EARLY SHIPPING DAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17349, 14 May 1924, Page 6

EARLY SHIPPING DAYS.

VOYAGES FROM THE OLD COUNTRY. TALES OF THE EMIGRANT SHIPS. The romances and some of tbs hardships of the early shipping days of New Zealand are recalled in the series of articles now being published in the “ Star ” relating to the early shipping days. Many people are interested in the subject. as there are still many of the old identities with us, while thousands of citizens of the Dominion are descended from the old stock which braved the voyages in the sailers of the ’fifties, ’sixties and ’seventies. The. article printed to-day consists of extracts from the eaily files. ARRIVAL OF THE PLEIADES. (From the “Lyttelton Times,’’ January 27, 1880.1 Arrived, January 26—Pleiades, ship. 996 tons, Setten, from London. Edwards, Bennett and Company, agents. Passenger: Saioon—J. W. Davis, E. S. Davis, S. Davis, S. Gray, Mrs L. Gray, Mr Marten, Mrs Marten, Rev D. M’Kee, James M’Kee, Helen M’Kee, Rebecca M’Kee, Lizzie M’Kee, Sally M’Kee, Robert M’Kee. Willie M’Kee. Miss Blake, Agnes Bell. • George Platt, E. C. Gilmore, Mrs A. Gilmore. Mrs Wallace, Mr Wallace, A. H. Barrow. Messrs Shaw, Savill and Company’s ship Pleiades, Captain Setten, arrived from Londin early yesterday morning with twenty-six saloon, six second cabin and eightv-two steerage passengers. Her passage has occupied eighty-six days from London to anchorage, and seventy-nine days from the Lizard to off the Snares. The passage to the Snares was a very fine weather one. The passengers have enjoyed excellent health throughout tho passage, and no births or deaths have occurred. The following is the report of the passage kindly furnished by Captain Setten: Left the docks on November 1 1579, the Downs next day, and finally left the start on Monday, November 3, the entire run down Channel occupying only thirty-nine hours. Had fine easterly winds to Madeira, which was passed on November 10. Thence to the Equator light baffling winds prevailed, with heav}' - rain, thunder and lightning. No north-east trades were experienced. Crossed the Line on December 4, in 21 south. Had fine winds to the Cape the meridian of which was passed on Christmas Eve. Encountered heavv gale off the Cape, from the west. Thence to the Snares strong winds were the rule from the north-west to south-west. A heavy gale followed. The storm cleared up when off Stewart s Island. Sighted the Nuggets on January 21 at 1.30 p.m. Passed Otago Heads at 10 p.m. the same day. A hundred miles from Lyttelton the steering gear broke as 'th result of t-ne neavy weather experienced the previous day. A temporary tiller was at once rigged and the ship brought into port. Was off Akaroa on Saturday at noon. ' Received pilot on board at 2.30 am. yesterday, and came to anchor at 5 a.m.