The Dilharee.

Originally a full-rigged ship built for trooping to India, the Dilharee, a composite-built vessel of 1293 tons, was rigged as a barque when she came to New Zealand in 1874 and 1875 under Captain R. McNeilly. She was a well-found craft, and was pronounced admirably suited for carrying immigrants, as she had very roomy accommodation, having been built for a troopship. She belonged to Messrs. J. Lidgett and Sons, London. The first port she visited in New Zealand was Lyttelton. Leaving Plymouth on December 12, 1873, with 300 immigrants and 15 cabin passengers, she made Lyttelton on March 11, 1874, a passage of 89 days. On January 16, 1875, she arrived at Auckland from London, the passage having taken 105 days from the docks, or 93 from the Lizard. On this occasion she brought out 375 Government immigrants. While becalmed for several days early in November off the Cape Verde Islands the ship had plenty of company, there being no less than sixteen other sailing vessels within sight.