Charles Duke’s Diary
Quarantine Island, 6th December 1872 to 28th January 1873
Friday 1872 Dec 6th
Reported myself to Mr Allan, Immigration Officer, as ready to commence my duties as Barracks Master Dunedin.
Saturday 7th
Received instructions from Mr Allan to go into Quarantine with the passengers per ‘Christian McAusland’ to take charge of and serve out stores. Arrived at the Island about 5 pm, great confusion and a fight before bedtime.
Sunday 8th,
Miserable night, wind blew right through the building. No sleep all night [with] Constable and D. Miller. A wet day, nothing but discontent and the usual growl all round.
Monday 9th
Slept well, did not feel the wind in consequence of hanging calico round our stretchers. Carpenters came back to resume work, having slept in their [house]. Had to gather up my traps, and Quite Decided to sleep in. The storeroom and milk all turned sour as soon as brought on the Island. Complaint about deficiency of stores. Got a pretty good supply during the day and in consequence the people more contented. Board of [ ] visited the Island today. No new case having broke out. We hope to be out in 3 weeks. There is a decided improvement in the people in their language and appearance but some of Brogdens [men] and their [wives] are very low and most of them come from England. I am ashamed of them they disgrace the old country [greedy and] ungrateful. I have not heard them sing individually or collectively. How different when I was in Quarantine 9 years ago. The people used to sing from morning till night. I trust they will improve.
Tuesday 10th
No case has broken out since we have been here and all things are going on more satisfactory as a whole, except in 2 cases. One, the case of a young woman suffering from white swelling in the knee; Dr things she will not leave the Island. The other a little girl who caught a severe cold which settled in her throat. I have just spoken to her Father who told me she said today she was going to heaven to see her little brother who died on the voyage after a short illness. If they loose the girl they will be childless. I have seen several children who have had the Fever, also one man. They look very sickly and their skin peels off and this is the danger. The particles of skin are no doubt floating in the air and hanging about their clothes. Their clothes are to be burnt tomorrow and I have received instructions from the Board of Health to value them. This is not a pleasant thing to do but I will try to do what is right for all parties. Dr Miller in walking round the ground caught a man thrashing his wife, she in return swore at her husband. The case was reported to the Dr who said “Ho, this is nothing new on the way out”. The men constantly knocked their wives down and jumped upon them. M was rather officious today of the [sergt] who put him down beautifully. I have rot received that consideration from the Dr which I had a right to expect, and Miller told things which were spoken in confidence about the newspaper. The newspapers were prohibited as having a bad effect on the passengers. I stated to M it was my duty to obey and I would strictly carry out the order but in my judgement I differ from him as a most unheard of thing. So he thought to put me down but he found he had got a very tough customer. Snubbing went on more plentifully even before the Board of Health, but today I am most happy to say we are becoming more friendly. He began to see that I know something about Quarantine regulations. My past 2 years experience is of great value to me.
Wednesday 11th
The Dr reports a case of scarlet fever today. The first that has occurred since the passengers came here, so we are sure to remain 3 or 4 weeks from this date. We have received our first lot of Government stores today. A carpenter cut his leg. I got my arnica, applied some and bandaged it up for him. He appeared very grateful. 24 sheets of iron blew off a temporary building. We are thankful no one was hurt seriously. Mrs Duguld was knocked down and seems to have got a bad shaking. Her finger was cut which I bound up for her. The Dr pointed out a woman to me as being the worst devil on board the ship. She heard him and said nothing to the contrary. They are many of them, a blackguard lot. I had, a very great difficulty to get them to carry up their own food from the jetty, they are so lazy. There was a great cry out this afternoon that the water was nearly out. We stop all washing. Mrs Blesby hoisted a lynch and the police boat came and an order was sent for water. I had a very long job today weighing tea, sugar and butter for one week for the passengers. Their conduct is improving. The Dr says, he cannot understand it they are so different now.
Thursday 12th
Capt Thompson came this morn in the Pensular at 7 am. Told us that the present Board of Health has been superseded by another. The general government were not satisfied, that no unnecessary expense is to be incurred. I have no doubt that we shall have new regulations. Julia[n] who supplied us 9 years ago with water fill our water tanks this morning so washing, tea making and cooking may go ahead now. Miss Forbes, the matron in charge of the girls, she is well able to look after herself. She got her meat for dinner from me and also sent to the cook and got 2 chops and Dr allows her 2 eggs and a pint of milk daily and this does not seem half enough for her capricious appetite. Received letter from wife, Will and Mr [ ]. The flowers Mr Murray sent me I took round and showed the people who were delighted to see such beautiful flowers. I clap them up to their noses, and they almost danced with satisfaction. I then sent them up to the hospital for the patient with the white swelling. Short of bread today; I counted my loaves. Only had one pound for each adult and the grumbling was not more than I expected. I require 73 four pound loaves and all I had to give them was 47. They are allowed it 1½ per day. How can I give it to them if it is not sent? I am afraid we have another case of fever, a child, I shall hear about it tomorrow. A boat came of Capt C, with 18 loaves. I distributed it immediately, and with a few pounds of potatoes managed to satisfy them pretty well.
Friday 13th
Capt Thompson came at 7 am in ‘Pensular’, brought our bread, meat and 70 loaves. I am thankful we are all right for bread today. Meat and potatoes were all served and by eleven the child [ ] suspected yesterday has turned out to be a fever case and of course sent to the hospital. The place where the child slept has been thoroughly fumigated with chlorine gas. The Dr seems to take a great interest in his patients. Yesterday he shot a rabbit, the day before a [ ] and sent them to the young woman in the hospital. The Sergent, Mr Blesby, is a great service to us. He maintains his position in a very gentlemanly manner. He is respected by us all and he deserves it. I receive very great kindness from Mr & Mrs Dougell. The Sergt has his pitched tent in a suitable place and has a board up with the word Police. I hear the passengers by the ‘Palmerston’ are likely to be free before ourselves. D. Miller has been in to contact with one of the hospital patients. He took money from the patient, an old man, and brought it down to Mr Dougell to purchase tobacco for him and when I remonstrated with him he said he would take the money back to the old man thus breaking the Quarantine regulation twice in one day. For the goad hunt I must refer to a letter sent home.
Saturday 14th
Capt Thompson, Dr O’Donnoghue came over about six this morning in the ‘Pensular’. Bread and meat came. I am still short of bread. I require 73 loaves and on Thursday I only received 16 loaves. On Wednesday I received 3 bags of bread from Dunedin and it was not enough for 2 days even with the 18 loaves sent from the Port and I have been short every day since the Dr wrote to the Board of Health telling them that they treated him n the parsimonious manner. Quite different to that he received on board the ship and in the Australian Colonies. He told them that the articles he ordered were not sent promptly and he hoped in future to receive that consideration which he had a right to expect. His letter had the following effect, an apology, ham, new potatoes, sausages, leg of mutton, cheese. After this he appeared satisfied bye the bye. I had heard the young men were to be liberated on Monday and the ‘Palmerston’ passengers were to be put on that Island. I have received a full compliment of bread today and the passengers are satisfied. The young woman is not expected to live through the night. A change has taken place. Dr said 3 gallons of water came from her and he could not account for it. [ ] came and filled our water tanks. Dr has very grand views concerning good breeding and blood. If a man has got good blood in his veins even if he is illegitimate he is to be preferred to one of low origin. Born in wedlock I combated the argument, quoted Major Richardson and the poetry, ‘Honour and [ ] from no condition rose, act with the past there all the honour his. He evidently is disgusted with the free and easy manner of the Colonials. Went to bed about eleven.
Sunday 15th
Capt Cumming came over this morning with a mattress and pillow. If the Doctor is correct the poor girl will not want it for long. I gave yesterday a man’s wife some painkiller. She was suffering from diarrhoea. Dr’s medicine failed. PK cured her. This evening the young woman is somewhat revived. This afternoon a man thrashed his wife because she was not quick enough in reaching his food from the shelves. Sargt put him down at once. Soon after two women were falling out close to my window. I ordered them to separate. The little girl with the abscess looked better today. A young man named Tapp is a consumptive. His lungs are gone. He seems better since he has been here. He gets new milk, eggs, wind and brandy. Dr things he will not recover. I missed the service very much today. No one was thoughtful to send us suitable reading for the day.
Monday 16th
Capt Cummin came at the usual time this morning. Brought [letter] and C went and fetched our milk. Dr O’Donoghue came over to tell us that the patients on board the ‘Palmerston’ were to be landed here. When the men and women became aware of it they got into a rage and swore that they would not allow them to land the patients. Soon after Capt Thomson came with stretchers and the men went down and told him what they intended to do if they attempted to land the patients. By this time the ‘Pensular’ was coming from the ‘Palmerston’ with the patients. The excitement among the people was intense, so Capt Thompson had to hurry back to the ‘Pensular’ and the result is the patients will not be landed here.
Tuesay 17th
Last night the Dr told us about bed, it was likely a woman would be confined and he had no place for her except the Surger just above [ ]. We were not interrupted and today a large tent is to be pitched with all speed. The goat hunt had made the Dr very poorly. In fact he is afraid he is going to have the fever. I hope not, we shall be in a dilemma if he does. Yesterday, finding that I had sufficient meat for two days I served out two days rations of meat accordingly. I have not required meat from shore today and sent word to that effect yesterday and none came. One man brought his meat back this morning because it was fly blown. It had been in his possession 24 hours. He has a lot to learn about the blowflies of N.Z. Saw the little girl this evening. Took her two pictures and some nice pudding. She was very pleased with the pictures and I think she is somewhat better. I took the young man, Tapp, his eggs. He is very ill today. Told me he had been vomiting blood, which I saw. Another child is very poorly this evening. The Dr too is still very ill. I hope he will not take the fever. A very large tent has been pitched for the confinement. Had a good stock of provisions sent today, served out tea.
Wednesday 18th
The ‘Pensular’ is knock of. Capt Cummin came over in a waterman boat. Dr is still very poorly but he manages to see his patients and we see him once or twice a day. Dougall and Sergt is very busy today fumigating the building. They say it will take them all the week to do them. The heating apparatus does not answer; it was tried two days ago. It was heated up to 210 (boiling heat) and it burnt some bedding. At this heat to destroy the infection it is necessary it should be as high 220 & 30. The washing still goes on. I have just commenced my fourth box of soap. One of the children taken with the fever here last. Was out in the hospital ground today. I hear favourable accounts of the young woman (Grace). The porter told me she was mending. Tapp is very ill. Today I think Dr has changed his medicine. The little girl (Connor) with the bad throat is somewhat better. The people hope to get away on Saturday.
Thursday 19th
A third case occurred yesterday. The Dr is very ill today, his throat is very ulcerated and his tongue coated. I feel pretty certain it is the fever. He has sent for O’Donogue, if he is any worse. He will have to lie by, and another Dr must be sent here. I am pretty sure we shall see Christmas if not the New Year here. Two women had a row yesterday. One threatened to use the knife. Served out meat and potatoes in good time today. Had a pull in my old dingy then took a walk around the Island. Dougell and Const fumigating all day.
Friday 20th
Letter from home with [ ]. Our Dr is laid up with his throat. In fact I have not seen him today. This is not a very comfortable sought of thing, Dr sick and not able to attend to his duties. The people are in very good spirits and appear in good health. Dr has himself to blame for his sickness. I think it was the goat hunt, jumping into the water keeping his wet clothes on for an hour and going to his patients in his wet clothes. Fumigation carried on all day. I had a turn at washing today. Washed my trowers and vest and also my store. Tomorrow the Governor will visit Otago. We shall not witness his arrival in Dunedin. Yester the ‘Dido’ was taken into the graving dock.
Saturday 21st
Great excitement today. Carpenters have been snubbed for not keeping the regulation. They thing they have a right to go with the single girls as they please. Married people are getting impatient. They think they are kept here unnecessarily. They came down in a body to Mr Allen to state their grievances. The Dr they do not like. They say it will pay him to keep very ill, in fact B told me he was quite delirious last night. Now at present I see no cause for alarm, but it is anything but pleasant to be in Quarantine with the Dr laid by with sickness. Fortunately there are no enquiries for him and I can believe they are all doing well in the hospital. There was a great row with two women last night. The Constable interfered then the husband of one was going to handle him, but he threatened to knock him down. I hear the language used by the women was of the violent description. Constable will [ ] the [ ] when she leaves the island.
Sunday 22nd
This is the third Sunday we have been here. The first was all confusion, second somewhat better, and the third (which we hope will be our last). There have been a variety of employments, fumigating commenced at ½ past four, and continued all day up to six o’clock. The meat for us did not come till dark last evening. I had to serve it out today in time for dinner. Then my store was very dirty so I scrubbed it out and I then washed my self all over and put on clean clothes, which had been thoroughly fumigated. Thus by pushing things forward we hope to save these people a days detention. Under the circumstances I think we are justified in disinfecting their clothes and [ ] today. It is a work of necessity and I do trust by the blessing of God and the means employed, the disease will be stamped out. Nine years ago when [ ] was down with small pox the means used was effectual. The disease was completely arrested in Quarantine. I hope we shall be as successful this time. The Dr I have not seen for 3 days. He has been very ill, his throat so bad he could hardly swallow. I went to his tent today. I found him on a stretcher outside sleeping, so I did not speak to him. We have had a spell of lovely weather since we have been here but rather to hot for fresh meat. Some of the passengers are getting rather dainty. I serve out a nice piece of beef rib from the thick part and two muttonchops. Well, after pulling the beef about and making it as unsightly as possible, they brought it back; say they won’t have it; it was so stingy and bony. I took if from them and put it in pickle so they had none.
Monday 23rd
The men who brought their meat back yesterday changed their minds for they came and ask me if I would give it back to them. They appeared rather ashamed of their conduct, so I returned it to them. The people are preparing to leave the Island. They expect to go on Wednesday. I hope they will not be disappointed. They were up this morning by daybreak and washing went on in all directions. Dr O’Donoghue came over today and confirmed the report. The ‘Palmerston’ passengers were liberated today. As they past the Island in the ‘Golden Age’ they frowned at our people. I suppose it was because our people would not come to the Island with their sick. A lighter took the ‘Palmerston’ patients onboard and they went to the ‘Christian McAausland’ but the passengers seeing the sick persons in the lighter refused to go in the boat until they were removed back to the ship. The Dr. is better. He visited the sick in the hulk opposite the little Island. Grace is not so well today. Tapp is worse; he takes 4 qrts. of milk and ½ doz. eggs. The little girl is betting better.
Tuesday 24th
Capt Thompson and Mr C Allen came over this morning and brought the welcome news that we were to be released tomorrow (Christmas Day). Capt Thompson gave me permission to go home for the day and then to return to Quarantine to remain I suppose until the patients have recovered. A ingenious man named Hutson made m a cross. It will remind me of the great event on Calvary and also of Quarantine with ‘Christian McAusland’ passengers. I gave the man al he asked for making namely five shillings. The passengers have been packing up all day and are now putting their boxes onboard a lighter ready for the morning. Many have packed up their mattresses and bedding. They will have to be on the Boards this night. I do not suppose they will take any harm. The heat is very great just now. The men generally have got very false notion into their heads. They fancy that they can command any price but they will find their mistake out very soon. I hope they will and that all of them will become industrious and provident settler of Otago.
Xmas Day, Wednesday 25th
The ‘Golden age’ came over this morning and took away about 170. There was very little sleep during the night. They were so delighted at the thought of going. I went over to the Port with them. Got Tapp a quart of milk. I then went home for the day. Found all well. Came into Port in the evening with Willie. Saw Capt Thompson and he gave me until the next morning.
Thurday 26th
Up about four am, got into port ¼ past five, waited till nearly seven before the boat started. Called at the [Hulks]. The Germans are in one of them. Got back at eight o’clock in time for breakfast. Dougall and myself washed out part of the upper house ready for the Germans who were brought over before dinner, Fred Smith [being] with them as interpreter. They consist of two families, a child belong to one family is suffering from typhus fever, so some of the carpenters took alarm at the child being brought here, and they all left but two.
Friday 27th
Walker and his wife came back. They are [employed] by Mr Goodfellow; the woman to cook and the man as labourer. During the day three carpenters came back who did not give us a good account of the conduct of the passengers.
Saturday 28th
The Constable left us this morning. He is an efficient officer and was always ready to render us every assistance in his power. In the matter of fumigating he made himself very useful. The Dr is nearly well again and he intends to send several away during the early part of next week.
Sunday 29th
It was very wearisome today. I had but little to do and if I attempted to read, I could not fix my mind on the subject. This is the fourth Sunday here and they have not been pleasant. However, if the disease is stamped out, Quarantine will have been all that could be desired.
Monday 30th
Several expect to be free tomorrow and the welcome news came about four o’clock am. Consequently those who were permitted to go were active and lively while preparing.
Tuesday 31st
The last day of the year, how time flies. The doctor, Mr Concannon, was allowed to leave today but he is to return in a day or two to see how we are getting on. A family of German, four in number, Grace Grains with bad knee, Catherine Johnson, her nurse, Potter and his wife, Dr assistant & cook and Mr F Smith, interpreter, all left today. Those remaining on the Island are as follows: Mr Herfot, wife & 2 children, Mr Reardon, wife & 2 children, Mr Lay, wife & 2 children, German, wife & 2 children. One of Herfot’s children had the fever now suffering from abscess in the neck. Reardon & both children down with the fever. The youngest has inflammation of the lungs as well. Lay one child with fever, the skin has not commenced to peel yet. The German, a girl about eight years old, not likely to live. First she had fever, then Gastri F. The Dr said she had some other disease, which I could not remember; it brought out a lot of blue spots on her person.
January, Wednesday 1st
I had hoped to be able to go to the SS picnic today, but am disappointed the little German girl is very bad. I saw her and her lips were quite black. Capt Cummin brought them some cherries and jam Mrs Dougall has been making, plum pudding for all hands.
Friday 17th
Came home today. All passengers remaining on the Island were taken to Dunedin, namely Herfot, wife & 2 children, Lay, wife & 2 children, and Reardon, wife & 2 children. One family still remains on the Island from the ship ‘Palmerston’.
Wednesday 22nd
Came to Quarantine this morning by the ‘Peninsular’. Was waiting all day yesterday but the wind was too strong. Found the girl better but her parents are very poorly. Father has a whitlow coming, which is very painful. Dougall and myself scrubbed out the top floor of the upper house. Dougall & self assisted in wringing and hanging out the blankets; when dry folded them up and put them in to tin case.
Thursday 22nd
Scrubbed out the ground floor of upper house. Got a lot of firewood for the Germans.
Friday 23rd
The German family have not been doing too well. The child continues very delirious. Parents fear her mind is affected. Her mother from watching her continually is today very poorly. Father has a whitlow on one of his hands. Dr O’Do lanced it today. Mr Dougall went to Dunedin.
Saturday 25th
Dougall & myself scrubbed out the upper floor of the lower house and Dougall put me over in the afternoon to the port. Got home about five.
Sunday 26th
Went to church twice, Mr Shaw preached.
Monday 27th
Met Dougall at the port. Went over with him to the Island, very stormy. We had to take shelter under the small Island. Mrs Dougall was at the hospital washing for the Germans who I am glad to say are all progressing favourably.
Tueday 26th
We scrubbed the ground floor or the lower house and in the afternoon mended all the stretchers except two which the carpenters will do. The buildings are now ready for use should they be wanted. The ship ‘Charlott Gladstone’ is the next expected. I hope she will be free from disease.
