The Broomhall.

An exceptionally stormy passage was made by the Broomhall in 1877, London to Wellington. She was a handsome ship of 1,380 tons. Gravesend was left on March 26. Soon after entering the region of the "brave westerlies," the ship was beset by a hard S.W. gale, and in dipping her bows under suffered considerable damage forward. The decks were almost continually awash, and passengers and crew had a most unenviable experience. Further unfavourable weather was experienced after the Cape had been rounded. Owing to the heavy seas which continually came on board, the saloon passengers had to be battened down, and the inconvenience thus caused can be well imagined. Again on June 6 the sailer was caught in a howling hurricane, which whisked away the lower fore and main topsails. When running before the storm she was pooped on several occasions, the sea each time filling the decks to the top of the taffrail. Fortunately the ship stood the test gallantly, and always shook herself free before the following sea broke upon her. During the blow Captain Bate had considerable fears for the safety of his ship and those on board, but she behaved excellently, and, with the exception of the loss of sails and a length of the topgallant bulwarks, came through without further damage. The spare mast on deck later broke adrift, but was secured before it could do any serious damage. The ship experienced the last real blow of the trip some few days before arrival at Wellington. In the midst of terrible seas she rolled fearfully, and once again quantities of water found their way into the passengers' quarters. The vessel's luck held, however, and she weathered the blow without serious damage, and arrived at Wellington with her 28 passengers on June 30th, making the passage in 85 days. The Broomhall was built at Sunderland by Doxford, in 1874.