The Robert Small.

A fine vessel of the old school that made a most tedious passage was the Robert Small, Captain J. W. B. Darke, which dropped anchor in Auckland harbour on June 20th, 1862, 131 days out from London. Leaving London on February 8th, it was the 9th May before she reached the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope, the ship being then 88 days out. Up to May 9th the ship had only averaged 96 miles a day, or four knots an hour. From the Cape to Auckland took 43 days. The Robert Small was a ship of 794 tons. She brought out 70 passengers.

In 1858 the Robert Small made a voyage to Wellington in 104 days. She sailed on the 30th June, and arrived on the 12th October, landing 95 passengers.

The following year this ship sailed from London on the 7th October, and arrived at Lyttelton on the 29th January, 1860. Captain Darke was in command on all the voyages made to New Zealand.