ARRIVAL OF THE BLUE JACKET
Southern Cross March 20th 1860

The celebrated clipper ship Blue Jacket, Captain Hugh Clarke, arrived in harbour about midday on Friday last from Liverpool, which port she left on the 26th of November, and has therefore had rather a long passage of 111 days. No ship bringing an increase to our population ever arrived here in a more creditable state, and the passengers are unanimous in their expressions of approbation and esteem for the Captain and Officers, and thankful for the constant attention to their comfort. Two deaths of infants occurred and, and there were two births, otherwise the ship was very healthy. The Blue Jacket spoke or exchanged numbers with the following ships:- On the 30th November, in latitude 47⁰ 5' North, longitude 12⁰ 54' West, passed the ship Bejcepore, from Liverpool bound to Melbourne. On the 1st January, 1860, in latitude 16⁰ South, longitude 27⁰ West, spoke the barque Annie, from Liverpool to Rio Janiero, fifty days out. On the 8th January, in latitude 18⁰ 53' South, longitude 37⁰ West, boarded the Sardinian brig Flore de Maria from Santos, bound to Cardiff. On the 20th January, in latitude 39⁰ 50' South, longitude 141⁰ 48' East, spoke the brig Squaw, 84 days out, from Hong Kong bound to Sydney. On the 9th instant, at 4 pm, when off the Three Kings, spoke the whaling brig Prince Edward, five days from Mongonui, with ond black and one sunfish. Spoke the ship Achilles, from Sydney, for San Francisco with coals, off the Cavalhos.

TESTIMONIALS TO CAPTAIN HUGH CLARKE & OFFICERS
Southern Cross March 20th 1860

"Blue Jacket"                                           
                         March 1, 1860                           

To Capt. Hugh Clarke,
     Dear Sir - Our voyage, from Liverpool to Auckland, N Z, being now nearly brought to a termination, we, the passengers of the saloon, wish, before parting with you, to express our high appreciation of your energy, skill and attention as commander of the ship "Blue Jacket".
     Our voyage has been most favourable, and but for adverse winds and calms, would, we doubt not, have been more rapid, than even the well tested speed of your fine ship, would have led us to anticipate.
     We beg to tender you our sincere thanks for your unremitting kindness, and attention, and for your constant endeavours to promote our happiness, and add to our comfort, during the voyage; and, we fell assured that your gentlemanly demeanour, and amiability of disposition, have endeared you to all your passengers.
     We also unite in testifying to the zeal and abilities, both as an officer and a seaman, of the chief mate, Mr Curran, who also, by his kindness on all occasions, has merited the regard, and esteem, of all classes on board.
     We assure you, dear Sir, we shall ever entertain a grateful remembrance of the many kindnesses we have received at your hands, and wish you most sincerely much future happiness and prosperity.
                                                                                  [Here follow 10 signatures of Saloon passengers]

"Blue Jacket"                                           
                         March 1, 1860                           

To Capt. Hugh Clarke,
     Dear Sir - The undermentioned passengers on board the "Blue Jacket" on her voyage from Liverpool to Auckland, N Z, beg to request your acceptance of the accompanying purse as a small token of their regard and appreciation of your great kindness and attention during the voyage.
                                                                                  [Here follow 24 signatures of Cabin passengers]

Off Auckland, N Z                                                                                  
                         March, 1860                           

    We, the undersigned second cabin passengers on boar the ship "Blue Jacket", of the White Star Line, bound from Liverpool to Auckland, hereby tender to Captain Clarke our most sincere thanks and warmest acknowledgements for his uniform kindness, attention and gentlemanly bearing towards us during our voyage in theat desevedly famed clipper. We also beg to express our unqualified approval of his skilful and seamanlike conduct upon all occasions, and earnestly wish him every success and prosperity in his arduous profession.
     To Mr Curran his chief officer, we desire to express our full appreciation of his courteous and gentlemanly demeanour, and to bear our willing testimony to his superior abilities as a seaman, and we trust soon to hear of his being in that position for which he is so eminently qualified.
                                                                                  [Here follow 26 signatures of 2nd Cabin passengers]

To Hugh Clarke, Esq., Commander of the "Blue Jacket."

     We, the undersigned, intermediate and steerage passengers on board the ship "Blue Jacket", from Liverpool to Auckland, beg to testify our grateful sense of the kindness, urbanity and attention of Capt., Clarke, as exhibited by him to us, during our voyage, and would assure him that our feelings with regard to him, are of the highest respect, esteem and regard. We would also express our great admiration of the nautical skill, and seamanlike conduct, displayed by him on all occasions, and we would fondly hope, that he will be long spared to hold the high and responsible situation he now fills.
     We would also acknowledge our high estimation, and respect for his chief officer, Mr Curran, who, by his prompt and energetic character and gentlemanlike manners, has greatly increased the safety and comfort of all on board; which qualities, we feel assured, will at no distant day place him in a position, which he is every way capable of filling.
     We would likewise express our high appreciation of the dispositions and sailorlike qualities of his second and third officers, Mr McMahon, and Mr Nelson, who, we have no doubt, will speedily rise in the honourable profession which they have chosen.
     In tqaking our leave of Capt., Clarke and his officers we bid them a hearty farewell, and wish both him, and them, every success and prosperity in the arduous duties of their profession, and which their merits in no ordinary degree entitle them to
     March 13th, 1860
                                                                                [Signed by 70 Intermediate and Steerage passengers]