ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP HYDASPES
Lyttelton Times September 30th 1869

Captain Babot has furnished the following report: - Left Gravesend on the 3^rd July at 6 p.m.; parted with the pilot off the Isle of Wight at noon on the 5^th, wind westerly with dense fog; turned down Channel, and on the 8^th, at 6 p.m., the last English land - the Scilly Islands - was seen, bearing north, 25 miles; on the 9^th, signalled the ship Robert Henderson, from London to Otago; remained in company up to the evening of the 11^th, when the wind freshening we gave her the go-by. From this time, we experienced light and variable winds. In latitude 32 N. we fell in with the N.E. trades, which were very light, and were lost in latitude 14 N. From this up to 1 N., we had light and variable winds when the S.E. trade winds set in. On July 21 signalled the barque Stormy Petrel, from Rangoon, bound north; on the 25^th signalled the barque Akbar, from Liverpool, bound to Buenos Ayres. The captain being sick, Dr Fox volunteered to go on board, and on his return, sent medicine back. On the 30^th exchanged signals with the Maori, from Auckland to London. On August 2, lat. 6 N., long. 20 W., signalled and passed the ship Brockham from London to Melbourne. On August 4, signalled and passed the barque Safeguard from New York, bound to Madras. On Aug. 5 crossed the equator in 20 W. longitude; same day signalled the ship Ascalon, from London to Sydney. The S.E. Trades were brisk, but lost in 30 S. latitude. On the 17^th exchanged signals with City of Agra, bound to Calcutta. On August 30 passed the meridian of Cape of Good Hope, in latitude 43, 30 S. The longitude was run down between the parallels of 42 and 45 S. Strong gales and high seas and very unsettled weather were experienced in running down the easting. The largest day's run was 331 miles; for seven days the ship made over 300 miles in the day; 1900 miles were made in one week. On Sept. 24 passed the meridian of Tasmania. On Sept. 27, at 2 p.m., sighted the Snares, blowing a heavy S.W. gale with high sea. On Sept 28, at noon, was off Otago Heads, S.W. gale increasing; at midnight was off Banks Peninsula. Captain Sproul, pilot, came on board at 11 o'clock on the 29^th Sept., and we anchored off Port Levy. The Hydaspes has made a fine passage, the run from the Line being especially noteworthy

ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP HYDASPES
Lyttelton Times October 1st 1869

Yesterday morning at 6.45 the s.s. Wellington started to tow the Hydaspes in, as owing to a heavy S.W. breeze she could not beat up the harbour. The ship was anchored about six miles outside the Heads. The health officers, Drs Donald and Rouse, and Captain Gibson were passengers. On arriving alongside it was that all on board were well, and that there had been no sickness during the voyage. The ship was at once taken in tow, and came up to her anchorage off Rhodes Bay at 12.30 p.m. She has nearly the same officers as when last here - Mr D. Robb is purser, Mr Deschappela chief officer; Dr Alexander Fox, of London, surgeon. The ship maintains her high prestige for cleanliness and comfort. His Honour the Superintendent left Lyttleton in the p.s. Novelty at 11 a.m. and inspected the vessel. The immigrants and passengers speak in the highest terms of the captain and officers. There are on board four fine Durham bulls, the property of Mr Hay and Mr Bogg. Mr Robb has brought out two hedgehogs for the Acclimatisation gardens; four were brought on board, but two died during the passage.

The following testimonials were presented to Captain Babot yesterday: -

'To Captain Babot - We, the saloon passengers of the ship Hydaspes, desire to record our grateful sense of the kindness displayed by you and the officers generally, and also our cordial appreciation of your skill and untiring watchfulness for our welfare throughout the voyage from England to New Zealand. That health and prosperity may attend you in every voyage you make, is the earnest wish of yours,' - Signed by all saloon passengers.

'The steerage passengers and immigrants on board the ship Hydaspes, on arriving at Lyttleton, Canterbury, have a desire to express their gratitude to the Captain and officers for their uniform kindness and gentlemanly behaviour towards them, and slao to express their thanks to Dr Fox for the prompt, kind, and efficient way in which he has discharged the onerous calls made on him. The undersigned will at all times look back on their voyage to the land of their adoption with pleasure, and will always feel pleased to learn that Captain Babot and his officers will continue to form the link between them and the Mother Country. Trusting their efforts may be crowned with success in the future as they have been at present.' Signed by all the steerage passengers and immigrants.