a ship crossed our bows very close. We had no lights as usual. Got up at 5:30am. This was a great sight to us all to see the mainland. A fine morning with a shower or two. At 11:30am passed a barque bound the same course. At 12 noon we passed the town of Dunedin. R. Pumphrey lost his cap while on the forecastle deck. Several birds like ducks swimming in the sea. At 2pm took the pilot on board in the bay – Mr. ….. by name. Tacked about for some time but could not make the port owing to the wind off the land. About 7pm the tug boat came alongside, but their hawser rope not being strong enough and ours being down in the hold, the tug laid off while the same was got up. It was then too dark to venture into port. So we let go the anchor and passed the night in the bay very quiet and snug. The tug left us for the night late in the evening. This ended a day of excitement. During the day no less than 5 ropes were broken by hauling on the boatswain, and Brown and Boad were hurt during the day – Boad in the hand, Brown in the head.
Day 86 – Friday January 16th 1874
Passed a quiet night. Got up at 5:30am and then commenced a day of excitement for all of us. Commenced packing up our things and the bedding. Had breakfast and then looked out for the tug to take us in to port. Had a turn at the windlass and heaved up the slack of the cable. About 1pm we started for Port Chalmers, the scenery from the bay being beautiful. All passengers went on board the small steamer GEELONG and were brought up to Dunedin. George Adams coming off at Port Chalmers to meet us and came up to town with us. Landed at the jetty. Had a ….. Paid an express to take our luggage to George’s house, and one and all did justice to a good hot dinner.
Arrived in Dunedin in ship Dunfillan January 16th 1874. Called on Mr. Colling Allan the immigration officer and made application for the £20 worth of land due to me for Walter and Henry (on account of me paying their full passage money out). My name was registered for the same by the officer February 10th 1874. Called again February 17th 1874.
January 20th 1874
Robert and I went by train to Port Chalmers. Took boat and went to the Dunfillan about our luggage and dined aboard. Name of engine of train: JOSEPHINE.