ARRIVAL OF THE CLIPPER SHOW CITY OF AUCKLAND, FROM LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 605, 18 December 1871, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE CLIPPER SHOW CITY OF AUCKLAND, FROM LONDON.

It is with feelings of no ordinary pleas J| that we have once more to announce M arrival in harbour of our old and esteeii* friend Captain Ashby in command of j! good ship City of Auckland from lM don, with a valuable cargo and a full |1 pliment of passengers, all arrived at tildes tinatiou in good health. As the not I vessel rounded the .North Head at I o'clock, she presented a beautiful appej I ance with all her sails set, and scuddi: I steadily under a gentle easterly hreei From the North Head till reaching _ j anchorage, a flotilla of watermen's kt were erasing around her. On boards her, met Captain Ashby we standings the gangway, waiting with a happy f as * to receive and welcome his old friendi who were as heartily glad to see himlooi ing so. well,and in much better lieall than when he last left our harbour. }/__. friends aud acquaintances in Aucklandl. Mrs Ashby will be also glad to learn t_f she has again accompanied her husbani and will be once more in their miikj The arrival of the City of Aucklaa recalls to our mind many reminiscent; of the past. The wilful destruction! the old Choral Hall by fire, the mystel ous attempt at burning and narrow esca; of the City of Auckland on her last v_J here, both within the space of a few daj* and the incendiary fire at the commence!: nient of last week, by which themir. Choral Hall was again destroyed, aUnulf to our minds as we welcome her re-arrm in our waters, and draw the tie betwee us and Captain Ashby closer. Sheappea. in fine condition, and has made t_ fastest passage since her last arrivi having been only S9 days out from lai to land, and 94 from the Downs. T| : Countess of Kin tore is the only ves_: that has come near to her for rap passages, she having made her voyagei 103 days. The City of Auckland brinj 26 chief cabin, 13 second cabin, and _ third cabin passengers. She has afc brought a consignment of birds for fa Acclimatisation Society, which k. received especial care and have amr* in splendid condition after their » voyage.

The following report of the passaged been kindly furnished to us by Captt Ashby, of the City of Auckland:— l£ East India Dock on the 10th Septemw 1871 ; on the 12th at 2 p m left Graves^ for Auckland. New Zealand withli| north winds and fine weather, wi_| chief cabin, 13 second cabin, and 29 M class passengers, and 1000 tonsofge*_e| cargo ; on the 13th at opm, landed*: pilot off the Isle of Wight, and took j departure from the Channel on the lJf of September. Detained with st_cf foul winds off the Island of Ma|j for four days. On the 30th got the norf east trades in 25.10 north lat and 2w west longitude. On the 6th Octoberb the trades in lat 11.55 N and 25.521' On the 13th got the south-east trades! lat 5.0 N and lon 28.0 west. On | 15th crossed the Equator in 29.0 TO 33 days from Gravesend. On " 24th sailed out of the Tropics, and losttl trade winds in lat. 26*22 S., long. 321 W. North east trades proved squaUya unsettled, with light variable winds ■ tweenthe two trade winds. The sot east trades were good. November W passed the meridian of the Cape of b» Hope in 46 deg. south. Dec. Sth pjM Van Diemen's Land in 105 deg. south, »• days from the Channel. Run down o* easting in 46 deg. south, with modej northly winds and fine weather, g ship City of Madras, of Glasgow, wc; London, bound to Sydney was tM three times during the mW-W ing sailed 5,000 miles together. M Oct., lat. 22deg. 48m S., long. J3deg m W., ship City of Madras spoice the>M Zealandia bound to Canterbury. U»» named vessel left Gravesend tojnjog before the City of Auckland- IofJJ cember, sighted Cape Maria Van WffiS 89 days from the Channel and J» Gravesend. Experienced unsteady, W able, squally and wet weather trom i mania to the North Cape of New and light variable winds and calms» . the coast, and arrived at AiieklandOO l.s.h December, 92 days fr&m ttJ*J Inel, 96 days from Gravesend. s w ' .sailed 15,671 miles, being||bsen ' Auckland eight months anV^ days. No sickness during the WJJ On Sunday, 12th November, in»» 45de. 25m. South, long- 28deg. 48M . Alexander Robertson, second class r senger, died of phthisis. IJ ccc, a%; going out to Auckland for the baff j his health. . . ,$ The following testimonial was tfwj to Captain Ashby on his atnv*lvj eember 16th, 1871-We, thi» PJ f^ by the good ship City of Auckland^ to express our gratitude to 4* m*"M for our preservation from °^Jk and unseen while traversing tlie m

deep from London to Auckland ; and wc also wish to express our thanks to Captain Ashby and his officers and crew for the ability, vigilance, and never-ceasing care they have taken to conduct our noble vessel safely to her destined haven, in as short a time us possible,and thcirunccasing efforts to alleviate, as far as practicable, the discomforts attending a long sea voyage. May the Captain soon be enabled to retire to enjoy with his wife the fruits of his i labors, to the limit of time allotted to man on this earth, and may Mr Milne aud the ■ officers soon rise to the position their abilities and care deserve. May this good ship long continue to carry over tlie ocean her valuable freights with profit to her owners." REPLY. To the passengers per ship ' City of Auckland,' from London. I beg to thank you for the very flattering letter you presented to me on my arrival, and accept it as an evidence of your good "feeling towards myself, Mrs Ashby, officers and crew. We all unite in wishing you all, every prosperity and happiness, in the country of your adoption. I remain, &c, Wm. Ashby, Commander of ship, City of Auckland.