Passenger lists for South Canterbury arrivals 

 Shipping Intelligence from the Timaru Herald 1864-1865 
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The principal vessels with passengers for Timaru

Vessel	Arrival Port	Arrival Date
Strathallan	Timaru	14 Jan 1859
Echunga	Timaru	16 Dec 1862
Lancashire Witch	Timaru	13 Oct 1863
Victory	Timaru	13 Oct 1863
Ivanhoe	Lyttelton	12 June 1864
Edwin Fox (os)	Lyttelton	27 June 1873
Peeress	Lyttelton	24 July 1874
Atrato	Lyttelton via Pt Chalmers	24 June 1874
Carisbrooke Castle [partial]	Lyttelton	3 Sep. 1874
Star of China (os)	Lyttelton	1 Aug 1875
Merope	Timaru	24 Sep 1875
Duke of Edinburgh	Lyttelton	17 Nov 1875
Soukar (123 for Timaru)	Lyttelton	24 Jan. 1876
Conflict	Lyttelton (from Belfast)	29 Jan. 1876
Countess of Kintare	Lyttelton	19 Apr 1876
Halcione	Lyttelton	25 Aug 1876
Wiltshire	Lyttelton	17 Feb 1877
Opawa	Lyttelton	16 Apr 1877
Piako	Lyttelton	15 May 1877
Wanganui	Lyttelton	1 July 1877
William Davie (os)	Lyttelton	1 July 1877
Waikato	Lyttelton	27 July 1877
Waimate	Lyttelton	3 Sept. 1877
Waimate (os)	Lyttelton	7 Dec 1878
Crusader	Lyttelton	14 Oct 1877
Waikato	Lyttelton	27 Apr 1878
Opawa	Lyttelton	7 Dec 1878
Arawata	Lyttelton	9 Dec 1878
Claude Hamilton	Lyttelton	9 Dec 1878
Warwick (os)	Timaru	Feb. 1879
Orthes	Lyttelton	16 Feb 1879
Waikato	Timaru	21 Jan 1879
Merope  (os)	Lyttelton	29 Jul 1879
Orari (os) (named TH 29 Jul '79)	Lyttelton	26 July 1879
Waitangi	Lyttelton	28 Sep 1879
Hereford	Lyttelton	31 Dec. 1879
Opawa	Lyttelton	25 Oct 1880
Rangitiki	Lyttelton	17 Dec. 1880
British Queen (os)	Lyttelton	Apr  1883
British Queen	Lyttelton	Oct 1883
Takapuna	Port Chalmers	13 Oct 1883
Waipa	Lyttelton	Oct 1883
Waitangi	Lyttelton	Jan 1884

The above list is created from newspaper reports and from the book "South Canterbury Early Settlers and Immigrants - The Passenger Lists 1859-1884".  A South Canterbury Historical Society publication 1990. 

Timaru Herald, 28 August 1876, Page 2 Papers Past
SHIP HALCIONE FROM LONDON.
(Lyttelton Times, Saturday, August 26.) This vessel was signalled at 2 p.m. yesterday, and upon being boarded by the Health Officer, all was found to be well. The latter part of the passage was very stormy; When off Marian Island on July 23, a man named William Westcott was lost overboard, while making fast the maintopast staysail. The passengers, who number 30, are all in excellent health. The ship anchored off Ripa Island at 5 p.m. The following is the Captain's report:— The Halcione left the East India Docks on May 19, and anchored, at Gravesend until 3 p.m. Brought up at the Nore for the night, and left, next morning at daylight, the wind being fresh from the north-east. Lauded pilot off Deal on May 20, when the wind fell calm.; had strong westerly winds and heavy sea down the Channel, and landed Channel pilot off Berry Head on May 25, at 6 a.m Left, the Lizard next day. at 1 a.m., ... The Halcione brings the following passengers :—
Saloon :  Mrs. Cardale, Rev. H. S. Hamilton, Mrs Hamilton, Messrs A. McDe and E. J. Cardale, J. Hannam, Boswell, J.S. Holmes, G. Sheath, T. H. Lambert, Dr L. J. O'Leary, Mrs Porter
Second cabin : Messrs J. Davis, Wilson, W. Donaldson
Steerage : M. J. Wood, B. C. Wallace,: E. Brownie, M. Killmartin, H. Lowe, W. Jones, S. Marshall, H. Ross. T. Jackson, W. Bedford, Mary Wallace, Margaret Jackson, Emma Jackson, Mrs B. Pardoe.

ARRIVAL OF THE N.Z.S. CO.'S SHIP Papers Past
Timaru Herald, 3 July 1877, Page 2
The ship Wanganui, bound for Canterbury, left London on the 20th March, and anchored at the Nore Lightship for the night ; following morning weighed anchor and proceeded. ... The ship had quite a number of visitors during the afternoon, including, as before stated, Mesin Selwyn Smyth, Coster, Bevans, Gould, and others connected with the company. Comments on the vessel were most favorable, and the New Zealand Shipping Company may be congratulated on this handsome addition to their fleet. The Wanganui brings the following passengers: — Saloon — Mr A. W. Steele; Mr Charles J. Ayton, Archdeacon Thorpe, Miss Brady, Mr F. W. Hunt, Mr W. Hunt, Mr C. A. Schmitz, Mrs Glassford and three children, Mr F. W. Mossman, Mr Reginald Bray, Mr Robert Wood, and Mr Thomas Robilliard.
Second Cabin — Mr George Meyer, Captain Brown, wife and family, Mr James Black, Mr Louis Simmonds, Mr King, and Mrs Adener.
Intermediate— Charlotte Heard and child, Stephen Burrell, Ruth Best and child, Fred. G. Rutland, Charles Spekeman, and David Strang.
Steerage — Christopher Shuttleworth, Hermann Hauptfleised, Alexander Ross, Patrick Daly, John Hendry, O. M. Bottleson, D. C. Tansen, and Philip Williams.

Timaru Herald, 6 October 1882, Page 2 Papers Past Press, Thursday
The New Zealand Shipping Company's ship Wairoa made this port yesterday from London. By her there arrived forty passengers, included among whom are a few nominated immigrants. The medical department was m charge of Dr. J. W. White, who is on his first visit to the colony. All have a good word for the Wairoa, and their admiration for Captain Barclay found full expression m the remark that there was " not a man on board but would die for him." The voyage, taken throughout, was a very stormy one. The ship rolled at times fearfully, and large quantities of water _ swept her decks. Captain Barclay! and his officers, Messrs Jameson, Croncher, and Fildes, succeeded by their watchfulness and core m bringing the good ship into port without damage and without accident or injury to anybody on board. The Wairoa left London on July 1st, and took departure from Scilly on the 10th. She brings the following passengers :— Saloon : Mr and Mrs Greenwood and family (8), Mr Joseph Mayers, Dr. J. W. White. Second cabin : Mrs Rosalia Cheek and family (5), Margaret Johnstone, James Smart, Essey Hempstead, Eliza Treanor, Mary Treanor, Charles Hunt, Edwin Green, Mr and Mrs Harding and family (5), Mr and Mrs Candy and family (6), Mr and Mrs Vince, Alice Vince, Margaret Clifford, A. Simpson, Robert Jackson, Robert Scott, William Elliott, Jasper j Stewart, William Anderson.

ODT March 1879 29th
'The nominated immigration list from Timaru last month comprised 121 souls. page 19

os=offsite

From a zip file passenger lists "Edwin Fox" 1873 to 1880.
Immigrants on the Edwin Fox destined for Canterbury, NZ, arrived Port Lyttelton 1873, from the list the following proceeded to Timaru

FRIEL 	Daniel 		Donegal 	27 Farm Labourer 
FREIL 	Catherine 	Donegal 	21 
GREENE 	James 		Donegal 	19 Farm Labourer 
HELAN 	Mary 		Middlesex 	15 Servant 
ORR 	John 		Donegal 	25 Farm Labourer 
ORR 	Alice 		Donegal 	22 Servant 
ORR 	Catherine 	Donegal 	20 Servant 

Vessels with passengers for Timaru:
reference 'White Wings'

• The English ship, Strathallan, arrived with the first significant influx of 120 immigrants to Timaru in 1859.

• The Victory, barque, 579 tons, from Southampton  arrived at Timaru on October 13, 1863 with 231 passengers on board, 101 of which were landed at Timaru.

• The Royal Stuart arrived in Lyttelton January 1855. Passengers includes Acland, Tripp, Maude and Teschemaker all later became pioneer run holders.

• Rangitiki to Lyttelton Dec. 1880

Timaru Herald Friday 6 November 1874
A number of immigrants have arrived here lately, equal to nearly one hundred adults. On Tuesday, the 27th ult, the Maori brought forty-six adults, German immigrants from the Guttenburg at Lyttelton, comprising of five families and thirty-six single men, and on the same day the Bruce from Dunedin landed three men from the Jessie Readman. The single men were principally laborers, nearly all of whom went to work on the southern railway. On Wednesday last the Alhambra brought eight adults from the Chile at Nelson, and the Maori shortly afterwards arrived with a number from the Duke of Edinburgh at Lyttelton. Those by the latter vessel numbered thirty-nine and a half adults, comprising of six families and sixteen single men and two single women, the occupations of the men being as follows:
Six farm laborers
eleven laborers
two carpenters
two shoemakers
one stonemason
By yesterday all the tradesmen and farm laborers had found employment, and those of the laborers who were not engaged, had the opportunity of accepting work on the railway. The single women and girls fit for domestic servants, readily found situations. Several more single girls from the Duke of Edinburgh will arrive here by the next steamer from the North. During the voyage of the Maori from Lyttelton, James Carlette, aged fourteen months, a child of one of the immigrants, died of consumption. The body was buried in the Timaru cemetery on Wednesday afternoon.

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The Star Monday 2nd August 1875
Arrived
August 2 - Star of China, ship, 707 tons, Blaker, from London; 20o Government immigrants. This fine composite ship, commanded by Captain E.W. Blaker, arrived in harbour on Sunday night. The Immigration Officers proceeded down to the ship this morning in the s.s. Mullogh and passed the vessel. The immigrants are all well, no deaths occurred during the voyage. We are sorry, however, to state that a married woman died this morning consequent upon her confinement. The immigrants will be landed to-morrow.

The Star 5 August 1875 pg 2
Lyttelton - Sailed
Aug. 5 - Beautiful Star, for Dunedin via Timaru. Passengers - Messrs Jones, Wilson and 40 Government immigrants ex Star of China.

9 Aug. 1875 Timaru Herald pg 2
Port of Timaru
Arrived: August 6 - Beautiful Star, ss, 146 tons, Pieterson, from Lyttelton.

The Star Monday 9 August 1875 pg2
Immigration - A number of immigrants, per the ship The Star of china, have been sent to the branch depots at Rakaia, Ashburton and Rangiora, and can be engaged there.

Timaru Herald Wednesday 11 August 1875 pg 3
Immigrants at Waimate
Eight immigrants - single men - arrived at he immigration depot on Saturday last, and on Monday three married couples arrived from the Timaru Barracks.

The Star Thursday February 17 1876
Arrival of the Rangitikei.
Captain Scotland is in command. Dr Ross is the surgeon-superintendent. 73 days from anchorage to anchorage pr 67 days from land to land. The Rangitikei left the London Docks on Nov. 29 and embarked 301 souls at Plymouth on Dec. 4. Two deaths have occurred, one a single girl, Jessie Capon, who died from hyperemia of the brain on Dec. 13, and the other a child of two tears, who died on Dec. 17. Two children were born on the passage. Whooping cough was rather prevalent. The nationality of the immigrants is pretty evenly divided between English and Irish, only a very few being Scotch. A splendid condenser. 53 girls occupied the single girls compartment., under charge of Mrs Blythen. Just six months and 27 days from the time of leaving this port and returned here again. Twelve families for Timaru and forty single men, will stay on board the ship for a day or two and will proceed to Timaru by rail. Left London Docks on Nov. 29, arrived in Plymouth on Dec. 1

The Star Saturday February 19 1876
Lyttelton - Magisterial
Combing to Disobey Orders - Eleven seaman belonging to the ship Rangitikei were charged by Captain Scotland with this offence. The Captain admitted that the forecastle was in a bad and wet state during the voyage. The Resident Magistrate sentenced each of them to four weeks' imprisonment with hard labour.

Timaru Herald, 5 August 1879, Page 2
Immigrants Expected. —  in Dunedin from Glasgow, for Timaru, per the ship Napier (late the J. N. Fleming): —
Gibson: Campbell 24, Catherine 24, William 2, John 1 ;
Lyle : Thomas E. 26, Jane 27, Francissa 4;
Kennedy : William 31, Agnes 33, David 6, Sarah 4 ;
Toomey : Michael 19 ;
Burness : Elizabeth 21 ;
McKenzie : Jane 28, Isabella 7, Robert 6, Donald 4, Alexander 1 ;
total, 4 families of 16 souls, equal to 11 adults ; 1 single man, 1 single woman. Occupations — 1 farm laborer, 2 carpenters, 1 blacksmith, 1 housemaid, 1 housekeeper.

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Evening Post, 16 June 1914, Page 8 Immigrants
On board the R.M.S. Ionic, which arrived this afternoon, were 125 "assisted" immigrants, comprising forty-six domestic servants, nine farm labourers, accompanied by two wives and seven children, and sixty-one nominated relatives. The domestic servants were in charge of Miss Dale, of the British Women's Emigration Society. Also there were among the passengers seventeen domestic servants brought out for the South Canterbury Farmers' Union, under the charge of Mrs. Hume Lindsay. These girls form the advance party of a. batch of fifty, the remainder of whom are coming out in the Athenic in November, Sixteen of to-day's arrivals leave with Mrs, Lindsay by the Maori to-night on their way to Timaru.

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Timaru Herald
10 September 2002

In a year of royal significance, a Timaru man has given the South Canterbury Museum two royal statues brought to New Zealand in the 19th century. The statues of a young Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were brought from England to Timaru by Joseph Ellis, who travelled here with his wife and 12 children (the 13th child was born and then died on the journey), in 1859. After immigrating to New Zealand, Mr Ellis became a councillor on the first Timaru council. He was also a publican at the Old Bank Tavern, then a pound keeper. He farmed at Kingsdown, where Ellis Road is named after him. Mr Ellis's grandson, Norman, handed over the family heirlooms to museum director Philip Howe yesterday. The statues, valued at around $600 each, had been handed down through generations of the Ellis family, but had been living in a drawer in Norman Ellis's home for the past few years. "They are the sort of thing people would have had as treasured possessions in the 19th century." Mr Howe said considering what an immigrating family had to take to the new country, that the statues were shipped to New Zealand in the first place was quite remarkable.
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Joseph Ellis was born in 1829 and married 23 Feb. 1852, he and his wife came on the "Clontarf" in 1859. He was the first bricklayer in Timaru, a carter and contractor, proprietor of the Old Bank Tavern, a farmer at Springbank and Kingsdown, a member of the Timaru Town Board. His son Joseph was born in Timaru in 1860. He had six sons and four daughters and 33 grandchildren.
 

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