ARRIVAL OF THE
BRITISH CROWN
Lyttelton Times September 12th
1863
This ship, with the first batch of Lancashire immigrants, arrived in harbour on
Sunday 16th August. In the afternoon the Commissioners reported the ship with a
clean bill of health, but gave strict orders to prevent people boarding. This
order
had the effect of preventing our reporter from visiting the ship, and it was
only through the courtesy of Captain Sproul he was enabled to do so on Monday
morning; many of the people and the watermen having been refused. The British
Crown was
built at Boston, United States, in Nov 1858; is 1150 tons register old
measurement; length of lower deck, 178 feet, and 23 feet beam, with 8 feet space
between decks at the main hatch.
She is part owned by Messrs. WH Daunt & Co, of Liverpool.
Since the commencement of the war in America she has changed hands, having
previously been called the Franklyn Haven when carrying the US flag. The Captain
left the tug steamer off the Tursca light on the 6th May, with immigrants,
numbering 406
souls, or 342 1/2 statute adults.
Nothing of importance occurred during the passage out, with the exception of
adverse winds and calms; crossed the line on the 8th June in 24 long., passed
the meridian of the Cape 7 July; sighted St Paul's on the 22nd, the only land
seen till
passing the Snares on Wednesday, 11th Aug; a good run to the Heads, with fair
wind, making the voyage 103 days from the docks. Twelve deaths occurred, all
children, and 9 births. The ship is in command of Captain Whitfield, and the
passengers are
under the medical superintendence of Dr Jollie; this gentleman is selected for
his office by the Emigration Commissioners at home, and is entitled to a
gratuity of $1 per head on all passengers landed alive. The people speak in high
terms of
praise, of the captain, doctor, and officers of the ship for their unceasing
endeavours to make them comfortable.
An address was presented to our Local Commissioners, thanking the Government for
the assistance rendered to the passengers and their families, and another is to
be forwarded to the Emigration Commissioners at home for providing them with
every
possible comfort and convenience during the voyage. Dr Donald, on behalf of our
Government, made a suitable reply, giving them a welcome to Canterbury. The
ship, internally, presented an appearance creditable to all concerned - captain,
officers, crew and passengers; she is a real specimen of cleanliness, and her
arrangements much superior to what we have hitherto witnessed under the old
regulations.
She carries one of Normandy's apparatus for distilling fresh water, capable of
supplying 300 gallons per diem, with the consumption of an average of 500 lbs of
coal. The British Crown is the first ship from Liverpool direct for Canterbury,
and
is consigned to Messrs Dalgety, Buckley & Co; she brings 501 tons of general
cargo, but no cabin passengers.