White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900
Troops for the Maori War
Troops for the Maori War.
She made three trips to New Zealand, her first appearance being on January 17, 1864, when she dropped anchor in Auckland Harbour after a capital run of 46 days from Rangoon, during which the weather was so fine that topsails were never once reefed. She did the run from Rangoon to the Three Kings in 41 days. On this occasion the ship brought a detachment of the 43rd Regiment with women and children from Calcutta, and a detachment of the 68th Regiment with women and children from Rangoon.
The officers who arrived on this trip and afterwards took part in the Maori War were: Major C. U. Shuttleworth, 68th Regiment, commanding; Captain Spratt; Lieutenant C. B. Tew, wife and child; Lieutenants B. H. Burke and C. C. Hood; Assistant-Surgeon O. Coddington; 211 rank and file; 33 women and 73 children. 43rd Regiment: Captain C.page 205R. Mure and E. Utterton; Lieutenant W. Swanson; Assistant-Surgeon J. Good; 47 non-commissioned officers and men, 10 women and 21 children. The total rank and file on board was 258; 43 women and 94 children; and 10 officers.
the Light Brigade was chartered by the Government to bring out further detachments from London, and returned to Auckland on December 22 of the same year, having sailed from the Downs on September 26. The passage was an uneventful and smart one of 86 days. During the run out she was in company with the Matoaka for several days, and then left her astern. the Matoaka came into Auckland on January 3, making the passage in 102 days from the Downs. On this occasion the Light Brigade brought out 435 troops, comprising all ranks, and including 33 Royal Engineers, 74 of the 12th Regiment, 45 of the 43rd Regiment, 84 of the 70th, 171 of the 50th, 18 of the Military Train, 10 of the Army Hospital Corps, and the following officers:—Major Holmes, in command; Lieutenants Molly, Rogers, Young and MacGregor, Ensigns Hobson, Bolton, Brett, Miller, Rowan, Lyons, and Assistant-Surgeon Wallace. A month before reaching Auckland one of the Royal Engineers, named Logan, was washed overboard and drowned.