An Unhappy Passenger

As will be obvious from reading the posts on this blog, many passengers were unhappy on board. According to an article in the Daily Southern Cross, problems may have continued once they arrived in Auckland (this article was useful to put names to some of the Tornado's crew):

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7th.

Captain Aitken, of the "Tornado" appeared to answer the charge of George Anderson, a passenger, for a breach of the stipulations contained in his contract ticket, by neglecting to supply him with provisions, etc, as per said contract ticket.

George Anderson, sworn— l was a passenger by the "Tornado," from Liverpool to Auckland; but I am bound to Wellington; that is the contract ticket; it is in the same condition as when I received it. On Saturday, 24th September, we arrived in Auckland. I still occupy my berth on board. On the following Wednesday, about 2 o'clock, we were served with a tin of preserved meat and some potatoes, for 61/2 adults. On Thursday, we received nothing from the ship but a piece of raw pork. My family consists of myself and wife and two children. On the Friday we had the same piece of pork, and on Saturday we had nothing served out. We had neither peas nor rice during the week. We had flour, which should have been served out on Monday, but was not served out till Saturday. There were several things not supplied to us. I complained to the Captain, who told me that he himself had difficulty in getting his own provisions. The Captain was sober. I was obliged on several occasions to purchase provisions on shore. I spent at least one pound.

Cross-examined by Mr. Russell I understood the Captain to say he could not get his provisions cooked or uncooked. I was told the Cook was drunk but I did not see him. The word Wellington was inserted in the contract -ticket before it was signed. The bulk of my luggage is marked passenger for Wellington.

Thomas White Young deposed— l am a passenger by the "Tornado," about to proceed to Wellington. On Wednesday, there was nothing served out at the proper hour but a little after we had some preserved meat given to us. On Thursday we had a piece of uncooked pork brought down. On Friday the same piece of pork cooked, and on Saturday the remains of Friday's pork.

For the defence Samuel Smythe, Purser of the "-Tornado." Last week I sent for the steerage passengers to get their provisions. Complainant said the steward ought to buy them. Up to last Monday week, Mr. Anderson was in the habit of coming for his provisions. He was offered a passage from Manukau to Wellington in the steamer but he refused, because we would not give him a saloon passage. The reason the provisions were not served out in time was, because up to the last I was negotiating with complainants for their passage to Wellington. The pork was not cooked on Friday, because the cook was drunk. The first irregularity as to the issue of the provisions arose from the idea that the passengers were all going to Wellington by the steamer.

Cross-examined by Mr. Wynn The first Monday after we arrived in Auckland, fresh beef was issued to the Cook, and I suppose the passengers received it, as I heard no complaint. No bread was issued, nor flour, nor oatmeal. On Wednesday I was present, when Mr. Anderson came to the storeroom. He took some of the provisions away, viz., flour, butter, tea, and sugar. I don't know what was issued on Friday. During the voyage the stores were generally served out on Monday's and Tuesday's. During the week in question, salt meat was offered to complainant, and refused - he wanted fresh. This week the provisions were issued altogether. I did not tell complainant the contract ticket was a forgery. I won't swear that I did not make use of the word forgery but I swear that he told me himself that he had nothing to complain of, except the cooking. My duty in the ship is to see that the passengers have their provisions, and are fairly treated. If the cooking is bad, the passengers complain to me and I see it rectified during the week in question. They obtained more of some of the articles than they were entitled to, and during that time Mr. Anderson made no complaint, except as to the cooking.

Alfred Smith Fulljames said— He was assistant purser and passenger on board. It was his duty to attend to the issue of stores. Last week complainant had all the provisions mentioned in the contract ticket, exceept beef, and for that he took pork. The steward for the second cabin obtained salt, pepper, mustard, vinegar, rice, and sometimes preserved potatoes, and delivered them out daily. Last Friday the cook got drunk.

Cross-examined He has been drunk several times. There has not been much drunkenness on board. She is a sober ship compared with others. Complainant preferred pork to beef.

Robert Askew was assistant steward for the second cabin Last week the provisions were served out as usual. Complainant refused the salt meat - he wanted fresh. They had fresh beef on Monday, and had it cold on Tuesday. I gave it to them myself. On Wednesday, a tin of preserved meat was issued. On Thursday they had pork, but the cook was drunk.

Cross examined— There were 25lbs of pork issued that week, and three pieces were boiled on the Friday. The pork was issued on the Thursday morning - that was not the proper day to issue meat but there were some pieces left from the last week. I don't know how much pork the passengers are entitled to. I have cooked meat for the passengers that was brought from the shore by them. I can't swear that Mr. Anderson gave me any to cook for him.

By the Court— l know there were 25 lbs. of pork issued that week, because the purser told me so.

His Worship said that no difficulty would have occurred had the law been complied with, that provisions should be issued daily, and issued cooked. The contract ticket was not in accordance with the law, but that was not the fault of the Captain. The evidence was most contradictory, had it not been so, and a conviction had taken place, he wished it to be distictly understood that the penalty would not have been a light one. Case dismissed.

Advice for Future Emigrants

From: Our Voyage to New Zealand Per the Tornado (by a Glasgow Emigrant) Glasgow Herald December 19, 1859 

I have given all the particulars of our voyage at all interesting, though very probably they may appear very tame to you; but before concluding, shall make a few remarks which may be useful to other parties coming out; and as the greatest inconvenience, at least as experienced by me, arose from the badness of the water. I shall speak of it first. Parties who had been to sea before said it was not bad considering, but to me it was quite unpalatable, its taste being very bad, and its smell altogether overpowering. We mixed it with lime juice, with spirits, and all we could think of, but whilst we were in the tropics it grew daily worse. During the last three weeks of our voyage, however, we got water which was very good, although much older than what was served out to us at first. Having previously made the voyage between Liverpool and Melbourne and back, but being in iron tanks, it was in a very good state of preservation, and had a fine flavour. It would certainly add much to the comfort of passengers should similar tanks be adopted in all vessels, and if they are not suitable for wooden ships, the chemist who could invent some ingredient to freshen stale water would deserve the heartfelt thanks of all emigrants to the Antipodes. As it was, we felt thirst much, and as ale and porter were one shilling a bottle, those who gratified their appetites with these beverages did so at considerable expense. I would, therefore, advise emigrants to take on board with them a few dozens of ale or porter bottled for export, or table beer, which would be preferable could it be made to keep long enough and stand the heat. Effervescing powders, too, highly flavoured with ginger or other strong aromatics, are of great advantage.

The most of emigrants take with them some money, generally in the shape of a bank order; but one of our fellow passengers told me he had lodged what money he was possessed of with the Oriental Banking Company, who have a branch in Edinburgh, and they allow him 4 per cent on it from the date it was lodged in Edinburgh, until such time as he may wish to lift it in Auckland. This I therefore consider to be the best way of bringing out money, as interest at 4 per cent during a three month voyage comes to something; at all events I would advise all intending emigrants to make inquiry about it. I made all the inquires I could think of in Glasgow as to the best mode, but unfortunately heard nothing of this plan.

There are now three regular lines of ships to New Zealand - two from London and one from Liverpool (the White Star line of Messrs. Wilson and Chambers, by whom the Tornado was sent out), and it is most convenient for parties from the west of Scotland to go from Liverpool; and I must in justice admit that the provisions served out to us were of excellent quality, though the style in which they were cooked was certainly not what it should be, it being often just a destruction of food; and the steward's attendance, also, was far from what might be expected. However, if a little improvement was effected in these particulars, I do not think that emigrants could do better than come by this line; but they should make themselves certain that their passage is secured on terms as favourable at any rate as those obtained by other parties, as I have ascertained that some of the other passengers have got out for £20 (and some for even less it is said), whilst they received the same accommodation and provisions as we did who paid £25 each - so let those who are coming out look sharp in making their bargain. Our family (four in number) came out in the second cabin, and were the purser or mate to sit at the head of the table in the second cabin, and see that things were made as they should be; it might be made a very comfortable place for a family wishing to come out in a moderate way. But were I coming alone, or only with a party of young men, I would certainly go in the steerage, and lay out a little money in buying cheese, ham, a box of Nova Scotia herrings, and I would make myself equally comfortable almost, as well as be a good deal cheaper in the end.