The Lyttelton Times -Randolph
Vol. 1. No.1.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1851.
PRICE SIXPENCE.
VOYAGES OF THE FIRST FOUR SHIPS.
We have been favoured with the following accounts of the first ships,
by passengers on board:-
the “RANDOLPH"
“Foran et haec olim meminisse juvabit”
“Perhaps this too will be a pleasure to look back on one day”
The “Randolph” left Plymouth on the night of Saturday, Sep. 7, 1850 a few hours after the “Charlotte Jane,” having on board 217 passengers. The officers of the ship were Captain Dale, Commander, Mr. Scott, Chief officer, Mr. Puckle and Mr. Willock, officiating ministers, and Mr. Earle, Surgeon Superintendant.
Her course lay outside Madeira, and crossing the line in long. 24.20 W., she proceeded as far to the westward as long. 36.30 on Oct, 23, being in lat. 23.46 S. On Nov. 14, her lat. was 45.55 S. long. 44.40. On Dec. 1 lat. 48.26 S. long. 109.1 E. On 11th of December, she was in the longitude of the Snares, in lat. 48.33 and after a most delightful run up the coast she entered Port Victoria at half past three o’clock in the afternoon of the 16th , having accomplished the passage in 99 days. On the anchor being dropped, ‘God save the Queen’ was sung by all the passengers on the poop.
The Randolph spoke an usually large number of vessels during the early part of the voyage, and on the fourth October fell in with the “George Seymour,” had left Plymouth 12 hours after her, bringing a passenger who had arrived at Plymouth after the sailing of the Randolph.
She was becalmed two days in company with a French barque, have on board an operatic company with who were proceeding to Mauritius. On the first day some of the Randolph’s passengers pulled to the French vessel, and invited a large party to dine with them, and the second day they had kept a promise exacted by their visitors on leaving the day before, by dining on board the Frenchman; the toast-drinking both sides was most amusing. A great deal of It_n music was sung in first-rate style. On 6th November, there was almost a mutiny on board, which by the mercy of God was suppressed through the promptness of the Captain, supported by his officers, and the passengers. On the twenty-fifth, was performed Sheridan’s play of the “Rivals,” the female characters were supported in a manor which gave universal satisfaction. To the ladies on board the greatest praise is due for the effective ways in which the characters were “got up;” the wonder where all the dresses could have come from, and it was very curious to hear of what they were composed. The representation took place between decks before an overflowing audience; and a second performance was asked for by many who were unable to gain admittance.
There were 5 deaths, all children, and 9 births on board. The voyage is declared, by common consent, to have been most agreeable, the only unpleasant part of it being that which as passed in the low latitudes between the Cape and New Zealand, on account of the cold and fog, which proved fatal to almost all the game on board.
Our first New Zealand sunset.
Sett’st as thou wert wont to do,
Old fount of light?
Bathing with familiar hue
Tree, and dale, and height?
Casting still old England’s shades,
Thou art ay the same;
If on land the vision fades,
The be our’s the blame.
Grand old friend! thou shinest still,
Guiding to the work;
To the steadfast mind, and will
Never dim or mirk.
Glorious type! of old fond ties
Fate may have bereft us;
Paint thou with unfading dyes
GOD HATH NOT LEFT US!
Source: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nzbound/randolph.htm
See also >>
Charlotte Jane | Randolph | Cressy | Sir George Seymour
Our Journey | Packing – What would you take? | Rich and poor | Are you hungry? | Cockroaches & seasickness | A girl’s diary
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Haere Mai, Welcome / Solving History’s Mysteries / Will you join us? / Our Journey / Our New Land / Resources / About this site / Links / Sitemap
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1851.
PRICE SIXPENCE.
VOYAGES OF THE FIRST FOUR SHIPS.
We have been favoured with the following accounts of the first ships,
by passengers on board:-
the “RANDOLPH"
“Foran et haec olim meminisse juvabit”
“Perhaps this too will be a pleasure to look back on one day”
The “Randolph” left Plymouth on the night of Saturday, Sep. 7, 1850 a few hours after the “Charlotte Jane,” having on board 217 passengers. The officers of the ship were Captain Dale, Commander, Mr. Scott, Chief officer, Mr. Puckle and Mr. Willock, officiating ministers, and Mr. Earle, Surgeon Superintendant.
Her course lay outside Madeira, and crossing the line in long. 24.20 W., she proceeded as far to the westward as long. 36.30 on Oct, 23, being in lat. 23.46 S. On Nov. 14, her lat. was 45.55 S. long. 44.40. On Dec. 1 lat. 48.26 S. long. 109.1 E. On 11th of December, she was in the longitude of the Snares, in lat. 48.33 and after a most delightful run up the coast she entered Port Victoria at half past three o’clock in the afternoon of the 16th , having accomplished the passage in 99 days. On the anchor being dropped, ‘God save the Queen’ was sung by all the passengers on the poop.
The Randolph spoke an usually large number of vessels during the early part of the voyage, and on the fourth October fell in with the “George Seymour,” had left Plymouth 12 hours after her, bringing a passenger who had arrived at Plymouth after the sailing of the Randolph.
She was becalmed two days in company with a French barque, have on board an operatic company with who were proceeding to Mauritius. On the first day some of the Randolph’s passengers pulled to the French vessel, and invited a large party to dine with them, and the second day they had kept a promise exacted by their visitors on leaving the day before, by dining on board the Frenchman; the toast-drinking both sides was most amusing. A great deal of It_n music was sung in first-rate style. On 6th November, there was almost a mutiny on board, which by the mercy of God was suppressed through the promptness of the Captain, supported by his officers, and the passengers. On the twenty-fifth, was performed Sheridan’s play of the “Rivals,” the female characters were supported in a manor which gave universal satisfaction. To the ladies on board the greatest praise is due for the effective ways in which the characters were “got up;” the wonder where all the dresses could have come from, and it was very curious to hear of what they were composed. The representation took place between decks before an overflowing audience; and a second performance was asked for by many who were unable to gain admittance.
There were 5 deaths, all children, and 9 births on board. The voyage is declared, by common consent, to have been most agreeable, the only unpleasant part of it being that which as passed in the low latitudes between the Cape and New Zealand, on account of the cold and fog, which proved fatal to almost all the game on board.
Our first New Zealand sunset.
Sett’st as thou wert wont to do,
Old fount of light?
Bathing with familiar hue
Tree, and dale, and height?
Casting still old England’s shades,
Thou art ay the same;
If on land the vision fades,
The be our’s the blame.
Grand old friend! thou shinest still,
Guiding to the work;
To the steadfast mind, and will
Never dim or mirk.
Glorious type! of old fond ties
Fate may have bereft us;
Paint thou with unfading dyes
GOD HATH NOT LEFT US!
Source: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nzbound/randolph.htm
See also >>
Charlotte Jane | Randolph | Cressy | Sir George Seymour
Our Journey | Packing – What would you take? | Rich and poor | Are you hungry? | Cockroaches & seasickness | A girl’s diary
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Haere Mai, Welcome / Solving History’s Mysteries / Will you join us? / Our Journey / Our New Land / Resources / About this site / Links / Sitemap