None of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's fleet of sailing vessels has a better record than the Westland, a full-rigged ship of 1116 tons, which for some years attracted world-wide attention among shipmasters on the Pacific and Atlantic. Built by Duncan, she was one of the last ships ordered for the Shaw, Savill Company.

In 1888, in command of Captain Scotland, the Westland reached Dunedin in 72 days, or 66 days land to land. The "Otago Daily Times" referring to the ship's arrival, said: "Her advent was unexpected, the vessel not being due for at least another week. Captain Scotland was heartily congratulated upon having made the shortest passage of any sailing vessel. the Westland left London on the evening of April 13, and carried moderate S.W. winds down Channel, taking her final departure from Ushant on April 18. With moderate westerly winds across the Bay of Biscay, she passed the Canary Islands on the 24th; on the 26th she took the first of the N.E. trades, which were fairly good. They gave out on May 4, and were followed by variable winds for two days, when she picked up the S.E. trades and crossed the Equator on May 7, only 18 days from Ushant. The S.E. trades carried the ship down to 20 deg. S. long., 31 deg W. on May 14, when they were succeeded by N. and N.W. winds. The meridian of Greenwich was crossed on May 24. Still keeping fresh N.W. winds, she rounded the Cape of Good Hope four days later in latitude 45 deg. S., thence across the Southern Ocean she had N.W. and N. winds, accompanied with heavy seas. She passed the meridian of Cape Leeuwin in 57 deg. S.; then followed a succession of variable winds until reaching the island of Tasmania on June 20. Light easterly winds followed for two days, when N.W. and W. winds carried the ship to the Snares, which were passed on June 24. Still keeping similar winds, she passed the Nuggets on June 25—19 hours from the Snares. Light winds followed until off Cape Saunders, when the ship took a fresh breeze, which brought her to port on the morning of June 25. Her Easting was run down or a parallel of latitude 50 deg. S. No ice was seen.

Another Rapid Passage.

The following year (1889) the Westland, still in command of Captain Scotland, made another remarkable run to Port Chalmers of 77 days anchor to anchor, or 72 from the day she landed the Channel pilot. Captain Scotland stated this passage would have been shortened but for the fact that for the last five days she had to contend with thick, dirty weather, owing to which no observations could be taken, and she came on by dead reckoning, making Cape Saunders her first landfall. "On the arrival of the ship at Port Chalmers," says the "Otago Daily Times," "Captain Scotland was not only congratulated on the splendid run, but for the record voyage from New Zealand (including detentions), and back to Port Chalmers, in the short space of six months and twenty-three days, she having left Lyttelton with a full cargo of wheat on August 14, 1888, called at Falmouth for orders on November 6.page 28 and after lying there for six days, was ordered on to London. Having discharged her cargo, she took on board 600 tons of cement, which was landed at Glasgow, and then loaded 1800 tons of general cargo."

The Run Out.

On this occasion the Westland left Glasgow on December 21, and the Tail of the Bank on the evening of the 22nd. Owing to adverse winds she beat about between the Clyde and Wexford for five days, the pilot leaving on the 27th December. Strong westerly gales were encountered until the 29th, when the wind hauled to N.W. and W. On January 6th she took the N.E. Trades, which continued fresh, but gave out on the 12th. Thence light variable winds followed until crossing the Equator on January 14th. The S.E. Trades

The Speedy Westland.

were met with on January 16 in latitude 2 deg. S., and these proved good until reaching lat. 20 deg. S., when light easterly winds followed until down to 34 deg. S. On January 30, after a few days of variable winds, she took the first of the westerlies crossing the meridian of Greenwich on February 6th in latitude 44 deg. S. She then had fresh N.W. to S.W. winds, and rounded the Cape four days later. Still keeping fresh westerly winds, the vessel averaged 240 miles a day until reaching longitude 70 deg. E., when she met an easterly breeze for three days. The wind again hauled to the west, and the meridian of Cape Leeuwin was crossed on February 27th and Tasmania on March 3rd, in latitude 50 deg. S. From this date not a glimpse of the sun was seen until Cape Saunders was sighted at 7.30 a.m. on March 9th.

A Record Round Voyage.

In 1894 the Westland, in command of Captain Kelly, made the passage from Start Point to the Solanders in 85 days. Her best day's run was 342 miles, and she made several runs of 330 and 340 miles a day. After discharging she proceeded from Dunedin to the Bluff, where she waited for six months for wool. Then without dry docking she made the voyage to London in 72 days, covering the distance from Bluff to Cape Horn in 16 days 8 hours. When she was 39 days out she crossed the Equator in the Atlantic and reported at the Lizard Lighthouse, in the English Channel, on the morning of the sixty-eighth day. Her biggest day's run was 326 miles. For nine days the Westland was becalmed in the Tropics after crossing the Equator.

Beat Them All.

On this particular voyage, which was in the wool season, the Westland was the last of the fleet of 20 sailing ships to leave New Zealand; yet she arrived Home 22 days before any of the others. She cleared the Bluff one hour after the Wairoa, a full-rigged ship, and had discharged and was loaded again at London before the Wairoa put in an appearance. In fact, this latter vessel, which made the voyage in the respectable time of 91 days, was only just arriving as the Westland was being towed out of the dock.

On the arrival of the Westland at Wellington in 1881 she was placed in quarantine owing to the presence of smallpox. During the voyage, on 6th October, a squall struck the ship, carry-page 29ing away several yards and throwing two sailors who were making fast the yard royal into the sea. Both were drowned. On the 18th of the same month an apprentice fell from aloft into the sea. A boat was lowered, but he was not seen again.

The voyage of the Westland to Wellington in 1895 was remarkable for the tempestuous weather encountered at the meridian of the Cape. A terrific hurricane from the north-west was met with. The ship was hove-to for 16 hours, during which time the main lower topsail burst and the foretopmast staysail was split into ribbons. Mountainous seas swept over the forepart of the vessel, carrying away the whisker, the flying jib, the boom, and the forecastle rail, starting the forecastle deck, and doing other damage. The ship was squared and the foresail set, but again fearful seas broke aboard, sweeping the deck from stem to stern, carrying away two of the forward boats and everything movable on deck. The heavy seas started bolts, split skids, and smashed the forecastle doors and ladders. The compass stands and binnacle were also injured.

In the passage made in 1893 Captain Kelly reported that the long voyage of 119 days was due to a series of gales at the outset, during which sails were blown away and all deck fittings damaged. The ship put back to Lamlash Bay for repairs, and was detained there 16 days. Very heavy gales were also met with in the Southern Ocean.

On September 8th, 1900, when the Westland was bound for Wellington, Captain Kelly died at sea, and the ship was brought on by the chief officer, Mr. Samuel. Captain Kelly had been seven years in the Westland and 25 years in the service of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company.

In 1885, when bound to Dunedin, in command of Captain McWilliams, the Westland ran from the Cape of Good Hope to Shag Point in 16 days.

the Westland is also credited with having on another occasion made the passage from Wellington to London in 71 days.

Captain White, a partner in the firm of Nearing and Co., now carrying on business in Auckland, who was for 12 years at sea in sailing vessels, was second officer and first mate on the Westland during many of her fast runs; and Captain Fox, also a partner with Captain White in the same firm, was apprenticed on the Westland, and later rose to be second and chief officer of the ship. Captain white states that the Westland, under the command of Captain Kelly, ran from Wellington to Astoria, Oregon, in 44 days, thence with a cargo of salmon to Liverpool in 79 days round Cape Horn.