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White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900

The Peter Denny

The Peter Denny.

the Peter Denny, one of the Albion Company's ships, built in 1865 by Duthie, of Aberdeen, was engaged bringing passengers to Dunedin for several years before and after Sir Julius Vogel's
the Peter Denny At Dunedin.

the Peter Denny At Dunedin.

immigration scheme was brought into being. During the first five voyages of the Peter Denny, from 1865 until 1872, she brought out a total of 376 passengers, but in 1873 she landed 348, and in 1874 she brought 384. Thousands of immigrants came out to New Zealand from Home during 1874, no less than 53 ships entering Port Chalmers in 12 months, each vessel bringing from 300 to 450 British immigrants. The same year 41 ships arrived at Lyttelton, 25 at Wellington, and 26 at Auckland. All the intending settlers arriving were of a sturdy class, and assisted to lay thepage 154 foundation of this young country. My records show that the number of immigrant ships arriving at Dunedin from 1873 to 1876, inclusive, was: Dunedin, 89 a year; Lyttelton, 115; Wellington, 91; and Auckland, 100. It is easy, there, fore, to gather some idea of the number of arrivals in the colony during these four years. The advent of a ship, especially at Auckland, always drew a large concourse to the wharves to see the "new chums" and give them a welcome.

To return to the Peter Denny, she was a ship of close upon 1000 tons, with first-class accommodation for from 300 to 400 passengers, and was a fast sailer. She was most consistent in the regularity of her passages to Port Chalmers, none of which exceeded 92 days, port to port. The first two or three voyages were made from Glasgow, and the remainder from London. Captain George Adams was given command of the Peter Denny when she was launched, and remained in charge for eight years. Her maiden voyage was to Port Chalmers in 1865, and during the next three years she was engaged in the China trade. Mr. Basil Lubbock describes in his book, "Colonial Clippers," an interesting account of a race from China to London between the Wild Deer, Douglas Castle, and Peter Denny. He says the three ships were well matched for speed, and from the Gaspar Straits were in company almost daily. When the Wild Deer was making fast to her buoy at Gravesend, the Douglas Castle and Peter Denny were close astern.

In 1869 the Peter Denny resumed her running in the New Zealand trade and appears to have been fortunate in avoiding the severe storms usually encountered in the Southern Ocean. On one occasion, however, in 1869, during a dense fog, she collided with the French barque Apple, and suffered some damage, but it was not serious and Captain Adams proceeded on the voyage.

To Dunedin.
Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days.
June 2, '65 Sep. 2, '65 Adams 92
Land to land 82
Feb. 15, '69 May 12, '69 Adams 86
July 16, '70 Oct. 15, '70 Adams 89
Land to land 82
July 28, '71 Oct. 27, '71 Adams 91
July 9, '72 Oct. 9, '72 Adams 91
June 14, '73 Sep. 3, '73 Adams 80
May 2, '74 July 26, '74 Pyecroft 85
Land to land 72
*

* Brought out plant for the New Plymouth Harbour Board.