The Steamer City of Dunedin.

the City of Dunedin must not be confused with the little paddle steamer of the same name which arrived in Dunedin on November 24, 1863, in charge of Captain McFarlane, making the passage in 138 days. This vessel was built specially for Mr. Johnny Jones, a very old resident of Dunedin.

Captain McFarlane, who is now (May, 1924) in his 95th year, and has been residing at Devonport, Auckland, during the past 23 years, has kindly furnished the following details of the voyage of this little steamer. He writes: "When the vessel sailed from Glasgow, two engineers who had never before been at sea were placed on board, and they allowed the machinery to get into such a state that when the vessel reached the Bay of Biscay no steam was available—it was entirely cut off. I then had the floats of the paddle wheel taken off, and sailed towards Madeira. On arrival the bilges of the engine were cleaned out, and we steamed out again, and as coal was short we sailed down to Cape de Verde Island. I then put steam on again, and paddled away, taking 16 days to cross the Equator, the average runs daily being only about 60 miles. The vessel crossed to windward in 90 west, and the floats were again taken off, and the little vessel continued under sail until reaching the Solanders. I left the vessel after handing her over at Dunedin. Under another captain the 'City' was sent over to Melbourne to be docked, as no dock was then available at Port Chalmers. The vessel was flat-bottomed and had no keel."

On her return from Melbourne the "City" made two or three voyages to Hokitika, and on May 20, 1865, she sailed from Dunedin, via Wellington, for Hokitika, and was never heard of afterwards. Wreckage was found at Palliser Bay and Pencarrow Head, and identified as belonging to the "City." It was generally believed that she was lost in the dreaded Cook Strait, probably near Karori or Tom's Rock. The vessel had a large number of passengers on board from Dunedin and Wellington. Captain McFarlane states it was a co-incidence that he was in Cook Strait the night the vessel disappeared. He had purchased the barque P.C.E., and was sailing on his way to Newcastle. The night was quite clear, with a fresh north-west wind. Captain McFarlane retired from the sea in 1883, and was appointed harbourmaster at Dunedin. He held this position until 1893.