The beautiful and fast clipper ship Chrysolite made two trips to the Port of Lyttelton, New Zealand in 1861 and 1862 delivering loads of immigrants to a new land on the other side of the world. A floating cap on the water and an amputation by anchor were both part of the Chrysolite's fascinating story. Using original passenger lists, official documentation as well as passenger biographies, the story of the Chrysolite is being retold once again.

The Cashmere was a fine clipper ship of 640 tons, a preferred vessel for travel from England to New Zealand in the 1850s. She delivered many immigrants safely to Auckland, Lyttelton, Port Chalmers and Nelson from the Motherland. During her career, the Cashmere came across undiscovered islands and left tragic and interesting stories in her wake. Using ship diaries, official documents and newspapers of the day, the story of the Cashmere has now been told in full. Includes passenger lists and passenger biographies and uncovers what it was like to travel on an immigrant ship.