Passenger lists for South Canterbury arrivals
Shipping Intelligence from the Timaru Herald 1864-1865
Search this site Wrecks at TimaruThe 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'
| Huntress | Lyttelton | 21 Apr 1863 |
| Otaki | Lyttelton | 8 Feb 1876 |
| Ben Venue | Timaru | 5 May 1882 |
| Rakaia | Timaru | 8 Jan 1885 |
| Lochnagar | Timaru | 1 Nov 1885 |
| Lochnagar | Timaru | 25 Oct 1887 |
| Invercargill | Timaru | 4 Dec 1893 |
| Invercargill | Timaru | 16 Sep 1898 |
| Hermione | Timaru | 11 Sep 1899 |
| Taranaki | Timaru | 2 Oct 1899 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
____________
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.