FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 129, 1 June 1923, Page 5

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

WOODLARKS ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND. BAND OF 130 IMMIGRANTS. It is fifty years to-day since the clipper Woodlark dropped anchor in the Waitemata with about 130 immigrants who had left the Old Country to try their fortunes in the colony. The vessel sailed from the East India dock, London, on February 23 under the command of Captain Wood, and, clearing Gravesend on the 4th, set out on her long voyage of 88 days to the : Antipodes. Her voyage would probaT>ly I have ranked close to a record but for ' the fact that she was becalmed for a j week in the Bay of Biscay. I The Woodlark was a tine clipper ship, composite built, of SG9 tons register, launched at Dundee in IS7O. 1 Her pafeengers settled in different parts of the colony, and many of them became prominent figures in the business Hie of Auckland. Tiie pusiiiig ypurn, however, have removed many of these old-timo identities, mid il is thought I that there are only ei<rhi oi ihe Woodlark'» eiiiiipli'nioiit <!i!l living in this city. In growing >cai- t> mr-mbers of this little haml ran .-oiitiiiup f> look; hacfc in inith to I hat '-Ulorioin I-' l '- 1 '", '" ne .when they lir.-t su'! , !" , ' l on these 51,0re3 - I —_