During the seventies Messrs. George Smith & Sons generally sent one or two of their fastest ships out to Australia for a wool cargo home; and in 1873, 1874 and 1875 City of Perth went out to Melbourne and loaded wool home. Her outward passages ran to over 80 days, but in 1874 Captain Beckett made the fine run of 81 days to the Thames.
Owing to the exporters of wool insisting that her bottom was foul, she was docked, with her cargo on board, in the Alfred Graving Dock the day before she sailed. Her bottom was found to be clean, but Captain Beckett took the opportunity to give her a coat of tallow, and leaving on the following day, 15th November, he caught the February wool sales without any difficulty and eased the minds of the anxious wool exporters. It was his last passage in her, however, for in 1875 Captain Warden took her out to Melbourne in 88 days from the Lizard, but he ran his easting down in 38° S. and did not give her a chance. Again she loaded wool and this time was given a coating of Peacock & Buchan’s patent before sailing.
After this she went back to the Calcutta trade until 1881, when she left London under Captain McDonald for Canterbury, N.Z., and went on to Timaru and loaded wheat. She completed her loading, and on 13th May, 1882, was lying at anchor in the inner anchorage close to the Ben Venue, when it came on to blow with a big sea making.
8.30 a.m. on the 14th found the Ben Venue with two anchors and the City of Perth with three, riding out a furious gale. But the outlook was very bad especially for the little Ben Venue which had a heavy list to starboard, being almost on her beam ends. Four hours later one of Ben Venue’s cables parted and she began to drag, and about 1 o’clock stranded in Caroline Bay.
About the same time City of Perth was also seen to be dragging her anchors and soon afterwards drifted ashore to the north of Ben Venue, but further seaward.
Captain McDonald tried to send a boat ashore, but she capsized and the ship’s second mate and carpenter were both drowned and the mate had his leg broken. Meanwhile great rescue efforts were made from the shore, the lifeboat was launched, but she also capsized and six of her crew were drowned, including the harbour-master of Timaru. The gale had moderated sufficiently by the 19th to attempt towing the City of Perth off, but without success. Her partner in misfortune, the beautiful little Ben Venue, had by this time become a total wreck, and the only gear salved, including some of her spars, was sold for £150.
After the failure to get the City of Perth afloat her cargo was got out of her, and with an empty hold she was at last towed off successfully. She was then surveyed and sold, her hull and gear only fetching £900. She was next towed round to Port Chalmers and docked there on 1st July, when it was found that the rudder was carried away, with about 20 feet of the keelson and keel, besides five bottom plates very much damaged. It speaks well for the ship, considering the pounding she must have undergone, that the damage was not worse. Again she was sold privately for £500, I am not certain whether the N.Z.S. Co. bought her on this occasion or after her arrival in London after being patched up. If they did, they got a wonderful bargain, though they might have had a still better, for whilst she was lying stranded she was offered for sale by auction and only a few pounds bid for her.
After being repaired and refitted, she was sent to Invercargill to load for London; and she left Invercargill on 13th April, 1883, in charge of Captain McFarlane, arriving safely in the Thames on 8th July after a good passage of 86 days.
Here she had a thorough refit, and finally left London on 24th October, 1883, under a new captain, with the name of Turakina on her stern and flying the N.Z.S. Co. house-flag. She arrived at Auckland on 19th January, 1884, 86 days out.
During the next few years we find her in charge of a Captain Power, who was evidently not a sail carrier, for she did nothing remarkable whilst he had her.