The Dragon.

the Dragon was a smart craft of 696 tons, built in 1864 for L. Young and Co., of London. In 1883 she was chartered by the Shaw, Savill Co., and made four consecutive voyages to Lyttelton and Timaru. She was sent out first under the command of Captain Petherbridge in 1883. She left London on May 23, and arrived at Lyttelton on August 12, making a fine run of 81 days, port to port.

The following year, 1884, the ship sailed from London on February 27, and arrived at Lyttelton on June 2, making the passage in 98 days. After passing the Cape she encountered a severe gale. A heavy sea struck the ship, which, breaking over the poop, carried away a large portion of the topgallant bulwarks, stove in the cabin doors, and did other damage. The man at the wheel was washed away. On this occasion, and in the following year, the ship was commanded by Captain Milner. Nothing eventful occurred on the passage out in 1885. The ship sailed on July 6, and arrived at Lyttelton on October 20, 1885.

On her last visit to the Dominion the ship had another rough experience. She sailed from London on April 3, and arrived at Timaru on July 21, 1886. Captain Bartlett reported on arrival that the ship had met with heavy weather, developing several times into severe gales, during which the ship suffered much damage, and the cabin was continually flooded, much of the ship's stores being destroyed by water.