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After seven months "by the good hand of God we are at
last all safely landed here "— Eleven
days’ voyage from Wellington to Otago—His first impressions of Dunedin,
"as good if not the best of all the settlements "—Dr.
Burns.
Otago, Dunedin, Rattray
Street,
September
13th, 1850.
By the good hand of God we
are at last all safely landed here on the evening of Friday last week, the
6th current, exactly seven calendar months since going on board the ship,
the longest passage of any of the Company’s ships yet known. Even our last
days from Wellington occupied eleven days, although only 320 miles, during
which we all wearied very much, it being very cold, not to speak of the
return to salt beef and biscuits. Indeed, now that the voyage is over it
was anything but comfortable. In addition to the bad weather and contrary
winds our medical doctor and the passengers were at cross purposes most of
the way, so much so that he was brought before his superiors at Nelson and
he had to pay a fine of £15 to the men for drawing the water and punishing
them. We all signed his liberty at Wellington, and so went without one the
rest of the voyage. He lost two babies, twins, which, with other two
delicate children and a seaman, were all the deaths on our long voyage.
Happily our family all stood it well; indeed the children are remarkably
stout, and even fat, their usual clothes will scarcely fit, especially the
boys who, by the way, earned among them £2 8s. during the voyage.
Now as to my first
impressions of this place. Notwithstanding all we heard by the way to the
contrary, it is as good if not the best of all the settlements, and its
appearance far exceeds what I had expected after seeing the other
settlements. It is even amazing what the people have accomplished in
little more than two years. There are already upwards of 100 houses, all
of a superior quality—at least would match any hundred either in
Wellington or Nelson. There are four large buildings entirely of stone and
lime, one of which is another half added to the church equal to the first,
forming a double-roofed house like Abotshall, but only to contain when
filled about 400. I am glad to add that the first house is already too
small. On Sabbath last it was crowded, both fore and afternoon, that extra
forms had to be brought into the lobby; and I am also happy to add that
Mr. Burns preached far better than I expected—indeed it was excellent, and
was told he was always as good. There is also a prayer meeting in the
church or vestry every Wednesday evening. The schoolmaster’s house is the
next largest building—two stories, but regret to add that Mr. Blackie, the
teacher, is in bad health and not expected to recover.
(The concluding paragraphs of the Journal have been
transferred to form the opening to Part II, as they relate to events which
occurred after arrival at Dunedin, and form a convenient introduction to
the letters.)
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