THE OTAGO WITNESS
29 Jun 1861


The s.s. "Omeo," which is now commanded by her late
chief mate, Mr McLachlan, (Capt. McLean having taken
command of the s.s. "Aldinga," belonging to the same
owners,) arrived here on Monday from Melbourne with
the English April Mail, which Capt. McLachlan with
great difficulty obtained from the contractors. 
After waiting a day, and no appearance of the 
"Prince Alfred," it was only at the latest hour that
the mail was given up to be forwarded by the "Omeo."
On her passage down she encountered heavy East and 
E.N.E. gales, and was detained outside the Heads for 
18 hours in  thick fog. She brought about 50 saloon 
and steerage passengers,  full cargo, 22 horses, and 
out of 2700 sheep put on board, only fifteen of them 
died. The "Omeo" has undergone a thorough overhaul in
Melbourne, and is now in first-rate order. She is a 
pleasant and comfortable sea-boat, and Captain 
McLachlan is spoken very highly of for his 
carefulness of stock entrusted to his conveyance. We 
understand the stock brought down by the "Omeo" this 
last trip was imported by G.A. Chalmers, Esq.


Converted to electronic form by Corey Woodw@rd