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

The Egmont

page 347

The Egmont.

The full rigged ship Egmont, a vessel of 688 tons was an exception to most of the vessels sent out by the Willis Gann, Co. She was for her size, a fairly speedy ship and on all occasions made good average runs to Auckland and Lyttelton. On her last voyage out to Auckland in 1860, favourable weather was experienced until rounding the Cape. She sailed from Gravesend on the 6th April, and on the 14th June, during a heavy squall, the vessel broached to and the steering apparatus broke, the rudder being useless. After a while the ship was put before the gale and a tiller was attached to the rudder head which enabled her to be steered with a couple of watch tackles, five hands being employed in steering.

Heavy seas continued to break over the poop, and as the ship was undermanned when leaving London, many of the passengers had to assist in working her, not only during this gale but on other occasions. Owing to the miserable quarters provided for the crew, the men were sleeping in wet clothes almost all the time after passing the Cape, until the ship's arrival.

Another gale of hurricane force was experienced on July 11, when off Dusky Bay, and continued without a break until the 13th, during which the ship rolled heavily and the tiller broke short off from where it spans the rudder. The ship broached to, and there lay broadside on to the gale until the helm was repaired. The passengers were again commandeered to assist in morticing a hole through the rudder head. This was a difficult task, as the seas were still making a clean breach over the poop. When the hole was cut through, the crew and passengers secured a bow anchor stock and prised it through the rudder head, which made a first rate tiller much stronger than before. The tiller ropes having been made fast, the ship once more paid off before the gale, no very serious damage resulting. Fortunately most of the sails were stowed at the time. The ship made the Three Kings on July 16, and came to anchor three days later at Auckland, landing 100 passengers.

When the Egmont arrived at Lyttelton in 1856 she brought out as passengers Bishop Harper, with Mrs. Harper and family (6), and the Rev. G. H. Eyre and family (7), and 118 immigrants.

In 1862 the Egmont landed at Lyttelton 16 saloon passengers, including Mr. and Mrs. Matson and Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Lance, who were returning from a visit to England, and 100 immigrants.

The following are the records of the Egmont:—

To Auckland.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
Mar. 16, '54 June 26, '54 Gibson 102
June 3, '55 Sep. 14, '55 Gibson 103
Feb. 24, '58 June 14, '58 Gibson 110
Apr. 6, '60 July 19, '60 Gibson 105
To Lyttelton.
Sep. 11 Dec. 23, '56 Gibson 103
Apr. 6 July 7, '62 Morgan 92