The City Of Quebec.

One of the first iron ships built for the Quebec trade, the City of Quebec, was 25 years off the stocks when she made her first visit to New Zealand in 1879, and, considering her age, she made a very good passage of 91 days. She sailed from London on December 3, 1878, under charter to the Shaw, Savill Company, and reached Lyttelton on March 5th, 1879, Captain Falconer being in command. She encountered one heavy gale, during which a big sea broke aboard and did considerable damage to the bulwarks, boats, etc. Among her cargo on this occasion were four 5-ton and 7-ton guns for the Lyttelton harbour defences. On the passage Home the ship had a rough time going round the Horn, heavy seas carrying away part of her bulwarks and doing other damage.

The following year, 1880, the City of Quebec, under the same command, arrived at Auckland after a good passage of 105 days from the Downs. Mr. J. Murray, of Northcote, Auckland, who was a passenger by this ship, writes:—

"We left the Docks on December 31st, 1879, just as the bells were ringing in the New Year, and anchored at Gravesend until January 3rd, taking in powder. We experienced a very pleasant passage, having avoided any rough weather all the way out. The first land sighted after leaving the French coast was the Three Kings. We brought out only 30 passengers." The ship arrived on April 18th, 1880.