The iron clipper Wanganui was the last sailing vessel to be ordered by the New Zealand Shipping Company before their fleet of emigrant ships went over to steam. Built by Stephen's of Glasgow in 1877, she was registered at 1,077 tons and measured 215 feet in length with a 34 foot beam. Not especially fast, she followed the company's tenets of passenger safety and comfort until 1888 when, finally ousted by the superior speed of steam, she was sold to J.Leslie of Aberdeen and renamed Blenheim. Resold to Norwegian owners in 1904, she retained that name and was still trading for them when she was torpedoed and sunk 30 miles S.S.W. of Fastnet on 22 February 1917 whilst en route from Pensacola to Greenock with a cargo of pitch pine.