ARRIVAL OF THE MYSTERY
The Lyttelton Times March 30th 1859

Arrived March 29, ship Mystery, 1069 tons, E. Mathews, from the Downs, December 28. The Mystery is a fine handsome ship of 1069 tons register, and brings to our shores a full complement of passengers numbering 300 souls. She cleared from Gravesend on December 13, but meeting foul winds in the channel, did not leave the Downs till the 28th of that month, since then she had favourable and fine weather. We regret to say that some sickness has appeared on board - namely smallpox and measles at the commencement, cases of the former disease having broken out before the departure from England. The families among whom it appeared were, of course, not permitted to proceed with the ship. This sickness did not continue, but some deaths of children occurred during the voyage, and about a week before reaching port a case of scarlet fever appeared, though its effects were confined solely to one family, and when port was reached there was no sickness whatever on board. The ship however, hoisted the yellow flag, and brought up off the quarantine ground, some distance below the usual anchorage and no communication was permitted between the persons on board and the shore boats the whole of yesterday. For this reason we are unable to give the names and dates of the deaths which numbered 15 in all. The births during the voyage were five in number.

Lyttelton Times April 2nd, 1859

Owing to the fact that there was no communication between the Mystery and the shore previous to our last publication we were unable to supply sundry particulars respecting the passage. The families of Newton and Heyward, though shown on the list of passengers, were put on shore again before departing of the vessel on account of sickness breaking out among them. the surgeon is Mr Richardson a gentleman who has had considerable experience on board ships, as we understand, sailing out of United States ports. His skill and attention are acknowledged by the passengers not only individually, but in a quasi public form in a newspaper published on board. Captain Mathews has also secured the hearty goodwill of all on board. The deaths which occurred were in all fifteen in number, of which several were described as having happened from the effects of small pox in the first three weeks of the voyage. The rest are from debility and similar causes and all are children.
December 30--William George Whitmore aged three years.
January 4--Sarah Ann Bonniface, aged eight and a half years.
January 7--Jane Agnes Lockhead, aged fourteen months.
January 9--Susannah Hunt aged four and a half months.
January 20--Catherine Feldwick, aged one year.
January 22 George Martin, aged one and three-quarter years.
February 2--John Briggs, aged two days.
March 2--Elizabeth matilda Rowley aged eighteen months.
March 5--Sarah Jane Whitmore, aged 5 years.
March 5--Rose Amelia Whitmore aged 1 year.
March 8--Alice Annie Morton, aged 15 months.
March 11--Emily Verall, aged sixteen months.
March 20--Henry Firmston, aged two years.
March 23--Ann Elizabeth Hall aged two years.

Births on Board
January 30--Mrs Briggs, a son who died two days afterward.
February 6--Mrs Jones of a daughter.
February 13--Mrs Firmston, of a daughter.
February 20--Mrs Lockhead, of a son.
February 23--Mrs Lawrence, of a son.

We are happy to say that after only one day probation the Mystery has been admitted to pratique. A quarantine board was appointed to Tuesday afternoon, on the same day the ship arrived, and on investigation it was found quite unnecessary to cause any detention whatever. The yellow flag was therefor hauled down the next morning when the result of the deliberations was transmitted to the ship and she came up to the customary anchorage. The next day (Thursday) all the passengers except a few girls and the ships constables were landed, a large number proceeding with their baggage straight to Christchurch by steamer.

On inspection we find that the Mystery surpasses almost any previous emigrant ship in her accommodation. She is of large size upwards of 1000 tons, and is eight and a half high between decks. She is also well ventilated and her general arrangements for 'tween deck passengers are exceedingly good. Further than this, she is particularly clean and sweet and her passengers seem in a good state of health and well contented. Two are invalids, one a case of bronchitis, the other after confinement. Besides these there is no ill health now, whatever might have been the case at the beginning of the voyage. The building formally used as the bank has been appropriated for the use of the immigrants in addition to the usual barracks.