Arrival of the Waitangi
Taken from the New Zealand Herald, Saturday November 21 1874

The N. Z. Shipping Co's fine new iron ship Waitangi arrived in harbour yesterday (Friday) morning. she brings several saloon passengers and 400 government immigrants. there being no sickness on board the ship was allowed to come up the harbour, and she anchored at nine o'clock off Queen Street Wharf. She left London on the 1st August last, her passage being thus prolonged to 110 days. We are indebted to Mr Boyd, chief officer for the following report of passage:-

The Waitangi left Gravesend on 1st August and was detained in the English Channel for eleven days, beating against severe westerly gales. the N.E. trades were unusually light, still under a combination of truely unfavourable circumstances, she succeeded in crossing the Equator on the twenty-sixth day from the English land. The S.E. trades proved moderate and unsteady, and we were lost in 23   deg. S. After this time the ship experienced unsteady weather through out and unusually heavy gales. Very rough weather was experience of the Cape, and some of the heaviest seas possible encountered. The Waitangi ran her eastings down on the 43rd deg. parallel and when in 61 deg. E. the barometer fell to 28.75. A terrific cyclone gale followed from the N.W. during which the ship was hove-to. the sea Being too heavy to allow her to run. Notwithstanding all the unfavourable winds and very heavy weather experienced during the voyage the Waitangi arrived of Melbourne on the 81st day out. Off Tasmania and the west coast of New Zealand some of the heaviest possible was experienced, compelling a reduction of sail on several occasions to two closed-reefed topsails. The Three Kings were sighted on the 12th November, after which a heavy E.S.E. gale set in, which again reduced the vessel to two Close-reefed top sails, the head sea being exceedingly heavy. She has been off the coast with east gales for eight days. Passed Tiritiri at daylight yesterday, and made the harbour at 8 o'clock.

Flattering testimonials were presented yesterday shortly after the vessel anchored to Captain Sotham, and officers, and to Dr Stewart, surgeon Superintendent by the passengers on board the ship. Six births occurred on the passage and eleven deaths of children of which the following is a list:-

After the vessel came to her anchorage she was visited by Dr. Phillson, Health Officer and Mr H. Ellis, Immigration Officer. The inspection proving satisfactory, a clean bill of health was given the ship, and communication allowed with the shore. During the afternoon the emmigrants were landed and conducted to the depot in the old Albert Barracks. With regard to the vessel she is a new ship, being the third vessel built by Messrs. John Blumer and Co. of Sunderland (the builders of the City of Auckland) for the New Zealand Shipping Co. She is built of iron, and is a powerful vessel of 1145 tons register. In her construction advantage has been taken of all the improvements in marine architecture, the result being that she is the beau ideal of a merchantman. She has graceful lines is loftily sparred and is a fast sailer. Her cabin accommodation is replete with every comfort, light,loftiness and ventilation being also secured. The saloon is tastefully decorated, the tween decks are spacious and well suited for the accommodation of a large number of passengers. The New Zealand Shipping Company are to be complimented upon the possession of so fine a   vessel. The Waitangi was built under special survey, and is classed at Lloyd's A1 100. We observe that Mr F. L. Frodin, for three years chief steward of the City of Auckland and we know at this port as steward of several coasting vessels, has come out as chief steward of the Waitangi.