Built in 1865 as a steel paddle steamer on the yard of Jones Quiggin at Liverpool for Richard Jones Egremond, at Chester.
Launched under the name MIDSLAND.
Tonnage 1.816 gross, 906 net., dim 83.54 x 10.09 x 9.78m., over the paddleboxen 19 m. draught 4.12 m.
Powered by 2 cyl. diagonal oscillation steam engine 1.600 ihp. Speed 13 knots. The engine was manufactured by J.Jack & Co. Liverpool.
The intention was to use the vessel in the service Holyhead-Dublin, but before she was completed the company run out of cash, and she was first laid up at the yard, later at Birkenhead.
01 Jan. 1872 Sold to Charles Lloyd Norman, London, not renamed.
21 May 1874 Sold to Peter Lindsay Henderson, London, renamed in SOUTHERN.
He would use her as a blockade-runner to Havana. But before sailing out she was arrested by the British Government. After a lengthy court battle she was released.
Then there were plans to use her across the Pacific from San Francisco to China due the high coal consumption of the vessel, the plan collapsed.
Oct. 1874 the Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland was founded and the company was looking for ships.
13 Jan. 1875 bought by this company and renamed in STAD MIDDELBURG (named after a town in the province Zeeland)
She was the first ship of the company and was bought for £ 18.000.
29 Jan. 1875 arrived at Amsterdam and refitted for the service between Vlissingen (Flushing) and England.
After her refit she got accommodation for 150 first and 50 second class passengers.
May 1875 sailed from Amsterdam for Vlissingen.
Used thereafter in the passenger service between Vlissingen and Sheerness, six times a week. Due to the high coal consumption and low passenger demand, the service was terminated in the autumn (14 Nov.) till the next spring when the new quay at Queenborough would be ready.
15 May 1876 Used in the night service between Vlissingen and Queenborough.
03 Oct. 1876 the company got the contract to transport the mail between the Netherlands and England.
1877 Company was restyled in Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland, Koninklijke Nederlandse Postvaart N.V.
1880 Refitted.
1881 Out of service, used as reserve vessel, renamed AURORA.
23 March 1889 sold, and the same year scrapped at Vlissingen.
Netherland 1975 35c sg 1214, scott 529
Source: Maritiem Jaarboek by de Boer. And some other publication on the com