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White Wings Vol II. Founding Of The Provinces And Old-Time Shipping. Passenger Ships From 1840 To 1885

The Swordfish

The Swordfish.

This barque, a vessel of 345 tons, under Captain Cundy, was the first vessel to berth at the old Queen Street Wharf, Auckland. She brought out 20 passengers and a full cargo. She sailed from the Downs on the 5th March, 1859, but owing to tempestuous weather was compelled to run back, and finally left the Lizard on the 20th. On the 15th April the equator was crossed, and two days later a sudden heavy squall did fearful damage on deck and aloft. Eventually, after a tedious passage of 113 days from the Lizard, she reached Auckland, and, protracted as the voyage was, the Swordfish was still the leading ship of the March "squadron." On that passage she brought out about 40 passengers.

The previous year, 1858, under the same command, the Swordfish made a smart run of 95 days from the Downs to Auckland, and landed 25 passengers. She sailed on the 21st April, and arrived on the 26th July. The first land sighted after leaving the English Channel was the Three Kings, five days before reaching Auckland, making the run land to land in 89 days.