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A card announcing the sailing of the "JAVA" is still in the hands of
descendants in Adelaide, of a family that purchased cabin accommodation the card
reads as shown here:
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For South Australia
And under an engagement with Her Majesty's Colonization
Commissioners
To sail positively on 1/10/1839,
(calling at Plymouth to embark
passengers on 16th October,)
The fine first class teak-built ship
Java, Burthen
1200 tons
Alexander Duthie Commander
Lying in the East India Dock.
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This ships
accommodations are unusually spacious and lofty and are so arranged as to ensure
the comfort of the Cabin and Intermediate passengers.
She will carry an
experienced surgeon and assistant. |
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For freight or passage apply to R.Scott
Fairlie & Co, 37,Great Winchester Street; to John Pirie & Co., 3, Freeman's
Court, Cornhill; to Ritherdon and Carr, 13, Bishopsgate Street within; or to
Lachlan, Sons and MacLeod,
22 Great Alie Street, Goodman's Fields; or Lloyd's |
Benjamin Conigrave purchased a passage for himself and his wife Matilda and two
children, on 16th September 1839. The reverse of the card announcing the sailing
date of the "JAVA", has the following information: Mr. Conigrave has taken an
Intermediate Cabin No. 25 (if -it is not engaged) for himself, wife and infant
child 16 months, for 77 pounds and has this day paid out 25 pounds on account.
Lachlan, Sons, 16/9/1839.
The sailing of the "JAVA" from St. Katherines Dock was not without controversy
for an article appeared in the Weekly Dispatch" on November 3rd 1839 and later
printed about the time the "JAVA" arrived in Adelaide, in which, as I have
indicated in my preface, it was said that the carpenters who were engaged in
fitting her out, declared that the planks would not retain a screw or nail.
Whilst the article may not in truth be referring to the "JAVA", I have included
reference to it as a guide to the problems facing the emigrants of the time.
The article referred to the fact that
" in fitting up emigration ships, due
regard is always had to external appearances; make the vessel pleasing to the
eye, and the principle is accomplished. A coat of paint or varnish, like
charity, often covers a multitude of faults in the shape of worm-eaten holes and
other casualties. It is true that persons are appointed by the Government to
inspect these ships, and report on their sea-worthiness; but unfortunately,
those individuals are too apt to be deceived by their eyesight, and neglect to
examine a vessel
minutely. They go on board and find everything apparently fresh and new, and
conclude the ship is all right, whereas, in many instances, if they would only
take the trouble to raise a plank or two, and thrust a knife into the sides of
the vessel, they would find the wood crumble to pieces like touchwood. "
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