The Woodlark.

When a comparatively new ship, the Woodlark was chartered by the Shaw, Savill Co. for three voyages to New Zealand. She was a fine clipper of 867 tons, built in 1870, and owned by A. Stephens and Son, Dundee. She came out to Auckland under Captain T.

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Wood, in 1873, with 125 Government immigrants, arriving in port, on the 31st May.

During a storm on the 2nd May, a boy named Goodman, while leaning over the bulwarks, lost his balance and fell overboard. Life buoys were thrown and the ship's lifeboat manned and lowered, but after an unavailing search for an hour returned. The boat had great difficulty in getting alongside the ship, as a high and confused sea was running.

The following year the Woodlark, in command of Captain Largie, visited Wellington, and when she entered port was flying the yellow flag, scarlet fever having broken out on the 24th December. She sailed from London on December 14, 1873, having on board 256 Government immigrants, and arrived on the 24th March, 1874. On Christmas Eve, ten days after leaving England, scarlet fever broke out, and from this date until the 12th March, the doctor treated no less than 39 cases, 18 of which proved fatal. There were also ten deaths from other causes. On the arrival of the ship at Wellington she was placed in quarantine.

In 1875 the Woodlark made a smart passage to Otago. She sailed on the 2nd May with a Small complement of passengers, under Captain Largie. Otago Heads were reached on the 3rd August, and port made the same day—85 days land to land.