The Southland Times, Friday, December 3, 1875, P2C2The long looked for Adamant was signalled Wednesday afternoon. The harbourmaster boarded her in the straits. The wind failing, the vessel was unable to reach the usual shoreage grounds, and Pilot Smith was left in charge for the night, Captain Thomson returning to the shore.
We have learned that there were six deaths during the passage, one woman three children and the master of the ship, Captain Birch, who died six weeks before sighting the Bluff. On arrival of the Express, due tomorrow, she will be engaged to tow the Adamant into port. As the vessel has not been passed by the health officer, we are unable to give particulars of her voyage out.
The Adamant was an old vessel when bringing immigrants to New Zealand. She was an iron barque of 815 tons, built in 1858, and later purchased by the Shaw Savill Co. She made nine voyages to New Zealand, two of these were to Bluff in 1875, in the command of Captain Highman, and 1882 in the command of Captain Tonkin. Her first voyage though was to Lyttelton in 1873.
The most remarkable and eventful passage out by the Adamant was in 1875. She sailed from Gravesend on 14 July in command of Captain Birch. The report published in the Invercargill paper stated that Captain Burch was much given to a drink. He kept the ship sailing about the coast of Brazil for three weeks, and on 17 September, at 10 o’clock, ran her on a sand bank within hail of the shore, so close that the natives waded out and conversed with those on board. The barque was refloated within a couple of hours. Eventually the Chief Officer, Mr Tupman Highman, took over command. About six weeks before the vessel arrived at the Bluff Captain Birch died, and was buried at sea. After her long passage of 144 days the provisions were almost exhausted. The Adamant landed 271 immigrants at the Bluff.
Another account of this remarkable passage was that of Mr Nathaniel Ayling who settled at Invercargill with his family of eight in 1875. “After crossing the Line the Adamant lost the trade winds, and for weeks no headway was made, and finally the vessel grounded on the Brazilian coast. After the vessel was floated off, the Line was recrossed and the trade winds picked up, and from that time good progress was made. Mrs Ayling died a week before the captain.
Below is the list of passengers for the Adamant.
NAME OCCUPATION AGE FROM ACCOMODATION
Alfred JOHNSON labourer 26 ESS SMQ
Peter KENAN farm labourer 24 DOW SMQ
Micheal KELLY farmer 24 CLA SMQ
Micheal KELLY farm labourer 21 CLA SMQ
Thomas KELLY farm labourer 20 CLA SMQ
Edward KEENAN farm labourer 22 DOW SMQ
Andrew LOWRY farm labourer 18 DOW SMQ
Dugald LIVINGSTONE shepherd 22 ARL SMQ
John LOGAN bootmaker 34 LDY SMQ
Bernard McGINN farm labourer 34 TYR SMQ
Robert HORRIS carpenter 23 HAN SMQ
James MAHER shoemaker 23 TIP SMQ
Alex McLENNAN saddler 26 RSS SMQ
Charles McLACHLAN navy 33 RFW SMQ
John McCANDLESS gardner 20 DRY SMQ
Daniel McCOY farm labourer 22 TYR SMQ
Richard PLAW farm labourer 24 KEN SMQ
Jos. E. PERRY farm labourer 23 DEV SMQ
S, Henry RICHARDS farm labourer 18 KEN SMQ
John RODERICK farm labourer 32 CGN SMQ
Robert ROBERTSON ploughman 24 DFS SMQ
Charles RODAN ploughman 21 DON SMQ
James SMALL farm labourer 23 DOW SMQ
John J.S. THORN wagon maker 20 WAR SMQ
Charlotte A. THORN servent 27 WAR SWQ
Charles SIMMONS miner 18 KEN SMQ
Phillip WALSH farm labourer 19 COR SMQ
Thomas BROWN bricklayer 29 LAN SMQ
John BERGIN farm labourer 23 QCO SMQ
Alfred GILBERT chair maker 20 WAR SMQ
John JAMES farm labourer 18 GLA SMQ
George JAFFRAY ploughman 23 ABD SMQ
Thomas MULLANE farm labourer 21 COR SMQ
Patrick O'CONNELL farm labourer 21 COR SMQ
John O'DWYER farm labourer 24 CLA SMQ
Timothy SULLIVAN farm labourer 22 TIP SMQ
Hugh WALKER farm labourer 25 DNB SMQ
William SHAND farm labourer 20 ABD SMQ
Stephen GOLDSWORTHY labour 23 CON SMQ
John BEER labourer 18 WIL SMQ
Dennis HESSION labourer 26 GAL SMQ
John FORD labourer 27 GAL SMQ
Thomas JOYCE labourer 28 GAL SMQ
William PASCO 17 SRY SMQ
Mary DUNPHY milliner 23 KIK SWQ
Alice FIELD housemaid 17 JSY SWQ
Ellen HALL servent 22 DOW SWQ
Margaret IRWIN servent 25 DRY SWQ
Elizabeth IRWIN servent 28 DRY SWQ
Elizabeth MINERS servent 33 CON SWQ
Agnes McILROY servent 21 DOW SWQ
Marie QUINLIVAN servent 19 CLA SWQ
Emma BUCKINHAM servent 26 WLS SWQ
Mary A. STROUD cook 21 BKM SWQ
Johanna O'CONNOR servent 16 LIM SWQ
Sarah O'CONNER servent 20 LIM SWQ
Mary O'CONNER servent 18 LIM SWQ
Sarah QUIRK servent 19 COR SWQ
Back to the Bluff Passenger Ships Page.
"Adamant"
List of Passengers from Gravesend to Bluff on ship ADAMANT
Departed Gravesend 14th July 1875, Arrived Bluff Friday December 2nd, 1875.
