19/07/1876 - 11/10/1876

The Lady Jocelyn passed Cape Borda without being signalled, she having passed there at 10 o'clock on Tuesday night, she was therefore not sighted. When first seen from the stations she did not appear to be of such heavy tonnage, but as she neared the point of sight, three skysailyards aloft showed pretty clearly what she was. The boarding officers with the pilot shoved off early and worked away down south to meet the coming vessel. By the time the vessel was neared she had shortened sails to the topsails, and even under those fragments of canvas went past the boat like a shot. She headed up for a splendid berth just outside the Bell Buoy, and the master there anchored to await not only Dr. Duncan's visit of inspection but some more water over the bar. This ship, it will be remembered, was here last year with immigrants, and from her tonnage she offers the great advantage of immense space for passengers. She was originally a steamer, and strangely enough the present Surgeon - Superintendent was at one time surgeon to a detachment which was transported in her. During the New Zealand war she took a large number of troops from India to New Zealand. Since being converted from a steamer into a sailing vessel she has done good service in the Melbourne trade, and is now on her second voyage to our port. She has the same chief and second officers as on her last voyage here, and although the weather was rainy and boisterous during the passage her deck and gear looked as well as possible. Captain Jenkins reports leaving London on July 19, and getting down the channel and reaching Plymouth on July 23. During the five days he was at that port he embarked 655 emigrants, and on July 28 made sail. The vessel made a very good start, for at 10pm on the 29th she was off the Lizard. On August 8 the ship was down to the latitude of Madeira, and then fell in with north-east trades, which were very light, and faded in 12° 40' N. On August 23 she crossed the Equator in 21° W., and had strong south -east trades, which took her well to the westward. On September 16 she was on the meridian of the Cape, and St Paul's was crossed on the 28th. Strong westerly winds and squally weather then set in, and continued to Cape Leuwin, after which light north-east winds became the order of the day, and at 10pm on Tuesday night the Lady Jocelyn was off Cape Borda. The ship will lie at the Bell Buoy until about Tuesday. Register 12/10/76.