Central Queensland Herald (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1930 - 1956), Thursday 1 May 1930, page 14

LANDSBOROUGH

Captain Thomas, of the ship Landsborough, reports:— On 22nd July, 1873, signalised at Prawle Point, in the English Channel. Experienced moderate and variable winds with fine weather, and came to the eastward of the Cape de Verde Islands; August 6, picked up in the N.E. trades in latitude 10 degrees N., and longtitude 20.12 W.; on the 12th and 13th, experienced light variable winds; on the 14th, in latitude 9.18 N., longtitude. 20.37, fresh breeze from the S.W. ; crossed the Equator on 18th August, 27 days out. The S.E. trades were very poor. On September 15, in latitude 42.59 and longtitude 21.19 E., passed the meridan of the Cape, 55 days out. Ran down our easting between the parallels of 42. and 47.14., with continual heavy gales varying from S.W. to N.N.W. for 23 days, which brought us to 170 miles off Tasmania. On the 9th October, sighted the South Cape of Tasmania, 79 days out. On the 10th, experienced a terrific gale of wind with very heavy seas. which lasted for 36 hours. On October 22, sighted Cape Moreton ; on the 24th rounded Cape Capricorn, and came to an anchor in Keppel Bay, after a passage of 93½ days. from Prawle Point, the ship being in good condition.

The Health Officer (Dr. Salmond) accompanied by Mr. F. Kilner (Sub-Collector), and the agent of the vessel, Mr. W. Thomson, left town in the Customs boat to visit the newly arrived ship. The party reached the s.s. Mary just below Central Island, and after some delay while steam was got up, the tug proceeded down the river, reaching Keppel Bay on Saturday morning, the 25th October.

The Mary steamed within hailing distance of the ship, when a long conversation ensued between the Health Officer and the surgeon-superintend-ent, Mr. A. B. Miller, the result of which was that Dr. Salmond thought it necessary, under the circumstances, to withhold pratique for a few days. It appears that when the ship left England, one of the passengers was seized with scarlet fever, but during the voyage recovered. No more serious ailments appeared until the 18th October, when the ship was near her destination. This was a case of fever in a boy 15 years of age, which soon exhibited symptoms of a typhoid character. The next day a man was slightly affected, and on the 24th the boy died.

On October 29th the Health Officer granted pratique and the immigrants bound for Peak Downs left for the North by the s.s. Tinonee, while the remainder were brought up to Rockhampton in the s.s. Mary, which arrived at the railway wharf on Thursday afternoon, October 30. Captain Thomas, Surgeon-Superintendent Miller, and the Matron (Miss Chabot), with Dr. Salmond, and the agent off the ship, also came up in the steamer.

On reaching the landing-place, the immigrants sang the National Anthem, and when the crowd (which was considerable) was removed from the wharf by the police in attendance, the immigrants were landed and proceeded to the depot. Two sick passengers were also landed and conveyed to the hospital.