The Silver Eagle.

the Silver Eagle, a beautiful new ship, on her first voyage to New Zealand arrived at Auckland in 1863, in command of Captain Longman. She was a vessel of close upon 1000 tons, built at the Clyde in 1861 by the Portland Shipbuilding Co. for her owners, Messrs. Somes Bros. Her previous voyage Home was from St. Helena, with troops, the run being made in 31 days—at the time the fastest trip on record. the Silver Eagle was then chartered by the Shaw, Savill Co., and on this passage sailed from Gravesend on September 28, 1862, and put into the Downs, where she was detained a few days repairing a trifling damage sustained in a collision with a small craft which ran foul of her. The ship had to beat all the way down the Channel, after which she had pleasant weather most of the time, and made the meridian of Melbourne in 70 days. Tasmania was sighted on December 15, and then northerly winds were experienced until January 3, when the Three Kings were sighted. Light, variable winds were met with down the coast, and she arrived on January 6. The ship, after discharging a portion of her cargo, sailed for Shanghai with the balance, consisting of iron and flints.

the Silver Eagle made two more voyages to Auckland, the first in command of Captain Longman, and the second with Captain Ross. In 1864 she sailed from Gravesend, on December 1, and called at Torbay to take on board additions to the army already located at Auckland. Altogether, she embarked 22 officers and 324 rank-and-file of the 12th. 43rd, and 68th Foot and Army Hospital Corps. She sailed from Torbay on March 12, and made an excellent run ofpage 188 81 days to Auckland Harbour. the Silver Eagle was admirably adapted for a passenger ship and the carrying of troops, and the health of the troops on arrival was excellent. The ship called in at Pernambuco on January 8, and remained there for 36 hours. She experienced light, fine weather the whole voyage, with the exception of a severe S.E. gale of wind off the Three Kings on February 26. She anchored off Tiri Tiri on March 2, 1865, and arrived in harbour the following morning.

the Silver Eagle, on her third voyage, ran out in 85 days from pilot to pilot. She sailed from the Downs on December 4, 1865, and parted with the pilot on the 10th. She experienced light, favourable trade winds until the equator was reached on January 2. The meridian of Greenwich was crossed on January 24, and on February 19 the Kerguelens land was sighted. She ran down her easting between the parallels of 52 and 53 degrees without sighting any ice. All the passengers, numbering 73, had a most enjoyable passage, and were landed on March 4, 1866.

the Silver Eagle did not visit any of the Southern ports.