The Spray

ARRIVAL OF THE BRIGANTINE SPRAY
Southern Cross June 19th 1857

The Spray, brigantine, from Nova Scotia, the arrival of which at the Bay of Islands we noted a few days ago, came in at an early hour yesterday morning. She left Cape Breton on the 9th january – just in time to avoid being frozen in. The passage to the Cape of Good Hope was a tedious one, occupying 73 days. The vessel called at Cape Town for water and provisions, remaining there 10 days and leaving on the 2nd of April. Her passage thence was also a tedious one, much easterly wind having been experienced. On the 56th day from the Cape, the schooner put into Twofold Bay, and remained there to take on water and fresh provisions. She had a good run of 8 days from the New South Wales to the New Zealand coast, and made the bay of Islands on the eleventh. The prevalence of easterly winds detained her there eight days, she having not left till the evening of Tuesday last. The Spray, although a good, large, roomy vessel, would strike one as being scarcely adequate to the conveyance, for such a distance, of so many passengers – ninety-six in all, but the whole arrived in good health. There were two** births on board; no deaths or sickness. No vessel was laid on to follow the Spray, but many persons are represented as being anxious to emigrate, should they receive encouragement. The Spray is a Nova Scotia built vessel, hailing from Halifax.

Image credit: Munro, John Alexander, 1872-1947. [Munro, John Alexander] 1872-1947 :Brigantine “Spray” 99 tons, sailed from Cape Breton Island and arrived in Auckland N.Z. 1857. [n.d.]. Ref: A-103-025. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22853029