'Ballarat' to Auckland in 1866

ARRIVAL OF THE BARQUE BALLARAT

The British barque Ballarat, Captain Allan, arrived in harbour early yesterday morning from London, 103 days out, with a large cargo of general merchandise and 67 passengers, amongst whom are a number of agriculturists, farm servants and artizans. The Ballarat left London on the 20th September, and parted pilot three days afterwards. Lost sight of land the same day (23rd September) and experienced find light winds and beautiful weather. Sighted the coast of Madeira and the Canary Islands, and arrived at the meridian of the equator on the 45th day out, in long. 28° W. Ran down easting in 47° S and saw several icebergs, although escaping any danger to be feared through their proximity. The only vessel spoken during the passage was shortly before reaching Bass’s Straits, when she spoke the British ship Orwell, bound from London to Sydney. The Ballarat made the passage through Bass’s Straits and sighted the Three Kings on the 2nd instant, after experiencing a succession of fine light winds and calm weather throughout the voyage; high light variable winds along the coast, arriving in harbour early yesterday morning, after a pleasant passage of 104 days.

The Ballarat brings an addition to our population of 67 souls, which comprise a number of useful agriculturists, farm servants and skilled artizans. She also brings an old colonist in person of Mr John Finlay, who, accompanied by his wife and some members of his family, has been on a visit to England and returns after a brief absence. The immigrants have arrived in good health, in medical charge of Mr John Batteson, surgeon-superintendent on board.

On the 9th October a steerage passenger, named George Milnes, aged 46 years, died of heart disease, after a brief illness. There were no other deaths and no births, during the passage.

The Ballarat is one of the neatest and cleanest looking barques which has visited this port, and has made, considering the very light winds she encountered, a fair passage from London, beating the two previous arrivals by many days. The present is the first visit of the Ballarat to this port, her commander having formerly visited the colony in command of the well-known ship John Bunyan. The Ballarat last year visited Wellington, with passengers and cargo, and was originally intended to fill up for that port this year, when she was taken off the berth and placed on the Auckland trade. She will be laid on this port for London direct immediately upon discharge of inward cargo, and expects to be freighted with wool and gum.

We append a list of passengers and cargo by the Ballarat:-

Passengers [my count 70 souls]

Saloon:-
Ballacher 	William 
Benn 		Ensign
Cashel 		Jane Ann, Richard, Grace and Elizabeth
Codrington 	Rev. R 
Henderson 	Peter
Langton 	James 
Loote 		Ensign
Massey 		James
Moses 		Anne
Thatcher 	Mrs S
Wallace 	William

Second Cabin and Steerage:-
Ash 		Thomas and Richard 
Burkett 	Daniel
Chambers 	Henry 
Clarke 		Benjamin
Cooper 		Ann Maria 
Cooper 		Elizabeth 
Cooper 		Samuel and Sarah Jane 
Cronin 		Timothy 
Dockrill 	Edward 
Doherty 	John 
Ellis 		Alfred
Ellison 	Alexander B
Farrant 	Wm 
Finlay 		John, Lizzie, Janet, Mary, Robert and Isabella 
Fleming 	Jane 
Fowler 		Mary and Emma
Gandin 		Frederick
Gilmer 		James B 
Goddard 	Holland
Hall 		William and Fanny
Halpin 		Bridget 
Kidd 		Sarah and Alfred
McCrie 		Ann
McDermich 	Janet, John and Isabella 
McGaughey 	John and Elizabeth 
McRobert 	Archibald 
Milver 		George, Esther, Nathan, Thomas, George, Sarah and Mary Ann
Moore 		George 
Moore 		Jas 
Mountcashel 	Margaret 
Prosser 	George
Robinson 	Henry, Martha, Harry and Wm
Sheldon 	Letitia
Stevens 	Joseph
Wilson 		Samuel