1860 Voyage to NZ by sailing ship Robert Henderson

1860 Voyage to NZ

Shipping News.

ARRIVALS

Sept. 3 - Robert Henderson, Logan, from Glasgow. Passengers - all passengers are listed in the newspaper article, including: Thomas Redpath and daughter, and Ann Logan.

The occupations by this ship are 14 farmers, 40 ploughmen, 34 shepherds, 5 masons, 2 carpenters, 1 engraver, 1 gamekeeper, 13 labourers, 1 baker, 1 blacksmith, 8 dairymaids, and 33 female servants.

BIRTHS

July 16, Mrs. Wm. Marshall of a son.
July 20, Mrs. Jno Stewart , infant, still-born.
Sep. 4, Mrs. Thos. Redpath of a son.
Sep. 6, Mrs. John Aitchison, of a daughter.

DEATHS

June 7, Ellen Houliston, aged 9 months, of convulsions.
June 14, Jane King, aged 49 years, of acute bronchitis.
June 25, Robert Hislop, aged 7 months, of convulsions.
June 26, Ann Henderson, aged 20 years, of scarlatina.
July 2, John White, aged 18 years, of scarlatina.
July 18, Janet Marshall, aged 3½ years, of peritonitis.
July 23, Chas. Stewart, aged 9 years, of pericarditis.

Source: Otago Witness, Issue 458, 8 September 1860, page 4.

Local Intelligence.

The "Robert Henderson," with immigrants from the Clyde, arrived at the Heads on Monday morning last, after a very fair passage of 92 days. We regret to learn that scarlet fever had been very prevalent on board during the voyage, from which there had been 4 deaths, and 7 persons had died from other diseases. We refer our readers to our shipping list, and to the subjoined Report of the Health Board, for further information. The Board has not specified how long the vessel is to be detained in Quarantine, but we do not anticipate that the detention will exceed five or six days, unless fresh symptoms appear. The young men have been sent on shore at Deborah Bay, and the women have been busily engaged in washing on board the ship. Yesterday, his Honor the Superintendent, Mr. Cutten, and Mr. Langlands, from the Engineer's department, proceeded to Port Chalmers, and visited the Islands with the view of making arrangements for permanent quarantine buildings, which will be erected on the larger island in the centre of the harbour. Some temporary accommodation at Deborah Bay is contemplated to meet the difficulty in the present case of the "Robert Henderson," and to enable the passengers by the "Henrietta" and "Bruce," now overdue, to be detained in quarantine, should it be necessary, with as little inconvenience to the immigrants as possible.

Port Chalmers, 6th Sept., 1860.

"At a meeting of the Health Board - Present, John Gillies, Esq., R.M., Dr. Hulme, Chas. Logi, Esq., Collector of Customs, and W. H. Cutten, Esq. , J.P. - the Resident Magistrate reported that they had visited the Robert Henderson, and found that she sailed on the 2nd of June last, from the Clyde, with 210 adults, 62 children from 1 to 12 years, and 13 infants. That there had been 3 births, and 11 deaths. There had been about 40 cases of scarlet fever on board, and 4 deaths from that disease, the last of which occurred on the 26th July.

"The last case of scarlet fever, which was of a mild nature, was 18 days ago, and for the last 10 days there were no appearance of the disease on board.

"The Board Resolve -

"That the ship must, in the meantime, he detained Quarantine, and that all -the beds of those passengers who have had the scarlet fever, be either destroyed or properly washed, and that the whole bedding and body clothes of all the passengers on board, which have been in use during the voyage, be properly washed.

"That immediate application be made to the Superintendent of the Province to erect a temporary place in Deborah Bay, for washing, and that the passengers be allowed to come ashore there to wash, under regulations.

"The Board farther recommend, that so soon as a temporary washing place is erected, a police officer be stationed at Deborah Bay, to enforce the necessary Regulations, and that he should be authorised to provide the passengers with the use of hatchets, and also to sell soap to such as may require it.

"That the Resident Magistrate, the Health Officer, and the Harbour Master, or either of these officers, along with the Resident Magistrate, be authorsed to make all further necessary Regulations.

"The Board authorse the Captain to allow the Pilot to return to his duty at the heads."

JOHN GILLIES, R.M.
CHAS. LOGIE, Collector.
EDWD. HULME, M.D., Health Officer.
W. H. CUTTEN.

Source: Otago Witness, Issue 458, 8 September 1860, page 5.