The Invererne (Anne Laity Banfield)

Built for Francis Banfield & Sons, Ship Owners and Agents, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, England in 1865
Iron construction, 744 tons gross, poop 48 ton
188.5ft long by 31.5 feet maximum beam and 19.2 ft deep (the depth of 19.2 feet, is the depth of the main hold at midships (not, as is commonly thought, the draft of the ship)

Her original name was "Anne Laity Banfield" after the wife of John Banfield (a brother to Francis Banfield), under which name she came to grief and was condemed and sold. Her new owner, however, carried out extensive repairs and remaned his craft the Invererne. Under her new name, the ship made three voyages to New Zealand, all under the command of Captain Foreman. The first was to Napier, where she arrived on March 8 1874, bringing 240 immigrants, 107 days from London. There was a lot of sickness aboard during the trip and 16 children died, the chief trouble being scarlatina.

Ship was partly destroyed about 1871-72 and rebuilt in London
Owners J and R Grant
Registered London.Lloyds number 5319
Made 3 trips to New Zealand with migrants -1874 Napier, 1875 Auckland, 1876

The iron ship Invererne, from London, arrived in harbour yesterday afternoon. She brings a general cargo and 208 Government immigrants. They have all arrived in good health. The Health Officer, Dr. Philson, is to proceed on board this morning, at 9 o'clock, to examine the passengers, and they are to be landed this afternoon. Owing to the Health Officer not visiting the ship yesterday on her arrival, we are unable to furnish our readers with an extended report of the vessel's passage. From Captain Foreman we, however, learn that the Invererne left Falmouth on November 1 and passed the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope on December 30. Strong winds from the westward prevailed. Sighted the Three Kings on January 25, and had baffling winds and calms up the coast. The passage throughout has been of a most pleasant description. There were three deaths (children), and five births during the passage.

The Hawkes Bay Times of 10th March 1874
The New Zealand Shipping Company's fine iron ship Invererne, 743 tons, Capt. Foreman, arrived in Hawkes Bay at 6 o'clock on Sunday evening, after a good passage of 107 days. She left Gravesend on the 22nd November, but meeting bad weather, was forced to lie for a week in the Downs ; went down the Channel, but the rough weather continuing, put into Dungeness, where she lay two days ; had light variable winds to the 5th December, when she landed her pilot. Made a passage of 29 days to the line, which she crossed on the 3rd January. Passed the meridian of the Cape on the 28th January, and from thence had moderate weather to New Zealand. Sighted Stewart's Island on the 28th February; met with light contrary winds along the coast until Friday, when off the entrance of Cook's Straits, when it increased to a fierce gale, the direction of which changed to the south on Saturday at about 8 p.m. bringing the ship rapidly up the bay, which was entered on Sunday afternoon. Anchored off the Town of Napier at about 6 p.m. ; and was shortly afterwards boarded by the Pilot, the Board of Health, and a number of visitors, who went off in the steam launch Bella. She was removed to the western anchorage yesterday morning. The Invererne brings 270 passengers, including a large proportion of Scandinavians. They all speak highly of the accommodation on board the ship, and the uniform kindness of the officers. There were two births on the passage ; two marriages (of Scandinavians) on Christmas day ; and sixteen deaths - all children, the oldest being six years of age. The causes of death were scarlatina, bronchitis, and measles, and the last case occurred about six or seven weeks before the arrival of the vessel in port. One passenger - a Scandinavian woman - suffering from congestion of the lungs was removed to the Provincial hospital.

Sank after dropping of the 3rd lot of migrants at Lyttleton - was going to Newcastle. Australia to pick up coal for delivery to Java.
A full account of the sinking of the "Invererne" can be found here:
11.4.1877, Source: The Star, (Christchurch, Nz.), Wednesday, April 11, 1877, page 3, col. 2 & 3.:-

Additional notes supplied by Roger Banfield.

If you have notes on the Invererne, and would like to be considered for inclusion in this website, please e-mail.