Of such was the Edwin Fox, a country-built Indiaman from Calcutta, built as far back as 1853, with teak decks, quarter galleries, coir running gear and all the quaint characteristics of the East. The hull of this “old timer” is still to be seen, being now used as a landing stage for the freezing works at Picton.

“Wild Duck.”

Another favourite passenger ship in the early days was the Wild Duck, commanded by Captain Bishop. She was a main skysail yarder with Cunningham’s patent reef single topsails. Though rather short for her beam she had fine ends and made very regular passages.

Shaw, Savill & Co.

The well-known firm of Shaw, Savill & Co. started sending ships to New Zealand about 65 years ago, making 15 sailings a year. At first the outward passage took four or five months, and it was not until the sixties that there was any marked improvement in the time between England and New Zealand, but by the end of the sixties Shaw, Savill had several fast little iron ships, the best known of which were the Crusader, Helen Denny and Margaret Galbraith.

The following is a rather incomplete list of their earlier ships:—

1853Edwin Foxwood barque836tons.
1856Chileiron barque768„
1858Dover Castlewood barque1003„
1858Adamantiron barque815„
1859Bebingtoniron barque924„
1862Bulwarkwood ship1332„
1863Chaudierewood barque470„
„Euterpeiron ship1197„
„Himalayairon barque1008„
„Trevelyaniron ship1042„
1864Golden Seawood ship1418„
„Soukariron ship1304„
„Saint Leonardsiron ship1054„
„Glenlorairon barque764„
1865Anazicomposite barque468„
„Crusaderiron ship1059„
1866Helen Dennyiron barque728„
1867Forfarshirecomposite ship1238„
1868Margaret Galbraithiron ship841„
1869Elizabeth Grahamcomposite barque598„
„Hudsoniron barque705„
„Langstoneiron ship746„
1869Pleiadesiron ship997„
„Schiehallioniron barque602„
„Zealandiairon ship1116„
„Halcioneiron ship843„
1870Meropeiron ship1054„

Space forbids more than a few odd notes on the best known of these ships.

The “Crusader.”

The Crusader was a very handsome little ship, as is well shown in her photograph, and she was considered by many to be the fastest ship in Shaw, Savill’s fleet. She was built by Connell, of Glasgow, and launched in March, 1865, her registered measurements being:—Net tonnage 1058; gross tonnage 1058; length 210.7 ft.; breadth 35.1 ft., depth 21.4 ft.