taken from Papers Past


2 February 1876 - ARRIVAL OF THE BENVENUE

... The ship Benvenue arrived from Lonson at an early hour this morning after a passage of 96 days from Gravesend. She is consigned to the New Zealand Shipping Company, and brings a valuable cargo and nearly 40 passengers, all in good health.

To Captain Macgowan and Mr Dunlop, chief officer, we are indebted for the following report of the passage:-

... Left the Docks on the 26th Oct. and Gravesend 29th; anchored off the Nore and proceeded next morning at daylight, towed through the Downs and then made sail with a southerly wind; had dull hazy weather in the Channel with increasing breeze from the SSW and SW, gradually hauling to the westward. Took final departure from Alderney light, winds from the N.W. for a week, when the wind backed into the S.W.; weather still hazy.

Tacked off the island of Madeira at 8 o'clock on the evening of the 11th November.

On the 12th encountered strong southerley wind and very heavy sea. The wind increased to a moderate gale on the 18th, and the ship laboured very much. Caught the N.E. trades on the 16th November in latitude 30 degs. N., longitude 21 degs. W. They proved very light and shifting.

The equator was crossed on the 1st December in longitude 20 degs. W. Sighted the island of St. Paul the following day. The S.E. trades, which were picked up on the 30th of November, were moderate and arrived the ship to 20 S., ehich was reached on the 9th December.

On the day previous in a squall, carried away the mainroyal mast and yards, sprung the lower foretopsail yard, splitting the upper sails to ribbons and tearing the maintopsail.
Spent the next day sending up a spare topgallant mast and repairing damages.
Had moderate winds from the N.W. till the 21st.

The breeze freshened on the 22nd, when the ship did her best run of 302 miles.

Crossed the meredian of the Cape in lat. 45 S. on Christmas Day; brisk breeze and weather hazy. Ran the principal part of the easting in 50 S but the ship went at times as far South as 52. Saw no ice.

On the 6th January, during strong unsteady breeze, the job sheet parted, splitting the sail. Soon afterwards the mainsail split to pieces, the leach rope giving way; the fore-topsail tie gave away, and the yard came down very heavily, carrying away the neck of the parill.
Had to bend new sails next day

Crossed the meridian of Hobart Town on the 18th January. Thence to the Three Kings, N.W. and variable winds.
Sighted the Three Kings on the 27th. Down the coast had heavy head winds.

On the 30th and 31st had heavy gales, and the vessel shipped large quantities of water. The foot of the lower main-topsail gave way on the 30th.

The weather broke on Monday evening. Lay becalmed under the Great Barrier the greater part of yesterday.
Made Tiri Tiri light at 8 o'clock last night; reduced canvas and signalled for the pilot, who was taken on board 3 o'clock this morning.

Dropped anchor in Auckland harbour at half-past seven.

The ship Benvenue is a fine clipper vessel in her 10th year. She was built by Messrs. Barclay and Carle of Glasgow, for the Sydney trade. She has been engaged in the China trade, and in the Australian trade, but this is her first voyage to New Zealand. She belongs to the Glasgow Shipping Company, who own most of the ships whose names begin with "Ben". The Benvenue is 1,000 tons register, and is a powerful looking ship; that she is a very fast sailer, her log of the present voyage proves, but she has done much greater runs in previous voyages.

Most of the passengers landed during the morning. The vessel will come alongside about the day after to-morrow

PASSENGER:

CABIN
Mr and Mrs SHIRRESS and family (6)
Miss HARDESS
Miss OLDISS
Mr C. CANNON
Mr WALTON

2 CABIN
Captain S. BILLINGS
Thomas OWENS
W. H. WESLEY
Chas W. BROADBENT
Herbert CAPSTOCK
Benjamin J. HAMBLIN
Chas R BRADLEY
Miss Beatrice P DANDO
Master H. P DANDO

STEERAGE
Thomas H. TRIMBLE and Mrs Margaret TRIMBLE
Miss Maria ?EON
William LIDSTONE
Robert HILL
Francis 'Frank' ROSE
- (became early settler of Tirau)
John G. THOMPSON
Edward HOLDSWORTH
A.R. MILLER
William FLETCHER
George BROWN, wife and son



the BENVENUE