A Handsome Craft.

the Loch Cree (a sister ship to the Loch Fleet) was a vessel of 791 tons, built at Glasgow in 1874. She, like her sister, was a handsome vessel, and on all occasions made good passages. She was specially free in many of her outward runs from the usual gales often encountered. On the voyage out to Lyttelton in 1880 the Loch Cree was in charge of Captain John Jones, this being his first command. He reported that with the exception of two heavy blows the passage had been a pleasant one of 82 days from the Lizard, and 98 from port to port. When off Tasmania on March 5, a fierce gale was experienced with a heavy sea, during which big seas broke on board, but very little damage resulted. The day before making the land the vessel experienced a terrific storm of thunder and lightning. The mastheads and all the yard-arms were illuminated for a long time by electricity and presented a splendid spectacle.

On the voyage out to Auckland in 1881 the Loch Cree encountered one terrific gale. It occurred on September 2, during whioli Captain Jones found it necessary to heave-to for twelve hours. Heavy seas broke on board over the forward part of the vessel, carrying away the stanchions of the fo'castle, starting the head rail of the topgallant fo'castle and figurehead, and causing other serious damage.

On August 10 the vessel was in company with the ship Wairoa, and at the same time a dozen other ships, mostly bound for Australia and New Zealand, were in sight. the Wairoa was bound for Wellington and arrived there on September 24. Considering that the Loch Cree had to sail further north it was a very even race. the Wairoa sailed from Graveaend on June 25 and the Loch Cree on the following day.

The passages made by the Loch Cree were:—