The Alumbagh.

One of the early charters of the New Zealand Shipping Company, before it had a fleet of its own, was the fine ship Alumbagh, a vessel of 1138 tons, which in 1875 brought out over 40 passengers to Auckland. Sailing from London on May 9th, in command of Captain Lowe, she crossed the Equator on the 10th June, rounded the Cape on the 16th July, sighted the Three Kings on the 13th, and arrived at Auckland on the 17th August. Two severe gales were encountered during the passage—the first on the 27th May, when the ship suffered considerable damage. The second occurred shortly after rounding the Cape, and heavy weather continued until the New Zealand coast was sighted on the 13th August.

The immigrants arriving by the Alumbagh consisted of 283 English, 109 Irish, 13 Scotch, and 9 of Welsh nationality. During the voyage there were 16 deaths, mostly children. On the 24th June the Alumbagh passed an abandoned ship, that had evidently been burnt out, as her name was illegible.