HALCIONE The sailing ship of 842 tons, with Captain J E Croker, left Gravesend on 27th May, 1875 with 292 passengers. The trip took 99 days but during 10 of these the boat was becalmed. During the voyage there were three births but eight children under the age of two died. On the voyage the Doctor reported two cases of measles and within two days there were twelve cases of measles. A large life-boat on skids was converted into a hospital and the patients were isolated. The Halcione sighted the flag staff at the New Plymouth roadstead on September 2nd and preparations were immediately made to board her. At 5 o'clock Dr. O'Carroll, the Health Officer, Captain Holford the Harbour Master, Mr. Halke, the Immigration Officer, and Mr. Bennett boarded the ship 8 miles out. Anchor was dropped at 7 o'clock. The first passengers off were the single girls. At times the boat would be 10 feet below the rope ladder and the girls have to jump into the arms of the men below. Second off the boat were the Swiss couples. On arrival all the immigrants were given a royal reception and well looked after until they left for Inglewood. Passenger list transcribed from Archives New Zealand, Wellington. Ref. Repro Im 15/215. Family Name Age Occupation County/Country ALLENBY Henry 33 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Sarah 26 Thomas 6 Lucy 4 Joseph 3 Anne 1 ASHLEY Francis 38 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Hannah 34 Francis A 6 Lucy BARRON John 26 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Mary 23 Amelia J 8m BLACKBURN C. W 25 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Jane 21 BOCOCK William 21 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Betsy Ann 20 BORMAN John 42 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Hettey 41 BOULTON George Godfrey 27 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Anne 26 Thomas C 5 Charles F 1 BURKETT James 43 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Eliza 33 Eliza 11 James 5 John 3 Anne A 8m BUSHELL Thos. 32 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Eliza S 26 Thomas H 10 George Edward 8 Arthur C 6 Mary C 4 Susan 3 William 1 BUSHELL Robert 30 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Elizabeth 25 Louisa 3m CARTWRIGHT William 40 Charlotte 32 CARTWRIGHT Mary 16 Servant Lincolnshire William 14 CARTWRIGHT Fanny 12 Servant Lincolnshire Emma 10 Louisa 6 CASH Martin 32 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Ann 30 Mary Jane 5 Anne 3 Alfred 1 CHATTERTON Arthur 35 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Mary Anne 32 Rosanna 9 William 7 Walter 4 Adelaide 2 CHATTERTON Charlotte 23 Servant Lincolnshire CHATTERTON Emily 18 Servant Lincolnshire CLOUGH Frank 48 Labourer Lincolnshire Eliza 42 George 18 Ploughman Lincolnshire Henry 16 John 14 Matthew 12 Elizabeth 10 Edward 7 Tom 4 COLLINGWOOD William 31 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Jane 35 COLLINGWOOD Sarah E 14 Servant Lincolnshire Eliza 9 George 7 Jane 4 Mary A 1 COX Thomas 31 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Elizabeth 29 Elizabeth 3 CROWLEY William 26 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Mary Jane 20 DAVISON George 48 Ann 45 Joshua 19 Edward 18 DOBSON William 50 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Sarah 41 Charles 13 Alice 10 Richard 8 Kate 6 Jane 3 FAWCETT George 55 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Ann 40 Robert 6 George 5 David 3 Mary E 8m William 13 FAWSITT Sarah 26 Servant Lincolnshire FAWSITT Thomas 20 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire HARNESS James 21 Labourer Lincolnshire Barlow 19 Labourer Lincolnshire HOLT Charles 20 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire HUFTON George 20 Carpenter Lincolnshire KENDALL George 32 Farm Labouer Lincolnshire Hannah 31 Mary A 8 Frederick 5 John 3 Thomas 2 Henry 1m LACEY Francis 35 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Sarah 3 Georgina 10 Catherine 8 Elizabeth 7 Francis 4 Emma 2 Henry 1 LANGLEY Maria 12 Servant Lincolnshire LANGLEY Richard 42 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Hannah 45 Edwin 14 Frank 10 Alice 9 Wright 7 Stella 5 David 8m LONGSTAFF Tom 47 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Betsy 48 LONGSTAFF Hannah 24 Servant Lincolnshire LONGSTAFF Benjamin S 19 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire LONGSTAFF Emma 17 Servant Lincolnshire LONGSTAFF Louisa 14 Servant Lincolnshire LONGSTAFF Fanny 12 Servant Lincolnshire LONGSTAFF Miriam 12 Servant Lincolnshire Henry 10 Charles 8 Issac 8 George 3 Betsy Ann 1 LOWE William 43 Labourer Lincolnshire Mary 37 LOWE Frances 14 Servant Lincolnshire Alfred 12 Henry 10 Sarah A 8 Ernest 4m MACKINDER John 35 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Sarah E 29 John William 7 Thomas U 3 MORRIS Charles 20 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Ellen 22 Alice 1 MUMBY George 30 Labourer Lincolnshire Sarah 26 John R 6 Jane 5 Christopher 3 William G 3m MUMBY Richard 21 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire PARKIN Edward 34 Timber Carrier Lincolnshire Ellen 36 Maria 6 Ellen 4 Susanna 1 PARKIN Thomas L 25 Timber Carrier Lincolnshire Hannah M 23 Henry 1 PARKINS John 21 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire PEEL William 22 Blacksmith Lincolnshire PHILLIPS Jesse 25 Shoemaker Lincolnshire Sarah 29 Arthur E 3 James F 7m QUICKFALL Joseph 43 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Mary Jane 40 Joseph 16 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire James 14 QUICKFALL Anne 12 Servant Lincolnshire William 6 Elizabeth 3 Emma 2m TAYLOR Tom 25 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Ann 23 Fanny 2 TAYLOR George 28 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Maria 21 URRY Benjamin 28 Labourer Lincolnshire Emma 35 Thomas 11 William 9 Sarah A 7 Frederick 5 Thomas 9m URRY William 32 Labourer Lincolnshire URRY Frederick 28 Labourer Lincolnshire WAITE James 18 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire WARD Henry 20 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Harriet 19 WARD Charles 22 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire WRIGHT Edward 37 Farm Labourer Lincolnshire Charlotte 39 Eliza A 5 Alice 3 Maud 1 From my great great grandmother, Emily Isabella SUMMERHAYS'S diary I have added the entry dealing with the landing in New Plymouth. It may be of interest to anyone who finds some relatives on this list. "Friday, September 3rd; (1875) It was a scene I shall never forget. The sea getting rougher at 8.a.m. One boat came and forty were lowered by rope into it, some of their packages falling into the sea, children screaming, women fainting. When a wave brought the boat near enough they had to let go of the rope and drop into it, then the children were dropped into their arms; didn't they scream. They had to get a steam launch to take the boat ashore. Another boat came, got about half a load, the seas were so rough; the boat tossed about so fearfully, then the rope broke; the poor things were drenched; they had to hurry off with them; they were nearly drowned in the surf; no changes with them; families all divided, some gone ashore and some on the ship; gale increasing." Halcione ran out to sea and headed to Wellington. Those who had to stay on board were taken back to New Plymouth by steamer, a few days later. New Plymouth is a very exposed port, unlike Wellington or Auckland. Regards Dorothy Maddock.