White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900
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the Nelson Loading At Wellington.
the Nelson made several very fast runs out to Dunedin—one in 75 days, and a second in 77 days port to port. The 75 days passage was in 1874, her first voyage to the Dominion. She first sailed from Glasgow with 317 passengers on October 1, but owing to stormy weather was compelled to shelter at Rothosay. She sailed again three days later, but another gale drove her back 40 miles. Finally she left Tuscar on October 17, crossed the Equator on November 6, only 19 days out, and sighted the Snares on December 29, making Port Chalmers on December 31. She also made some excellent runs Home—one in 72 from Dunedin, and another in 79 days from Timaru to the Lizard. She made over 20 voyages, and never but once exceeded 100 days. This was to Wellington in 1892, when she took 106 days. the Nelson did some remarkable sailing when bound Home from Dunedin in 1875. She ran the distance between Otago Heads and Cape Horn in 19 days.