Bad Buffeting.

On a previous passage to Wellington, in 1894, the Oamaru also had a bad buffeting. Shortly after passing the Cape she was driven before a heavy N.N.W. gale, when she pooped mountainous seas, which did considerable damage. Big seas constantly broke over the ship, carrying away lifeboats, rails, and most things movable on deck. Apart from this mishap she had a good run to the coast. She was off Akaroa on the 11th August, passed Cape Campbell

Captain Maxwell.

on the 15th, and arrived in port on the 18th, having had to fight against light and moderate head winds for seven days.

In 1893 the Oamaru experienced another very rough passage when bound for Lyttelton. She left London on October 12th, and immediately upon getting to sea encountered a south-west gale, which compelled Captain Wright to put into Torbay. She started again and landed the pilot off the Start. When off Falmouth another westerly gale drove the ship back to the Start, and she again took shelter in Torbay, where she remained until the 20th. Fairly good weather ensued until November 20th, when the ship had further bad luck.

But the heaviest gale was met with after passing the Cape, when off Kerguelen Island, on December 21st. The barometer in four hours fell three-tenths, and later in the day fell to 28.2. The wind was of hurricane force, with tremendous seas, which broke aboard, stripping off the bulwarks, carrying away sails, smashing most of the boats, and drowning a number of valuable stud sheep. From that point right up to the Snares wretched weather continued; heavy gales with rain and sleet being almost incessant.

the Oamaru in 1905 was sold and renamed the Fox, and rigged as a barque. She was eventually abandoned at sea, timber-laden, off Pensacola, U.S.A.

On the voyage to the Bluff in 1878 the Oamaru encountered very severe gales the day after her departure, and they continued for eight days, during which the ship made but little progress.

During the voyage to Lyttelton in 1883 the Oamaru once more struck heavy gales in the Channel, and put into Torbay for shelter. On December 12, when off Kergulensland, she encountered another very fierce gale, during which the sheep pens were washed away, the topgallant bulwarks carried away, the port lifeboat and pinnace smashed, and the deck flooded. One of the passengers was knocked down and severely injured.

Here follow the records of the Oamaru's passages outwards:—