NZ Bound Index Search Hints Lists Ports
"Otaki"
Otaki left London on 31 October 1875 and arrived Lyttelton on 8 February 1876 with assisted emigrants. 118 males, 35 females, 29 male children, 27 female children. [23 passengers -17� adults for Akaroa, 42 for Timaru]. Chief mate: Mr Markers. Second mate: Mr. Luff. Third / Storekeeper: Mr Pritchelt.
The Star Thursday 10 Febray 1876
Lyttelton Sailed
Feb. 9 - Akaroa, s.s., 43 tons, McLean, for Akaroa, in ballast.
Passengers 22� adult immigrants ex Otaki.
The Lyttelton Times 9 February 1876
Arrivals: February 8, Otaki, ship 1014 tons, M'Innis, from London.
Passengers- Saloon: E.A. Scott, W.J.C. Dobie, and Jno. Lewis.;
274 immigrants. Among the saloon passengers is Mr John Lewis of Christchurch, who has returned from his visit to the Old Country.A full account of the voyage was reported in The Lyttelton Times. The report is reproduced below:
This fine vessel, belonging to the New Zealand Shipping was signaled yesterday at 1pm. The S.S. Moa, with the health officers, agents, reporters, etc. went off to her at 3 p.m. She was soon cleared, and all interested were admitted on board.The Otaki is a sister ship in every respect to the Orari, so recently described in these columns, therefore it is not necessary to give a detailed description of her. A noticeable thing was a large number of leather fire buckets, which will, of course, prove more serviceable than wooden ones. The vessel met with very severe weather in the Channel, begin jammed by baffling winds off the Scilly Islands until the 14 November.
The immigrants seem to be a thoroughly useful class of people, and a greater portion of them are agricultural labourers. They all speak in the highest terms of praise of the surgeon - superintendent, Dr Wilson, who has won the hearts of all on board. The first part of the vessel to be visited was the single girls compartment, which had fifty-two occupants under the care of the matron, Alice Hall (Hill), of whom the girls spoke in the most feeling terms. They are mostly Irish, and occupied a part of their time on the voyage by doing needlework, etc. Their compartment was beautiful clean and well ventilated. The married people's compartment was next inspected. Thirty-five families occupied this division, and amongst them all we heard no complaints whatever. All spoke of the good quality and quantity of the food received. Last in turn was the single men's division: here eighty-three were seated at their tea, and they were certainly appeared to be a thoroughly well conducted and orderly class of men. The majority of them agricultural labourers, and there will be no difficulty in them finding employment. The baker must not be forgotten, as he came in for a share of praise for the manner in which he had carried out his duties.
Captain M'Innnes's cabin was a beautifully finished model of the vessel. The condenser appears to have acted well, condensing as it did 700 gallons in the twenty-four hours.
Dr Wilson reports the behaviour of the immigrants as very good and their general health as very satisfactory. There was, of course, the usual sickness among the children, of whom there are seventy-five, but nothing of a serious nature occurred. Two infants died from acute bronchitis. James White and Edith Ashton. One birth of a boy occurred during the voyage, making a find addition to the Stephens' family. The single girls were landed yesterday afternoon, and proceeded to Addington.
The following is the captain's report:- Passed through the Downs November 1; had had moderate winds down the Channel till November 4, when the westerly wind increased to a hard gale with confused seas and the barometer falling. Caught the north-east trade winds: crossed the Equator December 12; crossed the meridian of Greenwich on January 1: passed Cape of Good Hope on January 6. The Snares were reached on February 3, and had light variable winds all the way up the coast. Passed immense icebergs in lat. 48 deg. 40 min. south, log. 63 deg. 20 min. east, on January 16, the weather being clear and fine at the time.
That the vessel is a fast sailor maybe judged by the fact that she travailed 3009 miles in twelve days, and that when her trim was too much by the stern. Testimonials were presented to the captain and Surgeon-superintendent upon their arrival in harbour.
Assisted Emigration to Canterbury. The passenger roll lists name of emigrant, age, county, occupation, total cost of passage money to the government. Thirty-five families (missing three families in the list below)
Families and Children:1.ALYER Alfred 24 Somerset General labourer Emily J. 24 Wm.2.ASHTON John 46 Montgomery policeman Margaret 38 John 23 Elizabeth 20 Sidney 19 Hannah 18 Mary A. 16 Ann 14 William 10 Margeretta J. 8 Emily 6 Edward 4 Agnes 2 Edith 3/123.BOUGEN Matthew 50 Norfolk Farm labourer Sarah 45 Joseph 21 Emma 19 Elizabeth 17 Robert 12 Matthew 94. BOWNING Frank 36 Hants Bricklayer Anna 38 Frank 14 (transferred to Single Men) Arthur 12 (transferred to Single Men) Rose 10 Hale 7 Alice 45 BRAY James 26 Gloucestershire Farm labourer Louisa 25 Amelia 4 b. March Albert 3 b. March Wm 11/126. CURTIS Isaac 37 Suffolk Farm labourer Jane 34 Walter 12 Alfred 10 Charles 8 George 6 Chester 4 William inf b. 10/10/ 1874 Bedfield village7. DASH John 34 Wiltshire Wheelwright (Timaru) Ann E 32 Sarah E. 10 Wm. 9 Charles 7 George 4 Matilda A. 5/128. FAHEY Philip R. 40 Tippperary ploughman Ellen 35 Catherine 19 (transferred to Single Women) Michael 17 (transferred to Single Men) Mary 16 (transferred to Single Women) Margaret 14 (transferred to Single Women) Johanna9. FINNEY Michtell 45 Galway Ploughman Susan 40 Robert 19 Margaret 16 Amy 14 Sarah 12 Elizabeth 9 Mary 510. FORD Thomas 40 Devon Farm labourer Sarah A. Wm. 14 (transferred to Single Men) Mary A. 12 George 4 Richard 4�11. GYNES Albert 25 Gloucestershire Farm labourer (Timaru) Harriet 23 Ann 4 Charles 112. HARGAN Con 24 Kerry Labourer May 24 Mary 113. HARKGAN Michael 29 Tipperary Farm labourer (Timaru) Mary 32 Mary 5 Michael 3 Martin 2 Thomas 9/1214. HENDERSON Thomas 45 Cumberland Iron foinder Marget 44 Thomas W. 18 (transferred to Single Men) Framcis H. 14 (male) Alice H. 12 Charles W 9 Annie M. 7 Wm J. 2 15. HOCKINGS William 25 Devon Farm labourer Emma 21 Alice J. 4 Fred H. 2 Emma J. 9/1216. HARRISON Richard 27 Yorkshire Blacksmith Jessie 25 Jessie 2 Richard 4/1217. KAUKER William 25 Kincardine Harriet 2318. LOWE William H. 29 Lincolnshire Shepherd (In charge of sheep) Emily A. 30 Margaret M.19. MCADOWIS? WM 42 (transferred to Single Men) [with Stanley] McIVER Arthur S. 6 (transferred to Single Men)20 MANDER John 35 Warrickshire Bricklayer (Timaru) Sarah 33 Sarah 9 William 821 MANGER Philip J. 28 Jersey Farm labourer Mary 23 Philip John 3/1222 MASON Asher 42 Lincoln Labourer Ann 3223 MEEK Richard 28 Sussex Navvy Clara 2024 MESSERY Philip G. J. 28 Jersey Backsmith Charlotte 28 John William 3/1225 MORRIS David 36 Oxon Farm labourer Martha 4026 O'REILLY Denis 32 Kerry Farm labourer Marg't. 28 Mary 10 James 7 Denis27 O'SULLIVAN Patrick 31 Kerry Ploughman (Timaru) Mary 28 Daniel 11 ?girl 8 Timothy 4 Patrick Inft28 POWELL Charles 28 Surrey Farm labourer Anna 2529 STANLEY Thomas 42 Worestershire Carpenter Ann 4230 STEPHENS Robert 34 Somersetshire Farm labourer Elizabeth 33 Mary 13 Thomas 9 Jane 4 Robert 11/12 31 THOMAS John 29 Pembroke carpenter Eliza A. 30 Jessie T. 3/12 (girl)32 WARD Samuel 28 Dorset Shoemaker P. 29 Elizabeth 6 Florence 4SINGLE WOMEN DONOUGHE May 22 Kerry Servant FITZGERALD Margaret 18 Kerry Servant FLEMING Bridget HALL Alice Matron HOGEN RAENDON Julia TOBIN Margaret 23 WaterfordSingle Men
Alyer, William 17 Mason Blrechford, Frederick 21 Broaad, George 22 Brosnan, Benjamin 20 Kerry Farm Lab Brosnan, Michael 20 (Timaru) Byrne, Patrick 23 Waterford Farm Lab Chamberlin, Henry 33 Labourer (Ashburton /Timaru) Champion, Edward 31 Caviler, George 17 Colvill, George 29 Condon, Patrick 27 (Timaru) Connell, Edward 25 (Timaru) Connell, James 18 Connolly, Dennis 22 Cork (Timaru) Connor, Michael 25 Dee, Daniel 23 Tipperary Farm Lab (Timaru) Dolman, Josh C. 24 Smith Donoghue, John 22 Carpenter Deal, Alfred P 20 Suffolk Farm Lab Fenny, Robert 19 Porter Foley, Michael 28 Ford, William J. 14 Devon Farm Lab (transferred to Single Men) Fines, William 21 Farm Lab Fitzgerald, Jas H. 25 Dublin Butcher Hicks (Timaru) Gaffenny, Timothy 21 Limerick Ploughman Gribble, Edward 28 Cornwall Carpenter Gennings, Denis 25 Kings Labourer Gould, James B 24 Middlesex Mining and Quarrying Johnson, Thomas 15 Farm Lab Kepple, (Keppel) 23 Cork Farm Lab Lucas, George Edward 18 Farm Lab Murphy, Eugene 20 Kings Labourer Rubley, William 20 Labourer Sheehan, Barthaw 20 Cork Summary of Emigration in the ship "Otaki" page 37
Divided according to the Countries and Counties of the Emigrant
Males of 15 and above
England Ireland Scotland Cornwall 11 Antrim 1 Kincardine 1 Cumberland 2 Armagh 2 Perthshire 1 Devon 2 Cork 7 Renfrewshire 1 Dorestshire 2 Dublin 1 3 Derbyshire 1 Galway 2 Essex 1 Kerry 18 Wales Gloucestershire 3 Kings 4 Montgomeryshire 3 Hanls 2 Limerick 5 Pembrokeshire 1 Lincolnshire 3 Tipperary 6 4 Lancashire 1 Waterford 3 Middlesex 2 47 Norfolk 2 Oxon 2 Somersershire 4 Channel Islands Surrey 2 Jersey 2 Staffordshire 1 Suffolk 5 Sussex 2 Watls 2 Warwickshire 2 Worcestershire 1 Yorkshire 2 Forward 55 Females of 15 and above
England Ireland Devon 1 Armagh 2 Kent 3 Dublin 1 Middlesex 1 Galway 1 Suffork 2 Kerry 7 Staffordshire 2 Limerick 2 9 Mayo 1 Scotland Queens 1 Bah 2 Tipperary 7 Waterford 3 Wales Wicklow 1 Montgomery 3 26 Channel Islands Jersey 1
If you have information on the persons mentioned in the list please email me so that we can share the information with all in the genealogy community. Missing 89 passenger names. Single women (52) under the care of the matron Alice Hill, they are mostly Irish, and domestics and 48 single men.
Notes: "In the 1870s there was a huge drive to find agricultural
labourers and others willing to emigrate to New Zealand to help with a
shortage of labour". There is a photograph of the Otaki berthed at the
Wellington
Wharf at the Alexander Turnbull Library which is part of the National Library of New
Zealand in Wellington. On the second floor is the Pictorial Reference Service which has a photo
file of photographs of people, shipping and New Zealand towns and cities.
"White Wings" by Brett has a
similar photo but it was taken at a different angle.
File Im5/4/23#255 is the file of the New Zealand Immigration Department. It consists of 23 A4 pages and 8 A3 pages. The contents are:
- the report of the Agent General in London dated 17/11/1875 reporting on the formalities relating to the sailing from London (5 pages)
- the form signed by the "Surgeon Superintendent" I F Wilson which records the number of immigrants embarked and certifies the health and fitness of those embarked (1 page)
- the forms scheduling the List Of Stores supplied to the ship for 196 adults 56 children and 15 infants and the schedule of mess utensils and miscellaneous items provided to the ship (8 A3 pages)
- The report of the Dispatching Officer in London dated 15/11/1875 relating to the inspection and fitting out of the Otaki ( 3 pages)
- Telegraph to Under Secretary for Immigration Wellington reporting on the arrival of the Otaki at Lyttelton ( 1 page)
- Certificate of Births and Deaths- one birth a male to Robert and Elizabeth Stephens on 04/02/1876 and the deaths of James White male aged 9 months on 26/11/1875 and Edith Ashton female aged 5 months on 30/11/1876 (1 page)
- Wilson's report on arrival (2 pages)
- The Commissioners' Report on the arrival ( 2 pages)
- The Agent General's report from London dated 26/05/1876 responding to reports detailed above ( 8 pages)References:
The Lyttelton Times New Zealand Room, Christchurch Library
Passenger list Christchurch Regional Archives
White Wings by Sir Henry Brett
The Sailing Ships of the New Zealand Shipping Co. 1873-1900 (1972) by Alan Bott
The Colonial Clippers (1924) by Basil LubbockBOUGEN : I am looking for the burial place of Joseph Bougen. Joseph was the oldest son of Mathew and Sarah Bougen who along with their other four children emigrated to New Zealand on board the Otaki in 1876. After arriving in Lyttelton Joseph moved north to settle in Waimamaku, south of the Hokianga Harbour. Involved in milling kauri Joseph was also a director of the local cheese factory. He resigned in 1903 and passed away in 1926 and is buried in Pukekohe. Mark Bougen Posted 8 May, 2000
BRAY: I am looking for further information on this vessel e.g. the complete passenger list. Always double check the information with the original list as the handwriting was faded and difficulty to read. A copy of the passenger list can be found at the Christchurch Regional Archives. The original is in National Archives at Wellington. I am interested in the James and Louisa Bray family. They settled in Akaroa 1876 - 1890 then moved to the North Island, the Hastwell, Wairarapa region. James died in 1910. Olwyn -
Descendents settled in South Canterbury in 1912. Denis O'Reilly the son worked for S.P. Bray on Sherwood Downs and drove the "Donkey Bus", drove the kids to Fairlie School.
CURTIS: It is understood that the family lived for their first 2-4 years in Akaroa before moving south to Albury, South Canterbury. Posted 12 Feb. 2001
HOCKINGS: William Hockings was born on 19 Feb 1850 at Hazelwood, Loddiswell, Devon (recorded as Hocking) and on 8 Jan 1871 married Emma Bond at the Register Office, Kingsbridge, Devon. Alice Jane was baptized on 11 Jun 1871, Fred Henry on 5 Jan 1873, and Emma Florence on 27 Dec 1874, all at Woodleigh, Devon and recorded as Hawkins. William Hockings was an uncle of Eric Hockings paternal grandfather. William and Emma went to Longbeach near Ashburton where he worked as a ploughman for John Grigg.
Three other members of the Hockings family went to New Zealand. Eliza Ellen SAMPSON, nee HOCKINGS, aged 24, on the "Waikato" departing 1Nov 1878 and arrived Lyttelton 18 Jan 1879. Thomas HOCKINGS, aged 19, on the "Hereford" departing 31 Oct 1877 and arrived Lyttelton 9 Jan 1878. Louisa HOCKINGS, aged 20, on the "Waitangi" departing 25 Oct 1883 and arrived Lyttelton 13 Jan 1884. If you have further information on the Hockings family or you would like information please contact Eric Hockings and Marlene Burling, a descendant of Eliza & Thomas Sampson who settled at Waterton in 1879 where he worked as an engine driver (traction engines) on the Grigg estate.
KEPPEL: Maurice Keppel (appearing as Kepple in reference Im15/249/P20) was born in Newmarket County Cork Ireland and was baptised in the Catholic Church in Meelin on 20/12/1852. Following his arrival in Christchurch he meet Annie O'Callaghan who was born in Kiskeam County Cork in circa 1862. I have been unable to trace Nancy's arrival in New Zealand. They married on 25/04/1882 at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament Christchurch. Two children were born in Christchurch in Feb.1883 and May 1884 before they moved to Cardiff near Stratford before their third child was born in August 1885. I have no knowledge of how or why they moved to Cardiff. They were pioneer settlers in Cardiff clearing bush to create a farm. Maurice was a director of the Cardiff Dairy and Cheese factory before moving to a farm near Manaia after 1902 and died in Manaia on 02/12/1940. Annie died in East Tamaki on 24 April 1949. Both are buried in the Manaia Cemetery in a family plot with most of their 4 daughters and 6 sons. I am keen to trace Annie's arrival in New Zealand and the how when and why they moved from Christchurch to Cardiff. A sister or cousin of Maurice one Julia Halpin with her husband James and 2 children arrived in Lyttelton on the Waitangi on 04/10/1877. Pat Keppel Posted 9 April 2004
OTHER VOYAGES
Otago Witness, 29 December 1877, Page 7
There was not, a great deal of shipping in Auckland. The New Zealand Shipping Company's ship Otaki had ju3b arrived after a 90 days' passage, and delivered her immigrants in good condition. There was but one death amongst them and that was balanced by a birth. Dr Crawford, known in Dunedin, was her surgeon superintendent. It was said that the Otaki was to proceed South to load. I may mention that her commander, Captain Devitt. informed me that of the few good days' work the vessel permitted him to accomplish, the best was 340 miles.
Evening Post, Wellington, Monday 29th January 1877
Port Chalmers: New Zealand Shipping Company's ship Otaki, from London, ninety days out, with 103 passengers and 1000 tons cargo. Had a terrific gale on the 26th inst. from S.W. The ship was pooped, and ran through the gale close-reefed.
Otago Witness, 23 February 1878, Page 11 Departures
February 17. Otaki, ship. 1014 tons, Devitt, for London. Now Zealand Shipping Company, agents. Passengers� Bishop and Mrs Nevill, Misses Nevill (2), Masters Nevill (2), Dr and Mrs Thomson and servant, Mr and Mrs Ormieton, Mr and Mrs Fraser and infant, Mesdames Hinton and infant, Mason, Dick, Misses Begg, Conolly, Hay, Messrs Jones, J Bowden, Hickson.
Calypso, ship, 1014 tons, Leslie, for London. Dalgety, Nichols, and Co., agents. Passengers: Saloon � Mr and Mrs Humphreys, Miss Sutherland, Messrs Whyte, French. Steerage� Mesdames Boyle, Fraser, Searle, Spence and 2 children, Messrs Rushton and children. Brown, Weston, Gordon, Spence, Nunn, Hanison, Miss Clement.
Otago Witness, 11 March 1903, Page 56
The barque Wanlock, Captain Griffiths, has made a remarkably smart passage of 67 days from Wellington to London. But the passage is not a record one from New Zealand, as in 1878 the New Zealand Shipping Company's ship Otaki. Captain Devitt, left Port Chalmers, and Shaw Savill, and Albion Company's ship Crusader left Lyttelton, and both entered the London docks after passages of 66 days. In the old days, when probably the fastest clippers ever launched were carrying the mails from Liverpool to Melbourne, a passage of from 64- to 70 days was looked upon as very fine indeed.
Evening Post, 14 November 1878, Page 2 ENGLISH SHIPPING.
Passengers per Messrs. Shaw, Savill & Co.'s Hermione, Captain Roberts, which sailed from London on the 30th August for Wellington :� Saloon� Mrs. Nixon, Samuel Cochrane, Miss Cochrane, and Dr. Mackriner. Steerage� J. F. Holman, Sarah Holman, and 283 immigrants.
Passengers per New Zealand Shipping Co.'s Otaki, Captain H. Devitt, which sailed from London on the 11th September for Wellington:�
Saloon� Mr. G. C. Ellis, Mrs. Ellis, Master J. M. Ellia, Mr. W. P. Brown, Mrs. A. G. Brown, Master E. Brown, Master A. Brown, Mr. A. Bonner, Mrs. Emma Bonner, Mr. R. Walker, Mrs. C. Walker, Miss C. Walker, Miss L. Walker, Master J. Walker, Mr. W. H. W. Haines, Mrs. Haines, Miss Elizabeth Patterson, Miss Edith Brown, Mrs. Watt, Master H. Watt, and Master A. Watt.
Second Cabin� J. Roark, A.H. Pearson, Philip Grichy, Mary Grichy, Helena Grichy, M. Longney, Edward Newland, Clara Newland, Alex. G. Clark, J. H. Reynolds, Thomas Lane, and Wm, Bethwaite.
Steerage� Alfred T. Fauvel, Henry Braddock, F. L. Platt, Richard Brandon, Frank Hood, Anthony Bousfield, Thomas White, Michael Lowery, Margaret Lowery, John Winchester, Catherine Winchester, John Winchester, Thomas M'Millan, Mary McMillan, Eva M'Millan, Elizabeth M'Millan, Ada M'Millan, William M'Millan, Thomas M'Millan, Gertrude M'Millan, Miss Robertson, and T. Hopkins.
Evening Post, 10 December 1878, Page 2
ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP OTAKI, FROM LONDON.
The numbers of the New Zealand Shipping Company's dipper ship Otaki, 1,041 tons, Capt. H. Devitt, were run up at Mount Victoria at 7 o'clock this morning, and a telegram from the pilot station at 10 informed us she was then four miles off, and Pilot- Holmes had boarded her at 8 a.m The Otaki is reported as having left London on the 11th September, which thus gives her a passage of 90 days. She has beaten the Corina (left London 20th August), Alexa (left 22nd August), and Hermione (left 30th August). The Otaki will beat in this evening, and is to be berthed at the wharf at once. There are no Government immigrants on board. A telegram from the pilot station said the ship was close up to the Heads, and preparing to beat in at 2pm.
The following is a list of her passengers : � Saloon� Mr. G. C. Ellis, Mrs. Ellis, Master J. M. Ellis, Mr. W. P. Brown, Mrs. A. G. Brown, Master E. Brown, Master A. Brown, Mr. A. Bonner, Mrs. Emma Bonner, Mr. B. Walker, Mrs. C. Walker, Miss C. Walker, Miss L. Walker, Master J. Walker, Mr. W. H. W. Haines, Mrs. Haines, Miss Elizabeth Patterson, Miss Edith Brown, Mrs. Watt, Master H. Watt, and Master A. Watt.
Second Cabin � J. Roark, A. H. Pearson, Philip Grichy, Mary Grichy, Helena Grichy, M. Longney, Edward Newland, Clara Newland, Alex. G. Clark, J. H. Reynolds, Thomas Lane, and Wm. Bethwaite.
Steerage� Alfred T. Fauvel, Henry Braddook, F. L. Platt, Richard Brandon, Frank Hood, Anthony Bousfield, Thomas White, Michael Lowery, Margaret Lowery, John Winchester, Catherine Winchester, John Winchester, Thomas McMillan, Mary M'Millan, Eva M'Millan, Elizabeth M'Millan, Ada M'Millan, William M'Millan, Thomas M'Millan, Gertrude M'Millan, Miss Robertson, and T. Hopkins.
Evening Post, 8 February 1879, Page 2
The New Zealand Shipping Company's clipper Otaki, Captain Devitt, which leaves for London first favorable opportunity, takes the following passengers:
Saloon� Mr. and Mrs. W. Smith, Miss Alice Smith, Miss Frances Smith, Mr, Eden, and Master Henry Rose, Steerage � Messrs. Thomas S. Pride, Hugh Hobb, and C. Champenies. Her cargo consists of 4328 bales wool, 93 pockets do, 18 bales sheepskins, 319 casks tallow, 214 cases meats, 59 bales paper, 30 pkgs leather, 2 do hair, 2 cases sundries, 10 bags ironsand, 1 ton bones; estimated value, �85,000. The Otaki is in very good trim, and no doubt will make a smart run home.
The Star Thursday January 6 1881 page 2
Arrived Lyttelton
Jan. 5 - Otaki, ship, 1014 tons, Devitt, from London. N.Z. Shipping Co., agents,
Passengers -Armitage Mr T.E. Brown Miss Alice Brown Miss Lucy Kebbell Miss Ann Kebbell Miss Mary K Kebbell Mr F Kebbell Mr M Macbeath Mrs H.G. Malet Mr F.R.W. Neacy Mrs Turner Mr E.O. Second cabin and steerage Bisslker W Clarke May Duggleby Harriet Fowley David Harrow Ada Harrow Charles Harrow Eliza Harrow Frederick Harrow Kate Harrow Louisa Harrow Minnie Harrow Sydney Humphrey Eliza Humphrey Matilda Humphrey William Leaby Charlotte Law Elizabeth Law Kamlet Longson John Longson Eliza McLelland Alexander McGough O McHenry J Marfoil Richard Palmer Elizabeth Palmer George F Palmer James E Neate S.W. Thomas George Wilkie DavidThe Otaki arrived from London on Wednesday morning, with 42 passengers, after a passage of 100 days from land to land. At 4. am on Dec. 27 the gale was at its height, and at that time the sea broke over both quarters of the vessel in a perfect deluge, filling the main deck instantly. The doors of the saloon were burst open, and a tremendous flood of water rushed through filling all the cabins to a height of four or five feet. In Captain Devitt's room the water made a perfect wreck, his effects being washed away, including charts, books &c. The starboard lifeboat on the davits was washed right away and another of the boats smashed to pieces. The ship presented a very cismal sight.
One death occurred on December 10th,that of a third class passenger - David Griffiths-aged 35 who had been ill from consumption throughout. A second death, also from consumption, occurred about 11.30 am yesterday, that of a young man James Howe, the second steward; he had been ailing for sometime. The officers with Captain Devitt are Mr E.A. Findlay, chief officer, last seen here in the Columbus, and Mr J.P. Forsdick second.
WRECK
Otaki, 1,053 tons, a three masted full-rigged iron ship, built 1875, dimensions: 204.1 x 34.2 x 20.0 feet, by Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co. Ltd, Jarrow-on-Tyne for the NZ Shipping Co. at a cost of �20,000 and registered at London. Made 17 passages to New Zealand and all except three outward passages were under 100 days. She was sold January 1892 to the Germans and renamed Dr Siegert. Classed100 A1.
28 July 1877: In collision with the ship Star of India (1,697g, 1861) while entering Plymouth undertow.
Dr. Siegert's company bought the 'Otaki' to use for the business which he had set up in Venezuela and was relocating to Trinidad.
4 July 1895: Grounded on Diamond Rocks, bound Port of Spain, Trinidad, to Bremen with asphalt. Beached at Trinidad, and later sank in the Bocas abandoned as a total loss.
Jerry Besson, up the museum 1999 at the Angostura plant in Laventille for the company Angostura Ltd with a model of the clipper Dr. Siegert built from a model of the Cutty Sark. The Dr. Siegert carried rum and bitters around the globe. The 'Otaki' is lying in a few feet of water off Chacachacar Island, Trinidad & Tobago. Interesting that she is not labelled the Dr. Siegert or the Otaki but Wreck of the Angostura which was the company that owned her. Map Items have been recovered from the wreck e.g. a port hole, metal pipes, stair treaders, along with some Angostura bitter bottles.
The stair treader is solid brass and in beautiful condition.
The photo of the wreck "Dr. Siegert" just off Diamond Rock
.
The Times
The Times, Monday, Jul 08, 1895; pg. 11; Issue 34623; col C
Port of Spain 6 July : German Barque Doctor Siegert is ashore at Chacachacar, and has 9ft. of water in the hold.
The Times, Tuesday, Jul 09, 1895; pg. 10; Issue 34624; col F
Trinidad, July 8 : The German Barque Dr. Siegert (previously reported ashore at Chacachacar) will probably become a total wreck.
This page may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion for any purpose other than personal use. � 1998 - 2010 Olwyn