![Thomas Keir diary - 16 February 1864 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/40-18640216-ViewScan_0131-k.png "7-18631126-ViewScan_0098-k")
Tuesday 16th – Turned out at ½ past three
in the morning and saw the hills on Banks Penin-
sula a few miles to the west, they were shrouded
in mist, but the sun rose without a cloud
out of the blue water and we saw them dis-
tinctly, there was scarcely any wind, and we
were moving very slowly. About noon the wind
rose and blew gently from S.E. which soon
brought us to /near the\ land, and what a delightful
sail we had that afternoon, it far beyond my
power to describe. The hills towering up to a height
of from two to three thousand feet, some of
them clothed with wood from the water edge
to the very summit. The foot of the long spurs
that stretch down to the sea, are is washed away
with the water, and form high perpendicular cliffs
of great height, between the beautiful bays pierce
the hills, along whose shores are nestled the homes of
some of the settlers. About teatime we saw the
masts of the vessels in Lyttelton harbour, soon
![Thomas Keir diary - 16 February 1864 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/41-18640216-ViewScan_0132-k.png "7-18631126-ViewScan_0098-k")
after the pilot came aboard outside the heads,
but really there was little use for a pilot the
sea was so smooth, and a nice fair breeze and the
harbour is very easy entered. We were all
amazed at the boldness of the hills, the north
head especially, rises nearly perpendicular
from the /sea\. The hills are clothed with coars
it grass that had the appearance of corn
stubble as we sailed past. As the sun was
disappearing behind the western hills, we
anchored off the town, apparently a mean
little place built in the face of a steep hill
There was a good many large vessels in port
who saluted us with two or more guns. Captain
lost no time in acknowledging the compliment
with three or four guns.
STANDARDISED
Tuesday 16th
Turned out at half past three in the morning and saw the hills on Banks Peninsula a few miles to the west, they were shrouded in mist, but the sun rose without a cloud out of the blue water and we saw them distinctly, there was scarcely any wind, and we were moving very slowly. About noon the wind rose and blew gently from southeast which soon brought us near the land, and what a delightful sail we had that afternoon, it far beyond my power to describe. The hills towering up to a height of from two to three thousand feet, some of them clothed with wood from the water edge to the very summit. The foot of the long spurs that stretch down to the sea, is washed away with the water, and form high perpendicular cliffs of great height, between the beautiful bays pierce the hills, along whose shores are nestled the homes of some of the settlers. About teatime we saw the masts of the vessels in Lyttelton harbour, soon after the pilot came aboard outside the heads, but really there was little use for a pilot the sea was so smooth, and a nice fair breeze and the harbour is very easy entered. We were all amazed at the boldness of the hills, the north head especially, rises nearly perpendicular from the sea. The hills are clothed with coars it grass that had the appearance of corn stubble as we sailed past. As the sun was disappearing behind the western hills, we anchored off the town, apparently a mean little place built in the face of a steep hill. There was a good many large vessels in port who saluted us with two or more guns. Captain lost no time in acknowledging the compliment with three or four guns.
HENRY SCHOFIELD DIARY
Feb 16th fine & calm & warm
Got up about 5 O’clock. Saw Akaroa about 6 miles off and got up in top foremast & had a good view of it. Heaved the lead 30 fathom. Saw porpoises & sharks & wild ducks & sea weed and shrimps and a many other things & a many vessels. Breakfast bread & butter, dinner salt beef pickles & potatoes, tea bread & butter. Past Pidgeon Bay saw Lyttelton heads. Got to them about 6 Oclock when the harbour master came on board and piloted us in the harbour where we dropt anchor at 20 mins past 7 o’clock P.M. in Port the inspectors came on board at 8 went through the vessell. Saw the Brother’s Pride which had lost 48 passengers in her voyage.
Notes
The Lyttelton Times‘ Shipping Intelligence published on 18 February included the “Arrival of the Ship Mermaid”:
“Arrival of the Ship Mermaid”, item published in the Lyttelton Times 18 February 1864 [Papers Past].
![Lyttelton Harbour from above the town – watercolour by Frederick Aloysius Weld [Canterbury Museum 19xx.2.1243]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/lyttelton-harbour-from-above-the-town-WELD-CanterburyMuseum-DNZ.jpg)
Lyttelton Harbour from above the town – watercolour by Frederick Aloysius Weld [Canterbury Museum 19xx.2.1243]
Transcript of article
Arrival of the Ship Mermaid.—On Tuesday afternoon, about three o’clock, a large ship was made out in the offing from the look-out on the Sumner road. The pilot reached her before entering the heads. Soon afterwards Captain Thompson hoisted her number on the mizen-mast of the Derwentwater. This was the signal for the rest of the fine fleet of ships now at anchor in the harbour to give Captain Rose a hearty welcome. In a few minutes the ships looked very gay with bunting, as if dressed for some holiday occasion. The tide was about half-flood, and a light breeze from the N.E. assisting the noble ship with her cloud of canvass to make good way, she was not more than an hour and a half in reaching her anchorage. When rounded to, Captain Thompson saluted with his 16 pounders and dipped his ensign. The Annie Wilson, and Captain Clare of the Canterbury, took up the firing. Captain Rose, of the Mermaid, was not long in responding to the compliment, the crew and passengers joining with a right good hearty cheer. Dr. Donald and another of the Immigration Commissioners were alongside in a few minutes. After the anchor was down, and on receiving satisfactory replies to the usual questions respecting the health of the passengers, the starboard gangway was lowered, and they passed upon deck. By this time several boats full of anxious friends had arrived, and a regular struggle took place for the first shake of the hands with Captain Rose, Mr. McQuade, and other familiar friends. Our reporter received every courtesy and information. Capt. Rose handed the following report for publication:—”Passed the Downs on Sunday evening, Nov. 15, landed the pilot off the Isle of Wight on Nov. 18, and took our final departure from the Lizards on the 19th. Were detained for a week about lat. 46 N. with strong S.W. winds. Passed Madeira Dec. 5, wind south-easterly, and crossed the Equator on Dec. 20, wind south, in long. 27.50 W. Passed the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope, Jan. 14, in lat. 43.20, wind S.W., and from that had moderate winds from N.W. to S.W., and sighted the Snares on Saturday evening, Feb. 13, wind south; on Monday, the l5th, Otago Peninsula, distant 33 miles, and on Tuesday, Akaroa Heads, distant 18 miles.” The following vessels were signalled and spoken:—Nov. 27, exchanged signals with the British barque Burnyeart, outward bound, lat. 44.52 N., long. 16.20 W.; Nov. 40, British barque Ruckers, from London to Trinidad, in lat. 40.26 N., long. 18.17 W; Dec. 3, British barque Wild Wave, from Swansea to Coquimba, in lat. 36.40 N., long. 16.32 W.; Dec. 14, British ship Warwickshire, from Hong Kong to London, 105 days out, in lat. 6.0 N., long. 24.7; Dec. 17, Hanoverian barque Bremerle, from Bremen to Rangoon, 50 days out, in lat. 2.13 N., long. 27.23 W.; Dec. 18, British brig Mazzarine, Liverpool to Monte Video, 50 days out, in lat. 1.8 N., long. 29.0 W.; Dec. 27, passed and spoke British ship Castle Howard, from London to Bombay, 45 days out, in lat, 22.43 S., long. 31,19 W.; Dec. 28, British ship Anglesea, from London to Melbourne, 44 days out, lat. 25.52 S., long. 30.36 W.; Feb. 15, passed and spoke brig Herald, from the Bluff to Sydney. The Mermaid brings 358 passengers, chiefly immigrants; Dr. Cocksedge, (late of the Chrysolite) comes out as Surgeon-Superintendent. During the voyage the passengers had the benefit of fine weather nearly all the way out, and, in their own language, “there was scarce one evening but they could dance on deck.” All are in high spirits, and it is needless to say are satisfied with the ship and her officers. One birth and three deaths occurred on the voyage.
