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The British Trident.

A large number of early settlers came out to Auckland by the ship British Trident, 1400 tons, Captain Wright. She was a magnificent vessel, nearly new, and a fast sailer. From the Cape of Good Hope she averaged eleven knots for quite a while, and thence to the Waitemata the run only took twenty-nine days, which was the quickest time recorded up to that date for the distance. The ship left the Downs on August 6, 1864, took her departure from Portland on the 9th, crossed the Equator on September 7, and the meridian of the Cape on October 4, Her easting, which was a particularly successful run, was done on about the parallel of 48 degrees south, and during this time she sighted several icebergs. The ship brought out no less than 240 passengers, among whom were a number of families that have since become well known in the Dominion. Two boys on board were W. J. Geddis and J. M. Geddis, both of whom were afterwards in the office of the "Auckland Star," and have risen to prominence in the newspaper world. W. J. Geddis, now the Hon. W. J. Geddis, M.L.C., became sub-editor of the "Star," and then acquired a partner's interest in the Auckland "Observer," with Mr. W. Blomfield, with which he was connected for a number of years. He then went to Napier, where he became part-proprietor of the "Telegraph," and he also became managing editor of the Wellington "Times." A few years ago he was called to the Upper House. His brother (Mr. J. M. Geddis) became a member of the "Hansard" reporting staff, and also established the well known Wellington illustrated weekly newspaper, "The Free Lance."