Waipa

The Voyage of the Huntley Family

Albert (21) and Elizabeth (19) Huntley and their first child James Edward (about seven months) sailed on the Waipa's maiden voyage to New Zealand, arriving at Wellington on 2 April 1876. Also aboard were Edward (46) and Sarah (45) Paulhill with (probably) their daughter Lucy (11).

From the Evening Post, 3 April 1876:

“The New Zealand Shipping Company’s new ship, iron ship the Waipa, 1016 tons, Captain Seaborne, arrived in this harbour yesterday at noon, from London. She left Gravesend on the 17th December and experienced adverse weather in the Channel, which was not cleared until the 25th; crossed the Equator 35 days out, and passed the Cape of Good Hope on the 64th day. Subsequently had occasional fair breezes with frequent calms and baffling winds, once being nearly becalmed for a fortnight. On one occasion, with a fair wind, the ship ran 314 miles in twenty-four hours, and another time 312 miles, showing her capacity for high speed. Cape Farewell was sighted on Tuesday last, 94 days from land to land, her complete passage from port to port occupying 105 days. The Waipa is a very fine vessel, a sister ship to the Hurunui now in port. Her cabin accommodation is remarkably large and good, she is fitted up in splendid style, her poop extending nearly to the mainmast. The arrangements for her immigrants, ventilation between decks &c, all are most excellent, and the advantage has been shown in the singular freedom from sickness which has characterised the voyage. No deaths took place, but there were three births. The total number of immigrants brought out by her is 231. Dr Gibson is the Surgeon- Superintendent. Messrs Johnston and Co. are the agents.”

And also…

“A number of the Waipa’s immigrants were landed by the Manawatu this afternoon. They appear a particularly strong, healthy lot, indeed some persons well qualified to judge, pronouncing them the best shipment yet landed in Wellington. Only about eighty are for this place, the balance being bound for Wanganui, Foxton and the Feilding settlement. The Manawatu takes sixty-two to Wanganui tonight. It is noteworthy that four more have landed than embarked owing to the births and the absence of death.”

Sources

The Evening Post, 3 April 1876.
Bott, Alan, The Sailing Ships of the New Zealand Shipping Company 1873-1900 (London, England: B.T. Batsford, 1972)
Brett, Henry, White Wings (Christchurch: Capper Press, 1976)
Laxton, W.A. et al, Crossed Flags: The Histories of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Federal Steam Navigation Company, and their Subsidiaries (Gravesend, England: World Ship Society, 1997)
View of the crew in the bow of the sailing ship Waipa at Port Chalmers [between 1875 and 1894], 1/1-002473-G, De Maus Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library