ARRIVAL OF BARQUE RACHEL
Lyttelton Times March 28, 1865

The barque Rachel, from London, was signalled from the Countess of Seafield as early as half past seven o'clock on Sunday morning, but it was near one o'clock before she brought up off Officer's Point. Captain Brodie reports leaving the East India Docks on December 1st and Gravesend on December 3rd. From this date to the 9th was detained in the Downs by strong westerly gales, landed the pilot off the Isle of Wight on the 18th, experienced light winds on the line, which was crossed on January 10, and the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope on February 9, sighted the Snares March 19; met with a succession of N. E. gales along the coast and arrived at the heads at six o'clock on Sunday morning, but owing to the fog prevailing it was considered desirable to stand out to sea again till the flood tide. During the passage several persons suffered from attacks of dysentery. One you man named James Bell a farmer from the north of Ireland, aged 24 years died on January 2. Captain Brodie, in the absence of a medical officer had to prescribe to the patients and with this exception, out of several sever cases, brought to a state of convalescence. The passage occupied altogether from the Docks to Lyttelton about 104 days, but from the Downs to sighting land about ninety-seven days. The Rachel is a good serviceable North country built vessel. She was launched at Pallion in the county of Durham, in 1857, was employed in the China trade for some years, and last year arrived with a valuable cargo at Otago. Her manifest on the present trip shows she can stow a large amount of goods. She is consigned to Mr D. Davis, Norwich Quay.