Brisbane Courier, Thursday 17 July 1873, page 3

 

Report from The Hon. Colonial Secretary

Mr Manson, shipping master, who accompanied us for the purpose of examining and measuring the ship Alardus, reports that she is well found in gear and tackling, and a safe seagoing vessel; her fittings up for the accommodation of passengers, and which we were told had not been altered or added to at or since her leaving Melbourne, are reported to be good and substantial.  Notwithstanding this we are of the opinion her peculiar construction, without a single air port or opening in her sides or stern, renders her an unsuitable ship for the conveyance of a large number of passengers, and that her fittings are in several respects defective.

The compartments occupied by the immigrants were not unusually close or offensive; but as this enquiry was held on a fine clear day, with the immigrants in good health and on deck, all dirt cleaned away and all the hatches open, it is no test of the state of the atmosphere below that probably ensued from sickness dirt, diminished ventilation, crowded compartments, bad weather and closed hatchways.

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In addition to the imperfect means of ventilation, no proper or decent closet accommodation was provided for the use of the females, who whatever was the state of the weather, were compelled, at any hour of the day or night, to scramble up on deck to the closets there constructed for the general use of all hands, which are represented, from the large size of their ports and their consequent openings to sea and weather, to have been dangerous for children.

The measurement of deck space made by Mr Manson agree very closely with those made at Melbourne.  The former, which is rather the most favourable for the ship give a total net superficial space of 3543 square feet, which, according to the agreement with the shippers, Louis Knorr and Co, would permit the Alardus to carry 193 statutory adults; instead of this she left Hamburgh with 297 statutory adults on board.

The water, which is believed was taken from the Elbe, was stowed in sound and well charred oak casks and in one iron tank reserved for the use of the cabin.  The water in the casks is represented to have soon become very foul and offensive, and a further supply taken on board at Pernambuco shortly became equally offensive.  There is much reason to suspect that the water casks were made in America, and were sent to Hamburg filled with petroleum, the taint of which assisted to spoil the water in spite of the cleaning and careful charring to which they were subjected.

The captain, who we fear was addicted to intemperance, disappeared suddenly on the 17th April, 1873;  he was not seen to jump or fall overboard, and as far as we could learn there exists no suspicion of foul play.

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Attached to this report is a synopsis of the deaths which have occurred, twenty-eight in number - twenty-two of children under five years of age, and six persons above that age; in addition to which three deaths occurred in quarantine, after the date of the above synopsis - two of children, and one adult, making the total number since leaving Hamburg thirty-one.

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