THE EARLY DAYS.

Northern Advocate, 9 August 1919, Page 1

THE EARLY DAYS.

"QUEEN OF BEAUTY'S" ARRIVAL

FIFTY-SIXTH ANNIVERSARY.

NORTHERN PIONEERS,

To-day is the fifty-sixth anniversary of the arrival in Auckland waters of the good ship Queen of Beauty," which dropped anchor between Rangitoto Island and North Head, pftev d.£?H, on Sunday August 9th, 1863. The vessel was of 1234 tons, built at St. John's, New Brunswick, and originally was named the "Challenger." Leaving Gravesend on May sth, 1863, her voyage thus occupied 95 days. A t noon on August 10th, the day following her arrival, she berthed in port pf Auckland, and landed 157 passengers, comprising 110 English, 16 Scptch, 120 irjsh ? and 11 foreigners, Most of the colonists had been attracted by the system then in vogue of presenting 40 acres of Crown land to each immigrant. Among the surviving passengers are Mr W. Lilley, of Ruatangata; Messrs W. Carter, A. Carter, H. Carter, and J. Carter, Hikurangi; and Mr J. Horn, Whangarei. An incident on the voyage from London that created an indelible impression on the memories of the ship's company was an encounter with the famous Confederate steamer, Alabama, on June 16th, about 80 miles from the Brazilian Cftast, when tb.<? latter fired two blank shots, and the third a ball across the bows. The captain then heaved to, and satisfied the assailant that the Queen of Beauty waa only a passenger ship.