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White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900

Passengers at the Brandy

Passengers at the Brandy.

Yet once more we find a little cargo-broaching incident. This time it is two passengers who are the culprits. Cutting a hole through the deck in their quarters they got at some spirits and other cargo, and of the success of their foraging there was ample evidence in their boxes—bottles of brandy, boots, sardines and clothes being among the articles recovered. Both men were made prisoners by the simple process of locking them up in a cabin. Another passenger was added to the number on a charge of being an accessory to the cutting of the hole in the deck. A strict watch was kept on the prisoners, as they threatened to set fire to the ship if they got a chance. Before Auckland was reached on July 26 this thrice unlucky vessel met with more heavy weather, and it is quite safe to say that no logbook kept by the early visitors to New Zealand contained such a record of strange happenings as that of the Monarch.

In 1870 the Monarch, commanded by Captain John Paddle, for many years sailing the barque Strathallan, arrived at Lyttelton on September 6, after a very fine passage of 104 days, or 89 land to land. The weather during the voyage was unusually fine, a few ordinary gales only having been experienced in running down the easting. On this occasion there was no trouble with the crew, and the 200 immigrants arriving by the vessel spoke in high praise of the treatment they had received during the voyage.

In 1876 the old Monarch sailed from Bombay to Rangoon, and was never heard of again.

Another vessel of 450 tons bearing the name Monarch arrived at Auckland, via Wellington, in command of Captain Smale, on June 20, 1850. She came again under Captain Dixon, arriving at Auckland on September 4, 1854