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THE AVALANCHE. Great Race Home—Triangular Contest—A Fatal Collision.
the Avalanche was a fine comfortable ship of 1160 tons, owned by the Shaw, Savill and Albion Co. She made some good runs in the New Zealand trade, especially on one occasion when racing Home with the celebrated crusader. After completing three successful voyages to Wellington she came to grief when starting out again in 1877, bound for Wellington with 60 passengers. She collided in the English Channel with an American ship, and went down in a few minutes, with all the passengers and crew, a total loss of 99 souls—only three of the crew being saved. the Avalanche on her first voyage to Wellington was commanded by Captain Bishop, and on the other passages by Captain Williams. She sailed from London on October 22, 1874, and arrived at Wellington, via New Plymouth, on January 25, 1875, making a good run of 92 days. She landed at New Plymouth 260 passengers, and this was the first immigrant ship (stated the "Herald") to call there for twenty years. the Avalanche made a second voyage to Wellington the same year with another batch of immigrants. She sailed from London on September 1, and arrived at Wellington on December 3, 1875, making the run in 93 days. The following year, 1876, the ship sailed from London on September 10, and arrived at Wellington on December 8, making the passage in 89 days, and 81 land to land.
Passenger Lists
First Voyage: October 22 1874 - January 22 1875 to Wellington via New Plymouth
Second Voyage: 1875
Third Voyage: September 1 1875 - December 3, 1875 to Wellington Travelling as the Wiggins family of 5 were Thomas Gore and his wife Emma (nee Swain), their son Thomas (b.1867), their daughter Louisa (b. 1870) and Emma's daughter Mary Swain. Their other daughter Emily Jane Gore (b. 1868) came to NZ with her grandparents Charles Wiggins and Letty Wiggins (nee Gore) on the Dallam Towers, earlier in 1875, as their daughter. Thomas Gore was Letty's son from a previous relationship with Thomas Parr.
Fourth Voyage: September 10 1876 - December 8 1876 to Wellington