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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, Limited
The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, Limited. Head office, 34 Leadenhall Street, London, E.C. New Zealand directors; Messrs. P. Cunningham (Christchurch), J. Duncan (Wellington), and J. M. Ritchie (Dunedin). Chief office for the North Island, Grey Street, Wellington (Captain Babot, marine superintendent). Head office for South Island, Lyttelton (Captain Anderson, marine superintendent). Agents in the Colony: Auckland, Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Co. and T. and S. Morrin and Co., Limited; Wellington, Messrs. Levin and Co., Limited, W. and G. Turnbull and Co., and Murray, Roberts and Co.; Christchurch, The National Mortgage and Agency Co. of New Zealand, Limited, Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Limited, and P. Cunningham and Co.; Dunedin, The National Mortgage and Agency Co. of New Zealand, Limited, Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Limited, and Murray, Roberts and Co. The original Shaw, Savill Company was prominent in the early days of settlement in supplying ample sailing vessels to convey settlers and emigrants to New Zealand ports. Thousands—possibly tens of thousands—of the heads of families and leading professional and industrial men of 1896 originally came to the Colony in this Company's wood and iron vessels in the days when steam ships were not considered practicable for the New Zealand trade. The Shaw, Savill Company—whose vessels started from London—amalgamated in 1883 with the Albion Company—then an old established shipping house located on the Clyde. When the time had arrived to establish steam communication, the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, as at present constituted, inaugurated their steam service by sending the s.s. “Triumph,” which arrived in Auckland on the 28th of November, 1883, but was subsequently wrecked on leaving that port at Tiri Tiri, near the lighthouse. Afterwards the Company employed three vessels named respectively the “Victory,” which completed her first voyage at Port Chalmers on the 23rd of December, 1883, the “Bombay,” and the “Florida.” Finding these vessels insufficient, the Company subsequently built the s.s. “Tainui” and “Arawa,” chartering the White Star Line's “Coptic,” “Ionic,” and “Doric.” These well-known ships did duty for many years. More recently that splendid steamship the s.s. “Gothic,” was built to the Company's order, the boats engaged (1896) chiefly in the passenger trade being the last named vessel with the “Ionic” and “Tainui.” Owing to the enormous development of the carrying trade, the Shaw, Savill and Albion Co. ordered seven immense cargo steamers, three of which have accommodation for a few passengers. These boats are named the “Mamari,” “Matatua,” “Rangatira,” “Maori,” “Pakeha,” “Aotea,” and “Tokomaru,” and regular trips are run to and from the Colony. They are fitted with all the latest improvements, and convey enormous quantities of wool, meat, butter and other produce from the Colony, returning with general merchandise. The registered tonnage of the Company's steam fleet is 50,000 tons, and these vessels are capable of carrying in cool chambers over 550,000 carcases of frozen mutton, in addition to 60,000 bales of wool. This large Company also owns a fleet of sailing vessels numbering twenty-eight ships, possessing aggregate tonnages of 32,600 tons.