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

Records From San Francisco

page 18

Records From San Francisco.

Sensational Runs—29 days to Auckland.

Just as in the case of the trans-Tasman run, the passage from San Francisco to Auckland, and also to Wellington, has given rise to many statements by correspondents—statements that won't stand the test of facts. During the past few years the masters of two vessels arriving at Wellington from the Californian port have claimed to have established a record by doing the run in 42 days and 44 days respectively.

the Northern Chief, belonging to Mr. John Burns, made a passage from San Francisco to Auckland of 43 days, and the ship Dunsyre on one occasion made the run in 38 days to Wellington. None of the above, however, can he called record passages. During the past fifty years it has been
Schooner Neva.

Schooner Neva.

generally understood that the fastest passage from San Francisco to the Waitemata was accomplished in 1866 by the Circular Saw liner Alice Cameron (Captain Nearing) when she anchored off the Queen Street wharf on March 9 after a remarkable run of 32 days. I was at that time a reporter on the "Auckland Herald," and recording her arrival on March 10 wrote: "Quite contrary to expectations the Alice Cameron arrived last night from San Francisco after the most rapid run on record, the vessel not being due for some weeks." The Alice Cameron on this trip brought down American newspapers containing seven days later European news than that which had come by the regular mail channels, Suez and Australia.

A small schooner of 90 tons, the Neva, of the Circular Saw Line, on one occasion made the run from San Francisco to Auckland in 43 days. This was considered a remarkable passage for a small vessel of 90 tons. Subsequently she was purchased by Captain Young, who made several successful voyages to the South Sea Islands.

About four or five years ago a correspondent, writing to the "Star" from Wellington, stated: "The controversy in Auckland regarding the fastest trans-Pacific voyage under sail arising out of the Northern Chief's splendid passage has aroused some interest among shipping men here. The honour of making the fastest passage cannot be ascribed to any of the vessels recently mentioned, including the Alice Cameron, Northern Chief, and Neva. I searched the old files of the 'Southern Cross' in Parliamentary Library recently, and came across a shipping report which was so remarkable that I copied it as an historical item. The paragraph recorded the arrival at Auckland on December 28, 1850, of the barque Novelty, after a phenomenally fast run of 29 days from San Francisco."

the Novelty, a small barque of about 300 tons, was owned in Liverpool, and must not be confused with the Novelty built in Auckland. She arrived in ballast. Captain John Harrison was master. Turning up the "Southern Cross" I find that the Novelty left San Francisco on November 28, and arrived at Auckland on December 28. The passage made by this ship, therefore, stands as the record passage of any sailing ship at the time these notes are penned. the Novelty was wrecked during the following year. She sailed from San Francisco on June 6 for Sydney, and on July 6 struck on a reef at Clarence Island during thick weather. The passengers (16) and crew were all saved.