FIRST FOUR SHIPS.

Shannon News, 25 November 1921, Page 1

FIRST FOUR SHIPS.

ARRIVAL IN LYTTELTON 71 YEARS AGO Under the heading “Shipping | News," in the first issue of the Lyttelton Times, January llth, 1851, appear some interesting items which show the vast strides made in shipping during the past 70 years. . The paper records the arrival at Lyttelton of what are known as the first four ships, the Randolph, 761 tons, Charlotte Jane, 720 tons, both of which left Plymouth on September 7th and arrived at Lyttelton on the same day, December 16th. The Sir George Seymour, of 850 tons, left Plymouth on September Btli and arrived in Lyttelton on December 17th, while the barque Cressy, 720 tons, which left Plymouth the same days as the last-named ship, did not reach port until December 27. The Sir George Seymour carried 40 cabin, 23 intermediate, and 161 steerage passengers, and the other ships approximately the same number. Considering the sizes of the boats, the length and danger of the journey, the uncertainty of the future that awaited them in a strange land on the other side of the globe, the settlers of those days must have possessed stout hearts to have made the undertaking. We notice, too, that the New Zealand coastline shipping was conducted in those early days with very small boats. The shipping news notes Jhe arrival and departure of seve reboots, including The Twins 41 tons, Katherine Johnstone 12 tons, cutter Fly 23 tons, schooner Fanny 9 tons, schooner Phoebe 24 tons, schooner Uridine ;41 tons, schooner Henry 20 tons, cutter Alpha 40 tons, all from Wellington, with cargoes of potatoes, vegetables and sundries. OUR FIRST NEW ZEALAND SUNSET. The following poem appeared in the first issue of the Lyttelton Times, on January 11, 1851:—• Sett’st as thou wert wont to do, Old fount of life? Bathing with familiar hue Tree, and dale, and height? Casting still Old England’s shades, Thou are the same; If on land the vision fades, Then be ours the blame. Grand old friend; thou shinest still, Guiding to the work; To the steadfast mind and will Never dim or murk. Glorious type! of old fond ties Fate may have bereft us; Paint thou with unfading dyes— God hath not left usl Mast-head of the ship Randolph, December 12th, 1850.