NZ Bound Index Search Hints Lists Ports
"Ionic"
from London and Plymouth to New Zealand 1883
The Ionic brings over 400 passengers of all classes. This noble steamer left London on 26th April, and Plymouth on 28th. Reached Teneriffe on 3rd May, exactly 7 days from Plymouth. The cape of Good Hope was passed on 20th may, 22 days out. She did not call at the Cape. She came right into the Port of Wellington last night without taking a pilot, Captain Bone, formerly of the Rakaia, being on board as second officer, and piloting her in.
Transcriptions from Otago Witness Saturday June 16th 1883. Pages 14 and 15.
The preparations for berthing the steamer Ionic are being rapidly carried out, and there is no doubt on her arrival she will find no difficulty in getting alongside the George street Pier, where the Priestman's dredge has been employed for the last 10 days.
THE S.S. IONIC. (By Telegraph) Wellington, June 12th.
Just before midnight last night the sound of the fog-horn reverberated around the hills enclosing the harbour, and the news spread that it was the Ionic, which had run straight into port without a pilot, thus making the passage from Plymouth in the unprecedentedly short time of 43 days 22 hours 5 minutes, including all stoppages.
She is by far the largest merchant vessel and longest ship of any kind that has ever entered this port. The Ionic has beautiful lines, her rim being particularly admired; her "entrance" is very fine, but strikes one as somewhat too "wedgelike" after the Union boats, there being such an apparent lack of "bearings" as to suggest much water being shipped in punching against heavy head seas. However, she has "turtle-backs" both ahead and astern, like the British King and Queen, so that she easily gets rid of water when it comes aboard. She was favoured with exceptionally good weather during this her maiden voyage, and so has not been really tested as to her behaviour in a bad head gale and sea, her only two gales during the trip being very moderate specimens, and both in her favour. When she had head winds in the S.E. trades from the equator to the Cape, they were not strong, and in stiffest adverse wind, with a high head swell which she encountered, she was able to do 261 knots, burning only 50 tons of coal per diem. She averaged only 48 tons daily all the way and did not need to call at the Cape to replenish her supply. This is an extraordinary small consumption for an average speed of over 12 ½ knots. I believe it is no more than the principal boats of the New Zealand Union Company burn on the international trips, and it is only half the daily consumption of the Orient steamers. She has, of course, superb engines, which are of 500-horse power nominal, indicating over 3000 effective. She has two double-cylindered engines of 500-horse power. The crank shafts are so constructed that the risk of breakdown is rendered a remote contingency, the more so as the engines are capable of being disconnected, and worked separately at a reduced speed. She is capable of steaming 15 to 16 knots if required, but on this trip it was not considered necessary to press her unduly, the object being to make the passage just within 45 days, and this was accomplished with the greatest ease. Deducting 16 hours' stay at Teneriffe, her actual steaming time was 43 days 6 hours. Her best day's work was 333 knots on the 29th ult., The next best 332 for the previous day, and the third best 328 for the day following: while on the fourth consecutive day she did 320- thus running 1313 knots in four days, or at an average of nearly 14 knots per hour. The smallest complete day's run was 261 miles, steaming against a strong breeze and heavy head swell. The run from the Cape of Good Hope was made in just 21 days. You have already published a description of her, taken from the Home papers, given when she was launched, and I find that description is generally very accurate; but she is not yet fitted the electric light, and some alterations have been made in some details of the passenger arrangements. Her dimensions are:- Length, 440 ft; breadth 44 ft; depth, 32 ft; gross tonnage, 4368; net register, 3070 tons- which is the largest yet entered at the Wellington Customs.
The Ionic brings over 400 passengers of all classes. The single girls for the South have been sent to Soames Island until the steamer proceeds South, so as to prevent their scattering here. She came round to the wharf this afternoon, and was berthed alongside, her splendid dimensions attracting much attention. Her stern is not perpendicular, but projects slightly. There is no bowsprit. Her fore, main, and mizzen masts are heavily square-rigged with lower topsails and topgallant yards across. She has also a fore-and-aft-rigged jigger-mast.
Per Ionic passengers for Wellington:- Cabin:- Coote Mr Wood Mr and Mrs, 4 children and servant. Per Ionic for Lyttelton- Sanders Captain R.N., Mrs, Misses (2) and 3 children Second cabin: (for all ports) Andrew Miss Dora Annas Mr J Bell Mr G H Bickerton Mr W Booth Mr W G Booth Miss Dorothy Booth Mrs Martha Brown Mr J Chadwick Mr A Chaplin Mrs Charlotte Coop Miss Mary A Dunkley Miss Edith Dunkley Miss Henrietta Dunkley Miss Hannah Dunkley Mr J Dunkley Mr T Ford Mr E A Freeborough Miss Jessie Garlick Mr J Greenfield Mr T Hanks Mr J Hannah Miss Hewett Miss Mary E Higgs Miss Jane Jones Mr D Jones Mr H Jones Mr Hugh Kenway Mr H Malcolm Miss Jessie Malcolm Mr R Marsack Miss Jane Martindale Miss H Nock Mr R Ridge Mr E Roof Mr W A Watts Mr E White Mr T
She also brings 80 steerage and 60 Government immigrants for Wellington, 61 steerage passengers and 132 Government passengers for Canterbury, 7 steerage and 1 immigrant for Otago, and 29 immigrants divided between Taranaki, Marlborough, Westland, Napier, and Nelson. The health of the passengers has been good. She goes from Wellington to Lyttelton on Thursday or Friday, and proceeds thence to Port Chalmers. If it is deemed practicable to take her in, she will load frozen meat there, then return to Lyttelton to complete her loading for Home. She is at present drawing 18 ft forward and 19 ft aft, but draws only 27 ft fully loaded.
The Star Friday June 15 1883 pg2
Lyttelton. Arrived - June 15 - Ionic, s.s., 4368 tons,
E. O'Hallett, R.N., from London, via Plymouth and Wellington. N.Z. Shipping
company agents. The Ionic left London on April 26, and Plymouth on the 28th.
Captain Bone (formerly of the Kakais) is on board as second
officer. Dr Menzies is surgeon-superintendent. The single girls are in charge of
Miss Burns as matron. Mr Bank (s), who is a second officer in the New Zealand
Company's service, is acting as third officer of the Ionic, and Mr
Campbell, who is Ionic in the service as third officer. The
Ionic has double of refrigerating machinery, which was worked throughout; so
that fresh meat and fish were enjoyed on the passage even so lately as
yesterday, while a fine fresh salmon was brought out for a Wellington resident.
Includes voyage account and description of vessel.
[The IONIC / "Sophocles" was a 4,748 gross ton, 13 knot ship, length 440ft x beam 44.2ft, depth 33ft, one funnel, four masts, single screw, belonging to the Aberdeen Line (Geo. Thompson and
Co). She was built by Harland and
Wolff, Queen's Island, Belfast and launched Jan. 13, 1883 as the "Ionic" for Shaw Savill and
Albion Line in Dec.1882 and was bought by Aberdeen Line in 1900. She has a yacht like hull, with simple beam, four masts. Initially square rigged on the first three masts and later on the foremast only, this also was later removed. Her sisters are the Britannic, Germanic and the Doric (still begin built in 1883). She has turtle backs both forward and aft, which form an excellent shelter in wet and stormy weather for the steerage passengers. The captain's cabin is immediately adjoining the wheel house and bridge. There is an ample supply of water, kept in constant circulation by a pulsometer pump. The whole upper deck forms a splendid promenade for the steerage passengers, the saloon passengers having a special separate deck above this again. The Ionic is divided into eight water tight compartments. The bulkhead water-tight doors are so much improved. Two large life rafts are stoved on the deck forward, ready, and eight large lifeboats hang in their davits. She has two double cylindered engines built by Messrs Barland and Wolff, and three elliptical boilers. In Feb.1893 shortly after leaving Cape Town, the propeller shaft snapped and she was towed back by the Hawarden Castle. In 1894 she was returned to her builders, re-engined, refrigeration fitted and accommodation modernised. 1899 became a Boer War transport, made her final sailing for Shaw Savill and
Albion on 21st Dec.1899 and chartered to the Spanish Government to repatriate troops from the Philippines in 1900 after their war with the USA. She was then sold to the Aberdeen Line, renamed SOPHOCLES and her final sailing rigging removed. Used on their London - Cape Town - Australia service until 1906, sold for scrapping the following year and broken up at Morecombe. On 23/10/1900 she commenced her first voyage from London to Capetown, Melbourne and Sydney, and started her last sailing on 21/8/1906. The masts of the first Ionic were certainly used for sails, for either engine breakdowns, propeller shaft fractures (common in those days) or simply to conserve coal. These were gradually removed around the turn of the century or earlier. However, the second Ionic, a four masted steamship, but never carried sails. The masts were for derricks, wireless aerials, flags etc. ]
The Star June 16 1883 pg 2
The Ionic's Passengers
The following were passengers per the Ionic:
For Lyttelton - Saloon Saunders Captain, R.N. Saunders Mrs Saunders Misses (2) Saunders Master and children (2) Jackson Mr J. Second cabin for Lyttelton: Amos Mr Andrew Miss Choplin Mrs Hewette Miss Martindale Miss Morsack Miss Newcombe Mrs Newcombe Master White Mr Second cabin for Otago: Bickerton Mr Bonn Mr Booth Mr and Mrs and child Freeborough Mr Ford Mr C Freeborough Miss Hoggs Miss Steerage for Lyttelton: Boydell H Ewing H.W. Fizett R Hartington J Hartington Joan Holmen J Horner R Lea Harry Lowry J Mackin Captain Malloney J Richards C Richards W Satchell R.J. Walmsley J.W. Steerage for Otago: Aitken W., Mary A., Rachel and Rebecca _ _ ge Matthew, Mary, Margaret, Elizabeth and Agnes Alsen? John and William Cooper Henry, Sarah, W.H. and Gertrude Cumberpatch Daniel, Edith, John and William Elliot John, Lydia, and Mary Foster John and Annie Hunter Jobs, Catherine, James G. Agnes s., Margaret _., and George C. Kerr J., Annabella, Margaret, Lizzie, Hebert and William Waltham Robert, Mary, J. Astworth Charles Reirdon Bartholomew Connell Michael Daniel John Elliot Archibald Elliot William Gleeson Richard Ham_ter John Kerr John O'Malley Patrick and Charles Rooney William Single women for Lyttelton: Aitken Mary, Martha, Annie J., Mary A. Allardyce Annie Browne Maria Bulls Alice and Josephine Campbell Nina Ann Carlia Childs Emma Connor Julia Connor Mary Colloty Catherine Daly Margatta Day Mathilda Dickson MAry A. Elliott Rosetta, Maggie and Sarah Eyers Emma Featherstone Alice Foster Eliza Fox Mary Wall Mary A.
IONIC
Corrinne Ryan NZ 2 May 2000
Where would I find the shipping list for the 'Ionic' which left
Southampton 28 April 1883 and arrived at Lyttelton 16 June 1883? I am
trying to confirm the arrival of Patrick (and Charles) O'MALLEY.
The Evening Post June 12 1883 col. h.
Port of Wellington
Arrivals - June 12 - Ionic, ss, 4368 tons, White Star liner,
under charter to the New Zealand Shipping Company, Captain E.O. Hailett, from
London and Plymouth. Description of vessel, voyage and passenger list - second
class, steerage and saloon.
Steerage passengers - for Wellington - Hardwick Joseph, Phoebe, Wm H., Josephine, Kate and Francis Aldred Alfred, Isabella, Hannah, James, Jane and Bold Ash Annie K and Lena Bank Daniel G. Banks J D Burrell Henry and James Brown Robert and William Chissell William Maria, Ada E, Annie M, Elizabeth and Amy Clark Helen Cousins Robert, Sarah, George and William Haisman William and Evangeline Hills Mary Hodgson James and Elizabeth McPherson John, Annie, Frank and Jessie Wilkinson Joseph, Ann, Laura, Arthur, Ada J and Henry A G Barnard T Barnes J Barr W Barrett W Coward G Foster C Garnett F W Good A Grandison W Hailey J A Hornsby H Knight G Lawton R Legg E E Lomas J McCoy A K Murray T O'Rourke A Rayfield T C Rayner W Robertson J Robinson P Smith W Swan L Taylor A Tuck T Whittaker R Wilson J Woodhead
Government immigrants for Wellington - Adsett William, Emily,William, George and John Hoffman Myrstal, Barbara, Augustina, Francisca and Josephine Pickin Enoch, Eliza, Enoch and Edward Hoffman Joseph Somers John Neenan Cornelius Ashplant Frances Baker Anne Broomfield Huld Brown Martha, Mary, Jane, Annie and Martha Byrne Mary Carnew Annie and Esther Cooney Johanna and Mary Cranks Lizzie Crippen Sarah A Dwyer Margaret Galway Catherine Goodwin Teresa Grogan Jessie Hickey Elizabeth Hoffman Lucia Hyland Margaret Kerrisk Johanna Lucas Martha Murphy Isabella Nevill Bridget Noonan Anne Somers Catherine Stacks Catherine Steinke Emilie and Alvine Wright Maggie Young Margaret A R
Also: 61 steerage passengers and 132 Government immigrants for Canterbury, 7
steerage and one immigrant for Otago and 29 immigrants divided between Taranaki,
Marlborough, Westland, Napier and Nelson.
Otago Witness 9th June 1883 page 16
Subscriber asks: Does the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Ionic call at Rio Janeiro, and if so, what is the steerage fare to that port, and how much for the saloon?
In probability she will. the passage-money will be:
Saloon, £50
Steerage:
Closed cabins with two berths, for married couples, 22 guineas.
Closed cabins with four berths, 20 guineas.
Open berths (for men only), 18 guineas.
Transcription from Otago Witness Saturday June 23rd 1883. Pages 14 & 15.
Arrival of the Ionic.
The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Ionic, from London, via
Wellington and Lyttelton, arrived off the Heads at an early hour on Wednesday
morning, and came up to Port Chalmers on the afternoon's tide, being berthed at
the George street Pier. The Ionic is undoubtedly the finest
steamship, which has ever entered Port Chalmers, and although some few years
back we considered the Pacific Mail Steam Company's vessels the same perfection,
we must confess the Ionic far outshines them. She belongs to the
celebrated White Star Line, owned by Messrs Ismay, Imrie and Co., of Water
street, Liverpool, and is one of four vessels chartered by the New Zealand
Shipping Company until their own vessels are launched. The Ionic
is essentially a handsome vessel. Her lines are very fine although perhaps her
entrances may be considered a little too wedge-like, leading one to believe that
in heavy seas she would ship rather too much water, but having turtle-backs both
fore and aft, she is easily enabled to dispose of the water when it comes on
board. Her hull is very graceful and she has ample beam, carries four masts,
three of which are square-rigged, so that in the event of a possible breakdown
in the machinery she is quite equal to any first-class sailing ship. She is
built of mild steel, and thereby the maximum qualities of strength and
durability are attained. Her dimensions are- length 440 ft, breadth of beam, 44
ft; and depth of hold, 32 ft, while her gross registered tonnage is set down at
4758. She was built at the yards of Messrs Harland and Wolff, of Queen's Island,
Belfast, who also engined her with a pair of double cylinder engines of 500
horse power, steam for which is generated from three elliptical boilers, working
at an initial pressure of 90lb to the square inch, but tested by the Board of
Trade to double that pressure, and capable of bearing even much greater pressure
than the maximum official requirement. Her crank shafts are of steel, and so
constructed that a break down may be considered almost impossible, when we
consider that each of the engines are distinct and complete, and capable of
being disconnected and worked separately at a reduced speed. Her steering gear
is amidships and is worked by steam. She carries, in addition to the most
improved ordinary compasses and sounding appliances, Sir Wm. Thompson's patent
compasses and sounding machines. Especial care has been taken for an efficient
look-out being kept, a bridge forward being devoted to the men told off for that
duty. The ship is divided into eight watertight compartments, any of which can
be penetrated without seriously endangering the vessel's safety. She has
watertight bulkhead doors, and every precaution has been adopted against fire,
so that in the event of it breaking out in any section of the ship, it can be
promptly subdued through the agency of both steam and water. She carries two
large life-rafts, ready for immediate use, on the deck-house forward, and has
eight lifeboats fully equipped
at the different davits. The captain's quarters adjoin the wheelhouse and
bridge, so that practically he is always at his post of duty. The officers have
special quarters on the upper deck forward, convenient to their work and quite
apart from her passengers. The Ionic during her outward passage
met exceptionally good weather, and has proved herself all that could be
desired. Her consumption of coal may be considered extremely moderate, only some
48 tons per day being her average on the passage out, and for which she
maintained an average speed of over 12½
knots. She is capable of steaming 15 to 16 knots if required, but on this trip
it was not considered necessary to press her unduly, the object being to make
the passage just within 45 days, and this was accomplished with the greatest
ease. Deducting 16 hours' stay at Teneriffe, her actual steaming time was 43
days, 8 hours. Her best days' work was 333 knots on the 29th ult., the next best
was 332 for the previous day, and the third best 328 for the day following;
while on the fourth consecutive day she did 320- thus running 1313 knots in four
days, or at an average of nearly 14 knots per hour. The smallest complete day's
run was 261 miles, steaming against a strong breeze and a heavy head swell. The
run from the Cape of Good Hope was made in just 21 days. The officers are as
follow:-Captain, E. O. Hallett, R. N; T. W. Smith; second, Bone; third, Bickman;
fourth, Banks; fifth, Fildes; sixth, Campbell; seventh, Weston; eighth, Holford;
first engineer, Purvis; second, Graham; third, Eggington; fourth, Hay; fifth,
Arrowsmith; refrigerating engineer, Cameron; doctor, J. B. Menzies, purser, W.
J. Rae. Captain Hallett was at one time commander of the Queen's well-known
steam yacht Osborne. We may here add that her second officer is
well-known and highly esteemed here, he having formerly held the position of
chief officer in the N. Z. S. Company's ships Waipa and
Wanganui, and was afterwards deservedly prompted to the command of the
Rakaia. The Ionic is fitted with Haslam's patent
refrigerating apparatus, and has two chambers, each with a separate engine, one
of which was constantly in use during the voyage. Her upper decks are very
roomy, and afford a splendid promenade space for second-class and steerage
passengers, while the saloon deck is equally ample, and we need scarcely say
every part of her decks is in the most perfect order. The main saloon is on the
upper deck, and is a grand apartment, measuring some 50 ft by 35 ft. It is
luxuriously furnished, the seats and couches being covered in Dutch velvet of
old gold colour, which harmonises with the draperies and panelling of the sides.
The panels are formed of Chinese raised leather-work, finished off by
hand-painting. It is rather tasteful in appearance, and is said to be very
durable. There is a comfortable retiring room set apart for the use of ladies,
and it is neatly and tastefully fitted up.
Forward of the saloon on the upper deck is the smoking room, which is a very
cosy snuggery. The sleeping cabins are principally fitted with two sleeping
berths and a sofa; they are wide, lofty, and extremely well ventilated, and some
few of them have additional berths. The vessel is supplied throughout with
electric bells, hot and cold water baths, and hot water pipes are carried
through all the corridors, in order that while passing through the cold
latitudes an equable temperature may be maintained. She is also supplied with
the necessary wires for lighting her by electricity, but this has not yet been
carried into effect. In the saloon she is enabled to accomodate 60 passengers;
in addition to these she has accommodation for 40 second-class passengers, and
is capable of carrying several hundred immigrants. The ship comes into port in
perfect order. Her masts are well set up and stayed, her yards squared to a
hair's breadth, her sails furled with greatest neatness- and, indeed, her
general appearance denotes the thorough efficiency of Captain Hallett's
officers. The Ionic left Lyttelton at 0.30 p.m. on the 19th inst., had
fine weather down the coast, and arrived off the Heads about 3 a.m. yesterday,
where she was boarded by Senior Pilot Kelly. Later in the day Messrs A. H. Ross
and J. Mill (members of the Harbour Board), accompanied by Captain Thomson (harbourmaster),
Captain Boyd (the Company's agent here). Messrs Nancarrow and E. M. M'Glashan,
went down to her in the Koputai; and at 1.40 p.m. she crossed the
bar, rounded the bights without any assistance from the tugs, and was safely
moored at the George street Pier at 2.40 p.m. The following is the report of her
passage out to Wellington:-Left the Royal Albert Docks at 2.30 a.m. on April
26th, and Gravesend at 2 p.m. the same day; had Beachy head abeam at 1.15 a.m.
on the 27th, Start Point at 1.55 p.m., and anchored in Plymouth Sound at 4 p.m.;
sailed next day at 1.25 p.m.; discharged the pilot at 2 p.m., and passed
Eddystone Lighthouse at 3.5_ p.m.; passed Cape Finisterre at noon on the 30th,
with light W. and W. N. W. winds, which lasted till may 2nd, when a fresh N. W.
breeze set in, which was carried to Teneriffe, where she arrived at 1.55 p.m. on
May 3rd; sailed again at 6.45 a.m. on the following day, with light N.E. winds,
which fell away during the day, and were succeeded by light variables and calms,
which were carried to the equator, which was crossed on the 10th, in longitude
9.54 W.; had light S.E. trades, which carried her to latitude 20.24 S. and
longitude 6.51 E., made on the 16th, the meridian of Greenwich having been
passed in latitude 9 S. on the 13th; thence had moderate and variable winds,
chiefly S.W. and N.W., with heavy southerly swell, till making the Cape of Good
Hope, the lighthouse of which was abeam at 6.35 a.m. on the 20th; thence had
extremely variable winds, chiefly fresh, till the 1st inst., when she got a
fresh N. W. wind with occasional hard squalls, which lasted for four days, the
meridian of the Leeuwin being crossed on the 3rd. ____ [?]easting was made
between the 45th and 47th parallels. Point Davey was passed on the 7th, latitude
45.12 S; thence had strong W. and S.W. winds with occasional heavy sea till
making Cape Farewell at noon on the 11th inst., had a S.S.W. gale with high sea
in the Straits, made the Heads 11.35 p.m. and the sea being too rough to permit
the pilot to come off, sailed in and anchored at Wellington at 0.30 a.m. on the
12th. The length of the passage from Plymouth was 43 days 22 hours, the actual
time under steam being 43 days 6 hours.
Otago Witness Saturday July 14th 1883. Page 15
The S.S. IONIC.
Tuesday's Press says:- "The New Zealand Shipping Company's direct liner, the
s.s. Ionic, left the jetty last night for the stream, in readiness to take
her departure today for London. She was drawing 24ft 10in aft, and about 2ft
lees forward. Her passenger list was not completed up to last night, but will be
a pretty full one. Besides a fairly full first saloon, there were booked upwards
of 20 second saloon passengers and 46 in the steerage. The steamer goes Home
full of cargo, consisting of frozen meat, wheat, wool and skins, tallow, and a
good quantity of grass seed. A specialty among the cargo is gold, of which there
are boxes of bullion and spe_i_ to the value of about £[7?]0,000. The ship has
received praiseworthy despatch, and all that can now be wished for her and the
enterprise of the Company is that she will make the run Home in 49 days."