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Echunga
Departed London 10 Sept.1862 and arrived in Timaru 16 Dec. 1862, 102 days, then onto and then at Lyttelton on 24th December 1862. Landed 121 at Timaru. Total 304 immigrants.
Otago Witness 3 January 1863 Page 5
It is stated in the Lyttelton Times that a considerable number of the immigrants on board the Echunga refused to be landed at Timaru, in opposition to the wishes of the Resident Magistrate, who appears to have stood in the place of the Government on this occasion. On the part of the immigrants it is said that there was no adequate accommodation provided, and that their contract tickets were made out for Canterbury, and did not bind them to be landed at Timaru. It is stated that the barracks, which were supposed to have been provided for these same immigrants months ago, had only risen about three feet from the ground; that tents were being put up only after the landing of the first batch, which took place during heavy rain ; that no drains had been dug round these tents, to carry off the surplus water; that no firewood had been provided ; and that there was not even a proper supply of dry straw for the people to lay down and rest upon. It appears that though the authorities knew as far back as May last that a large batch of immigrant would be landed at Timaru, they were caught on the 10th December almost totally unprepared.
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The Echunga Diaries (WorldCat)
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Jessie Annandale (external website)
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Ellen McQuillan (external website)