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White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900

The Invererne

page 280

The Invererne.

A Matrimonial Trip—Captain Officiates.

A ship that will be remembered by old Aucklanders, on account of an incident connected with several marriages that took place on board during her voyage from London to Auckland, 1874-5. was the Invererne, a vessel of 912 tons, which was under charter to the New Zealand Shipping Co. As told me, the story was to the effect that Captain Foreman, who commanded the ship, was not aware that the authority of captains to perform marriages on the seas had heen revoked, and that the couples had to be re-married when they got ashore at Auckland. Two of the passengers were Mr. and Mrs. Allen, who now reside in Dunedin, and a letter from Mr. Allen explains what really did happen.

Prior to their departure in 1874 Mr. and Mrs. Allen had just been married in Ireland, and in the rush to catch the Invererne they forgot their marriage certificate, which was left behind them in Ireland. This made it rather awkward, and they decided to book passages singly, Mrs. Allen going under her maiden name and being quartered with the single women. She was a great sufferer from sea sickness. Naturally Mr. Allen was very much concerned, and he frequently used to go down and see her. Some of the other girls began to talk, so Mr. Allen decided to tell the captain the truth at once. Under the circumstances the captain suggested they should be re-married. This was done, the captain gave them a certificate, and the young couple shifted over to the married people's quarters.

Re-Married.

Mr. Allen tells me that on this trip the Captain also married the doctor's assistant to a Miss Roberts; a Mr. Grigg to a widow; and the head storeman to a sister of Miss Roberts.

When the ship reached Auckland there was some question raised as to the legality of the three last marriages, and the matter came before a magistrate. Mr. Allen tells me that the marriages were declared legal, but the registrar demanded a fee of £4 5/ from each of the three couples, and after paying this amount they were re-married.

On this trip the Invererne, which reached Auckland on Anniversary Day, January 29, 1875, had a few people for the Vesey Settlement scheme, in the Bay of Plenty. Mr. Allen, however, did not go down to the Bay, as at first intended, but entered the employ of the Railway Department, and for some time was in charge of the Helensville train, both before and after the line was completed for the whole distance. It will be remembered that up to the 'eighties the line ran from Kumeu only, and the line was later extended right down to Auckland. He subsequently served at Nelson and Dunedin, and retired about twelve years ago from the service.

Captain Foreman seems to have been singular in carrying matrimonially-inclined couples, as on a voyage to Napier in 1873-4 he performed two ceremonies, and on that occasion no questions were raised as to his jurisdiction.

the Invererne was formerly the Atalanta Banfield, under which name she came to grief and was condemned and sold. Her new owner, however, carried out extensive repairs and renamed his craft the Invererne. Under her new name the ship made three voyages to New-Zealand, all under the command of Captain Foreman. The first was to Napier, where she arrived on March 8, 1874, bringing 240 immigrants, 107 days from London. There was a lot of sickness aboard during that trip, and 16 children died, the chief trouble being scarlatina. In 1875 the ship came out to Auckland, as explained. She made a good passage out of 88 days, bringing 200 passengers. the Invererne's third trip was to Lyttelton, which port was reached on February 22, 1876—91 days from the clocks, London.

Regarding the ultimate fate of this fine craft I find that she was lost on the coast of Java. After she visited Lyttelton in 1876 she went across to Newcastle and picked up a cargo of coal for Java. When approaching the Javan coast she struck a reef and became a total wreck, the crew having scarcely time to get into the boats before she broke up. The boat in charge of the third officer made a successful landing, but the men in her were nearly dead for want of food and water. They had spent seven days in the boat, and during that time had suffered great torture. Nothing was ever heard of the other boat, which was in charge of the captain and contained the rest of the ship's complement.