The Diary: 11-17 July 1878

After bidding good-bye with the sweet words and peace of our good friends we departed by special train from Enoch station (Glasgow) to Princess pier (Liverpool). There we parted from our train and then set sail on the tug ... to our future habitation in the ship "Invercargill" lying in mid stream. Sad no doubt after leaving the kind ones at home, but after settling down and getting dinner our sadness began to wane a little and we got on very well.

This is a fine morning. We slept well considering it's our first night on a ship. We have just got the last of our provisions put on board and cabin passengers and we have had our Doctors injections and we are hard making ready for sail. It is near 6 o'clock and ready to lift anchor and sail. We saw the last of the land about 8 o'clock and then I got orders to do duty on the first watch 'till midnight. They had a proper search for stowaways and found a poor fellow down among the cargo. He had deserted the navy. Before I left watch I saw some fine rockets fired off to see which way the wind was blowing.

I got up at 4 o'clock - helped the men to set the sails, Gallants & Royal, before a fine wind. The tug left us in the Irish channel at present 8 knots an hour. Had a fine meal of tea and toast - went and got coffee for Jeanie and took her up to see Paddy's Land. This is a busy day, washing out the mess and scrubbing the floor with sand and holly oak. The men do all the work; the women here have a fine time of it on deck all the time enjoying the sights.

Our first Sunday on board a ship - we are up at 6 o'clock for water. Go to galley for breakfast at 8 o'clock then get ready to church. It begins at 10 but when we went on deck we were told that there would be none today on account of too many ships being about. It kept our own Captain all his time looking out, so we just got made into little groups, some singing Mood'y and Sank'ey hymns, others the fine old psalms of David. There was a deputation of the young men to the Captain & the Doctor about the puddings not being quite ready. Some of them just put in the dry flour & raisins without mixing it. You may guess the result. The Irish section are very green about the making of their meat.

I got a job to mend some tin pots and oil lamps for the mate, then I went to assist the third mate with the giving out of the stores and it is a rare job giving out molasses and raisins. Jeanie saw them speaking to a ship. We are in the south end of England with very little wind. The women are beginning to get sick. There is a few of them got married the night before the ship sailed and they are all in love with one another, in fact Jeanie says it is most disgusting to see them. All the young fellows come up to our part of the ship so as to get a laugh at them. Jolly fine fun for them.

After a very fine day. You will see by this our ships position if you look upon the atlas. That is the distance now from Lands End. You can allow about 300 miles from Greenock to there with safety. I have just been to give the mate a hand to pump a supply of water for the cooks use, then went downstairs and gave Jeanie a hand to make the two beds, then went for breakfast, porridge and treacle, but we get the cook to give us hot water for tea. Then got myself dressed and went and look after stores, then had a little conversation on deck. Then went for dinner - it is rather better - pea soup and salt pork - a rare dish it is. I have to go on watch tonight from 4 'till 8 morning - this is the best watch of the lot.

We are just off the bay of Biscay. After being relieved from watch, went and got breakfast, then went to see about flour. By that time our dinner was ready which is rice and preserved meat. There was one of our young men would not wash out his room. When the Doctor spoke to him he still paid no attention to him. He then read over the riot act to him but he still refused, so the Captain and Doctor put him into irons and afterwards to suffer 6 weeks imprisonment when we arrive in Port Chalmers. When he saw they were in earnest he begged one more chance which the Captain gave him - and some sound advice along with his release. The ship is rocking heavily, going through the bay, and there are a good number of them sick just now. There is no doubt it is something majestic to see.