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White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900

The Oxford

The Oxford.

Dismasted in Bay of Biscay.

the Oxford, sailing under the flag of the Shaw, Savill Co., was a beautiful ship of 1287 tons. She made a remarkable passage to Port Chalmers in 1876, covering the distance from Start Point in 74 days. She originally sailed from Gravesend on November 25, and three days later took her final departure from Start Point. She crossed the Equator on the twenty-second day out, December 20, and passed between Prince Edward and Marion Islands on January 17, anchoring at Port Chalmers on 10th February.

A few days after sailing from Plymouth in 1883 for Wellington, with 302 passengers on board, the Oxford encountered a terrific gale in the Bay of Biscay, and all on board, including Captain Braddock, who was in command, had a most anxious time. The gale at one time increased to hurricane force, great seas were shipped, and the vessel was dismasted. In her crippled state she managed to get back to Cardiff. Here further trouble arose, as a few days after her arrival typhoid fever broke out on board, which resulted in many deaths. As the vessel was placed in quarantine, repairs could not be effected until the Oxford was again a clean ship, consequently her final sailing was delayed until April 26, just three months after the disaster in the Bay of Biscay. During the passage further sickness developed, and the ship was once more placed in quarantine for several days on her arrival at Wellington, 88 days from Cardiff.

the Oxford brought over 300 passengers to Auckland in 1874, including Mr. and Mrs. Warrington and family of four, three of whom are still residing there; also Mr. E. Clay, formerly manager of the Kauri Timber Co. at Mercury Bay. The passages made to New Zealand were:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
June 11 Sep. 8, '74 Beaven 90
Nov. 29, '76 Mar. 1, '77 Vaux 93
Dec. 5, '80 Apr. 2, '81 Braddock 118
Dec. 1, '81 Mar. 10, '82 Braddock 98
To Wellington.
Apr. 26, '83 July 23, '83 Braddock 88
To Dunedin.
Nov. 25, '75 Feb. 10, '76 Vaux 77

When the Oxford arrived at Auckland in 1881 Captain Braddock accounted for the long voyage by stating that the ship encountered a severe gale off the Cape de Verde Islands, which blew with hurricane force, but she rode through the storm in admirable style. From this point light contrary winds were met with, and the Equator was not crossed until January 23, 49 days from sailing, during which the vessel's average speed was only 65 miles per 24 hours.