White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900
The May Queen
The May Queen.
A Popular Little Barque—Wrecked at Lyttelton.
the May Queen Entering Nelson.
On the 1st January, 1877, the May Queen anchored at Port Chalmers with the greater part of her bulwarks between the fore and main rigging gone. Captain Tatchell reported that on the night of December 7th the ship was head reaching under three lower topsails in a furious S.E. gale when the wind suddenly veered to the S.W., and orders were given to loose the fore topmast staysail. None of the watch were inclined to obey and the second officer (Mr. Boose), only 22 years of age, sprang on to the bowsprit. The ship dipped into a heavy sea and took it right over her bows. When she rose again the officer had disappeared.
In 1881 the May Queen sailed direct from London to Tauranga with passengers for the Vesey Stewart Settlement, and then came on to Auckland with pas-page 84sengers and cargo. While at Tauranga she was reported to have run aground. What really happened was that her cable parted while she was anchored at Stoney Point and she was steered into Blind Channel, where her stern just touched at low water. She did not suffer any damage and came on to Auckland, when the passengers and some cargo were landed, arriving here on 24th December.
Here follow the records of passages made to New Zealand:—
To Auckland. | |||
Sailed. | Arrived. | Captain. | Days. |
---|---|---|---|
Oct. 1, '77 | Jan. 7, '78 | Tatchell | 95 |
July 30 | Oct. 19, '78 | Tatchell | 90 |
Aug. 27† | Dec. 16, '81 | Colville | 110 |
To Wellington. | |||
Sep. 27, '82 | Jan. 6, '83 | Colville | 101 |
To Lyttelton. | |||
Aug. 22 | Dec. 3, '80 | Colville | 102 |
Oct. 26, '87 | Jan. 27, '88 | Colville | 91 |
To Dunedin. | |||
Aug. 20 | Nov. 8, '70 | Leslie | 80 |
Land to land | 75 | ||
Aug. 26 | Nov. 15, '71 | Leslie | 81 |
Land to land | 76 | ||
July 29 | Oct. 24, '72 | Leslie | 87 |
Aug. 7 | Nov. 5, '73 | Tatchell | 90 |
Aug. 19 | Nov. 13, '74 | Tatchell | 85 |
Aug. 31 | Dec. 4, '75 | Tatchell | 95 |
Sep. 18, '76 | Jan. 1, '77 | Tatchell | 105 |
To Nelson. | |||
Aug. 8 | Nov. 18, '85 | Colville | 102 |
Aug. 16 | Dec. 1, '86 | Colville | 107 |
To Napier. | |||
Aug. 7 | Nov. 7, '79 | Tatchell | 90 |
† Via Tauranga.