The Loch Doon.

the Loch Doon, an iron ship of 786 tons, made only three voyages to New Zealand, and on two of these exceptionally stormy weather was met with. She was one of the fastest sailers of the fleet owned by D. and J. Sproat. She came first to Auckland in 1880. Leaving Gravesend on April 22, she passed the Downs on the following day, and took her final departure from the Lizard on the 27th. She crossed the Equator on May 16, making a splendid run of 19 days to the Equator. The meridian of the Cape was passed on June 15, Capepage 310 Leeuwin on July 4, and Tasmania on July 11, only 74 days from the Lizard. On July 10 the ship encountered a terrific gale from the west, and a fearful mountainous sea, which by the force of the gale was driven into a complete mass of spindrift, and at Mines almost, burying the ship while she was scudding before it. The storm lasted in full fury for fifteen hours. Captain Cummings stated he had been at sea over thirsty-one years but that this gale eclipsed any he had ever seen.

The following year, 1881, the ship was brought to Auckland by Captain Main land. Leaving Gravesend on March 15, the Loch Doon was delayed by calms and light winds for several days in the Channel, and light variable winds continued until crossing the Equator on

The Loch Trool.

April 21, 36 days out. On May 28, when running before a hard westerly gale with a high topping sea, a tremendous wave broke over the ship, completely filling her decks fore and aft. Some time later it was discovered that an apprentice boy of 16 who had been on watch below was missing; he had evidently been washed overboard. the Loch Doon made the Three Kings on June 14, 54 days from the Equator and 86 from the Channel. On May 14 the ship Waitangi, bound for Otago, was in company. This vessel sailed from Gravesend a few hours after the Loeh Doon, and arrived at Port Chalmers on June 13, 82 days land to land.

Captain Robert Mainland was subsequently transferred to the Loch Trool, and made a voyage to Dunedin and Wellington in 1902. He was for many years the commodore skipper of D. and E. Sprout's fleet, and held an interest in the company. When a boy Captain Main land sailed in the Orkney coasting vessels. On obtaining a master's certificate he entered the employ of James Sprout and Co, as master of the Loch Doon, holding this command until 1884, when he was transferred to the Loch Trool, a position he held until his death, which occurred when taking the ship Home from Bunbury, West Australia, on January 4, 1906. Captain Mainland made some remarkable passages to Melbourne and other Australian ports. He was a member of the Mercantile Marine Service Association from 1879, and was well known and highly respected in Liverpool shipping circles. Mr. S. Mainland, a son of Captain Mainland, who sailed with his father for several years in the Loch Trool, left the ship in 1905 and settled in Auckland. He is now residing at Stanley Bay, Devonport.

the Loch Doon's passages to New Zealand were:—