A noted ship of the Shaw-Savill and Albion Fleet was the Auckland, which, however, must not be confused with the ship City of Auckland. There is at present living in Auckland Mr. H. N. Burgess, who was an apprentice on the Auckland, and afterwards was an officer with the company. At my request he has written a very interesting account of some of the "voyages of the Auckland, and particularly of one memorable tempestuous passage she made from London to Auckland, arriving at the latter port on September 15, 1889.

the Auckland was one of the fastest and smartest ships afloat of her day, writes Mr. Burgess. She was built at Robert. Duncan's yard in '74; was still classed 100 Al at Lloyd's till wrecked a few years ago. She was built and equipped with the best of everything procurable, and on lines of perfect symmetry a "thing of beauty and joy" to the heart of any sailorman. During the time I was in her (with one exception) we were never passed by any sailing vessel afloat, and by only one or two steamers. On the other hand, we showed everything we came across, including some of the most noted "cracks" of the day, that we could easily outsail them on any point of sailing, or with any strength of wind. the Auckland made some of the fastest 24-hour runs and weekly runs on record, but never had the "luck" in winds to make any record passages. The time we were passed was during my first voyage. The ship was a "home" that trip; old Captain Mordue was in command of her; he was one of those fine old English "gentlemen of the sea," and he thought more of the comfort of his passengers and crew than making passages. Still we made a very fair passage of 76 days to Melbourne.