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Small Beginnings.

The first vessel to arrive at this port under the New Zealand Shipping Company's flag (which was then a white sheet with the letters "N.Z." over "S. Co." in blue—the St. George's cross having been added later on) was the ship Hindustan, 833 tons, on November 17, 1873. The first ships that the company owned were four they purchased, and in addition to the Hindustan, were the Dorette, Scimitar and Dunfillan, whose names were afterwards changed to Waitara, Waimea, Rangitikei, and Mataura. The first ships the company had built were the Rakaia, Waikato, Waitangi and Waimate, which were constructed under the supervision of Captain Ashby by Blumer at Sunderland. In the next batch built were the Orari, Otaki, Hurunui, Waipa and Wairoa, constructed by Palmers, of the Tyne. The last three vessels specially built for the company were the Piako, Opawa and Wanganui. Two well-known boats they acquired by purchase were the Turakina (formerly the City of Perth) and the Pareora (formerly the White Eagle).