The Mellowdale.

A vessel of 1,289 tons, owned by Messrs. T. and O. Hunter, the Mellowdale was mainly employed in the East India trade. She made two voyages only to the Dominion, on each occasion carrying passengers and general cargo.

On September 5th, 1878, nine years after the vessel was built, she sailed, under Captain Dorman from Greenock, for Lyttelton, and took her final departure from Start Point on September 10th, arriving at Lyttelton on the 14th December, 90 days from Start Point, and 99 days anchorage to anchorage. Until the Cape was passed the royals were never taken off the ship.

In 1880, the Mellowdale had another favourable passage to Port Chalmers. She sailed from London under the same command on April 13th, and arrived on July 10th, after a smart run of 88 days port to port, landing 51 passengers, all in good health.