Immigrant Ships
Transcribers Guild

The Sailing Ships of the New Zealand Shipping Company
1873- 1900

Opawa was the first of three sister ships to be built for the company by Stephen's of Glasgow, being registered with Lloyd's in November 1876; the others were Piako and Wanganui.  These three were the last sailing ships to be built specially for the company.  She was an iron sailing ship of 1131 gross tons and her dimensions were 215 feet by 34 feet by 20 feet.  Opawa had the reputation of being a good pacemaker and out of a total of more than 20 voyages to New Zealand she accomplished seven in less than 90 days.  Her best voyage was in 1880 when she reached Lyttelton in 81 days with 197 passengers aboard.  The Lyttelton Times of 27 October patronisingly describes them as 'an exceptionally respectable body of people'.  The appearance of the ship herself also received praise - 'the accommodation [being] scrupulously neat and clean'.  The voyage outwards had been a remarkable one, for in the Channel the passengers had seen 'an unusual and grand sight' - 11 English war ships.  The Master, Captain Triston, had at first been alarmed, having obtained no sights for two days and, 'seeing only the tops of their top-gallant masts above the water thought that they were trees on an island, as the weather was not very clear.  The Opawa stood across the bows of the fleet, affording her passengers a splendid view of the very rare and grand sight.  The decks of the men of war ... were crowded with blue jackets, all anxious to have a look at the number of fair passengers [Opawa] had aboard. The outward voyage to Wellington of 1884-85 was notable for the tragedy which befell Opawa's Master, Captain Mathers.  One evening, after having complained of an ailment for some days, he walked towards the forecastle and attempted to jump overboard, but was prevented.  Shortly after, he leapt over the starboard side, and although the ship was hove-to and the body recovered within ten minutes, Captain Mathers was dead.  The Evening Post tells us 'no reason can be assigned for his jumping overboard, but it is believed that the illness had deranged his mind'.  The ship was brought on by Mr. Banks, the chief officer, 'a gentleman long and favourably known in Wellington. Opawa was sold in 1899 to S O Stray and took Norwegian registration, being renamed Aquila.  She survived under her new name in Lloyd's, until 1918-19. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ White Wings (Account of Opawa) The N.Z. Shipping Co.'s Opawa, a sister ship to the Piako, was a fast sailer of 1076 tons.  She was built in 1876 by Stephen's of Glasgow, and traded to all the principal ports of the Dominion.  She made her first appearance at Lyttelton, arriving there in 1877, in command of Captain McInnes, making a good run of 86 days, port to port.  Her best passage outwards, however, was to Lyttelton, in 1880, when she reached port in 81 days from the Docks.  In 1883 she made London to Lyttelton and home again in six months nine days. On the run out to Wellington  in 1884-5 Captain Mathers, who had been ailing and complaining for some days, went to bed, his mind also having been affected.  He dressed again in the evening, and when walking towards the forecastle attempted to jump overboard, but was prevented.  A few minutes later he leapt over the starboard side.  The ship was hove- to, a boat lowered, and he was picked up within ten minutes, but he was dead.  The ship was brought on by the chief officer, Mr Banks.  The Opawa was sold to a Norwegian firm, and is believed to be still afloat under another name. Lyttelton Times 9 December 1878   Arrivals Dec 7-Opawa, ship, 1075 tonnes, Friston, from London and Plymouth. N.Z. Shipping Co, agents.  Passengers, saloon:   Misses Brown (2), Mr Dobson and 290 immigrants.   Imports Opawa :  399 casks,  821 cases, 208 pkgs, 10 drums, 78 trunks, 59 rolls, 309 kegs, 15,609 bars, 77 boxes, 10 tonnes pig iron, 158 pipes, 1 trunk, 706 bdls, 18 brls, ----------, 336 plates, 180 angle  bars, 18 qr-casks, 359 jars, 31 tanks, 523 rails, 1 cheese, 4 machines, 1874 sash weights, 1 pel, 272 bdls fish plates, 16 ovens, , 21 covers, 13 castings.  Consignors-order; W. Duncan; G. Taylor; W. Harris; R.C. Bishop; C.W. Turner; S. Nasbelki; Wilson, Sawtail and Co.; Brasnal and Son; J. Anderson; W. Cook; G.A. La Costa; Rev. H.B. Cooks; Christchurch Gas Co.; Guthrie and Laruach; Honourable Minister Public Works; Everett Bros; S. Clarkson; Miles, Hassal and Co.; Royse, Stead and Co.; Freidlander Bros; Trent Bros; Jameson and Bros; N.Z L. and M; J. Goss; Press Co.; Sclanders, Fletcher; Mason, Struther and Co.; Hon Col. Secretary; J.H. Spencer; H. Hawkins; Hale and Co.; R. Forbes; Brown and Smith; J. Brown; L.E. Nathan; J. Ballantyne; N.Z. Shipping Co. The Lyttelton Times 9 December 1878 Page 4

Page 1 Passengers aboard the Ship Opawa intended for Lyttelton

Page 2 Passengers aboard the Opawa intended for Timaru

Page 3 Poem and Diary by Maria Wells, 27 year old housemaid, written aboard the Ship Opawa.

Page 4 Transcript of Memos Relating to the Ship Opawa Sailing

Contributed and Transcribed by Bill Smith for the Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild
21 November 1998


If you find an ancestor on a ship on ISTG and would like to
link to your email address or home page, please submit a short
paragraph about the passenger, where settled, children, etc.,
with the name of the ship and date of arrival, and send to
the transcriber at the bottom of the manifest or to the
ISTG Production Coordinator.

Website search technology courtesy of FreeFind.com

The New Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild logo was designed by Patty MacFarlane.

The ship logo, which is still used in part, was designed and contributed by Pat Walker and Sheila Tate.

Copyrights, Trade Marks, & Registered Trade Marks within this web site are protected under international copyright law. All rights reserved by the respective holders of any ™ © ® included within this site. 1998-2012

ISTG Home Page

ISTG™ NOTICE: These electronic pages are Copyright 1998-2012 and may NOT be reproduced in whole or part in any format for presentation, distribution or profit by anyone without the express written consent of the Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild. Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild is independently owned.

Created & Maintained by the ISTG™Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild