Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

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

The Opawa

page 298

The Opawa.

The N.Z. Shipping Co.'s Opawa a sister ship to the Piako, was a fast sailer of 1076 tons. She was built in 1876 by Stephens of Glasgow, and traded to all the principal ports of the Dominion. She made her first appearance at Lyttelton, arriving there in 1877, in command of Captain Mclnnes, making a good run of 86 days, port to port. Her best passage outwards, however, was to Lyttelton, in 1880, when she reached port in 81 days from the Docks; and her next best passage was to Auckland in 1884—82 days from Docks. In 1883 she made the voyage from London to Lyttelton and Home again in six months nine days.

On the run out to Wellington in 1884-5 Captain Mathers, who had been ailing and complaining for some days, went to
the Opawa At Port Chalmehs.

the Opawa At Port Chalmehs.

bed, his mind also having been affected. He dressed again in the evening, and when walking towards the forecastle attempted to jump overboard, but was prevented. A few minutes later he leapt over the starboard side. The ship was hove-to, a boat lowered, and he was picked up within ten minutes, but he was dead. The ship was brought on by the chief officer, Mr. Banks.

the Opawa was sold to a Norwegian firm, and is believed to be still afloat under another name.

The following are the passages made to New Zealand by the Opawa:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
Oct. 27, '83 Jan. 18, '84 Mathers 82
To Wellington.
Dec. 22, '81 Mar. 20, '82 Mathers 89
Oct. 3, '84 Jan. 8, '85 Mathers 97
Nov. 7, '85 Feb. 12, '86 Hamon 86
July 30 Oct. 24. '87 Hamon 86
Jan. 13 Apr. 30, '90 Hamon 107
Dec. 2, '92 Mar. 8, '93 Martin 95
Dec. 27, '93 Apr. 16, '94 Martin 110
*Nov 7, '94 Feb. 26, '95 Martin 111
To Lyttelton.
Jan. 20 Apr. 16. '77 McInnes 86
Sep. 27, '77 Jan. 3, '78 McInnes 98
Sep. 7 Dec. 7, '78 Triston 91
Aug. 5 Oct. 25, '80 Triston 81
April 2 July 11, '81 Mathers 99
Nov. 26, '82 Feb. 23. '83 Mathers 90
Aug. 3 Nov. 4, '86 Hamon 93
May 12 Aug. 25, '88 Hamon 105
April 9 July 7, '89 Hamon 89
Nov. 12, '90 Feb. 4, '91 Hamon 84
Land to land 75
page 299
To Dunedin.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
Dec. 2, '91 Mar. 13, '92 Martin 100
Dec. 20, 95 Mar. 1, '96 Martin 101
To Nelson.
Nov. 28, '79 Triston 95
*

* Anchored at Downs for ten days.

Called at Madeira.