SUPPOSED LOSS OF THE CITY OF DUNEDIN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1407, 1 June 1865, Page 4

SUPPOSED LOSS OF THE CITY OF DUNEDIN.

Considerable excitement has been manifested in consequence of the report brought by the Queen, on Tuesday evening," that portions of a wreck had been washed ashore on the coast, near Cape Terawitti, which were supposed to be part of the fittings and cargo of the City of Dunedin. This boat, a fine iron vessel of 463 tons, Boyd, master, is tbe property of an Otago firm, Messrs. Jones and Co., and has been for some time engaged in the coasting trade. We have traced her from the time she left Dunedin on her voyage, to her departure from Wellington She left Dunedin on the 15th inst., with the chief part of her cargo for Lyttelton, and small consignments for Wellington, Kelson, and Hokitika. The cargo for the latter places is not specified in the Otago papers. The vessel arrived at Lyttelton on the 17th, aud having discharged her cargo, proceeded on her voyage to Wellington the same day, arriving at that port on the 19th. She sailed again for .Nelson on the 20th, which is the last intelligence we have of her.

The extracts given below from the "Wellington papers contain all that is known relative to the wreck, with the exception of some scraps of information we have been enabled to gather from various sources. The Crimean shirt, with the name "B. Macdonald" upon it, is stated to belong to the Chief Engineer of the City of Dunedin. It is also conjectured by nautical men that as the City of Dunedin left Wellington at four o'clock in the evening, when it would be getting dusk, if Hhe hugged the shore too closely, it is probable in rough weather she might have struck upon the rocks, which stretch out a considerable distance to seaward from Point Turawitti, beyond which, it must be remembered, the fragments of wreck have been found. But this must only be taken as a conjecture.

There is no positive evidence to show that the vessel has gone down, as the tar-barrel, binnacle, shirt, and other articles which have been picked up, even were they proved to belong to this steamer, might have been washed overboard in the recent rough weather experienced on the coast. The following are the names of the passengers who went by her from Lyttelton:— For Hokitika : Mr. Bishop and Mr. John-

son. For Nelson: Mr. M'Laren. Steerage(passengers —Mrs. Briggs, D. Moukay, H. Dawsonfj. Bartell, Mr. and Mrs. Moody. Mra. M'Laren, J. M'Lean, J. aud R Craw--1 ford It is also believed that Mr. John Beswick, of Tiroaru, was on board as a passenger, having decided, shortly before the departure of the steamer, to proceed to Hokiwere 15 steerage passengers from Dunedin, and the Rev. Mr. Driscoll was a saloon passenger from Wellington. It is unfortunate that there is no boa from the North until the Otago, which is due on Monday next, when we trust the present painful uncertainty as to the fate ol the passengers and vessel will be allayed. We learn from a private source that on Satu^ a J morning the skylight of a vessel, broken desk and ft letter, Bißned" r .K e ogh, was found on the beach near the Pi ot Station. The document is dated eight years back, but is quite legible. There were also several pieces of timber, supposed to be part of bulk-heads, andneairly a mile to the eastward was found half a cask of addressed "Steamer Favorite, Hokitika. —Welltngton Advertiser, May 23. . _ On Saturday morning Mr. Davis, picked up a quantity of timber on the beach, supposed to be part of a skylight of a vessel. About two hundred yards from the Pilot Station, he found a desk smashed open, and lying beside it a letter, written eight jews ago, signed " T. Eye," which may be seen at this office. Mr. Davis instituted a search on either side of the station, and though no drift-wood whatever was found, he discovered half a cask of pitch, addressed, "Steamer Favourite, Hokitika, on a parchment label, made in 'Dunedin by a firm whose name we cannot decipher; the letters, C.L.A, alone being distinguishable. Mr. Davis, to whom we are indebted for the foregoing information, further says, that though he has prosecuted his search in every direction, no further traces of the support! wreck have been thrown upon the beach. —Independent, May 23. . The pilot reports, with regard to the supposed wreck at the Heads, that since our last issue ths following articles have been washed on shore:—A lew pieces of cabin fittings (wainscot grained), a boat s rudder, broken in two pieces, a broken kerosine case, and some gilt mouldings from either the stem or | head frame of a vessel.—lbid, May 25. Further traces have been discovered of the supposed wreck at the Heads. First it was our painful duty to announce the discovery by Mr. Davis of a broken desk, containing a letter, signed T. Ryan; the ; portion of a skylight and part of a bulk head. A day or two afterwards other portions of a wreck were washed up on the the beach. The steamer New Zealand, from Melbourne via Hokitika, which arrived at Nelson on the morning of the 23rd mst., reports the finding of 16 bodies at Hokitika, from w hich it is inferred th&t one or more vessels h&ve been wrecked oil the coast. We have heard many rumours as to the name'of the vessel supposed to 1 have been lost off the Heads, but up to the present there is not that sufficient evidence as would authorise us to mention the supposed name of the ill-fated vessel.—lbid, May 27. . In our issue on Tuesday last, we noticed that sundry pieces of wreck had been found on the beach near the Heads. We have received from Captain Kennedy, Warden of the Marine Board, who, in company with Mr. Aylmer, Lighthouse engineer, paid an official visit, on Thursday, to Pencarrow Lighthouse, a description of the fragments already found, and which, we regret to say, leave no room to doubt that a serious catastrophe has occurred. Among other things are a mahogany binnacle stand, bearing the maker's name," David Heron, Glasgow," portions of a circular skylight, pieces of shoe trunks, some cabin fittings painted in imitation of birdseye maple, a large skylight flap, with heavy brass hinges and supports, and a half-cask of pitch, marked " Steamer Favorite, Hokitika." From, sortie peculiarities in the construction of the binnacle stand, it is proved to have belonged to an iron-built steamer. On reference to the shipping reports for the past week, we find that the paddle steamer City of Dunedin sailed, on Saturday evening last, for Nelson; and we are informed that, up to Tuesday evening, when the Tararua left, that vessel had not reached her destination. These facts are certainly suspicious, to say the least. There is a probability that she may have proceeded to Hokitika without calling at Nelson, as intended, but we fear that this is but a forlorn hope. It is intended at once to make a further search along the coast, when, probably, something will be found to throw more light on the subject. In the meantime, we merely report what has been inferred by competent judges, from the discoveries already made, sincerely hoping that the j steamer named may be found to have reached some port iii safety.—Sew Zealand Advertiser, May 27. |

As further inquiries are prosecuted concerning the supposed wreck of the fine paddle steamer City of Dunedin, the hopes entertained for her safety gradually diminish, and we are forced to the conclusion that our worst fears are only too true. In our issue of Saturday last we published from a contemporary an article containing all the particulars known at that time, and the circumstances then alluded to, taken either separately or collectively, were sufficient to give rise to the most unfavourable apprehensions with reference to the steamer's safety, and the lives of some fifty or sixty persons who were on board of her when she left this port. On Saturday last, Mr. W. Seed, Collector of Customs, accompanied by Mr Police Inspector Atcheson and Mr. Edward Bull, proceeded along the coast towards Cape Terawitti, and returned to Wellington by way of Island Bay. Proceeding towards the former place, this party were placed in possession of a dark green velvet or plush cushion, such as are only used on board first-class steamers, and which has since been identified by several persons as being exactly similar to those with which the saloon of the City of Dunedin was fitted. In the same direction they found several pieces of timber resembling portions of a wrecfc, but there was nothing which would be calculated to throw further light on the catastrophe which has evidently occurred. Returning by way of Island Bay, the party visited a small Maori pah, and here they were shown several articles which had been washed on shore. Amongst these we may mention the following, viz.A large sized sandal wood box, with the brass corners, name plate, and lock knocked off ; an oar, about 15ft long, broken at the centre, and without any brand; several pieces of tongued and grooved timber, painted white, resembling cabin fittings, one piece having a brass clothes-peg attached; the top of a paint locker, about five feet long, with a brass hasp ; an oblong frame, painted white, and much resembling those placed over cabin doors for the purpose of ventilation ; a common striped Crimean shirt, with the name of " B. Macdonald " sewn in at the back of the neck on a piece of common calico ; portions of one or more white calico shirts, and some few small pieces of timber. The mere finding of these additional articles, and more especially the cushion, is very suspicious, but our worst fears are still further strengthened by other information which has readied us since the return of the party alluded to. It will be in the recollection of our readers that one of the first things discovered in the neighbourhood of the Pilot Station was a cask of pitch, addressed from a Dunedin firm to " Steamer Favorite, Hokitika." Now, it appears that the steamer Favourite has been purchased by Messrs. Taylor and Watt, for the Wanganui River trade, and the gentleman who is to have charge of her was a passenger by the s.s. Airedale yesterday from the South, proceeding en route for the Hokitika, and he distinctly states that before the departure of the City of Dunedin from tbe Dunedin jetty he himself placed the cask of pitch, labelled and addressed as described, on board that vessel, amongst other stores for the Favourite. Again, the cask has been identified by a man named Morrison who came up in the City of Dunedin last trip, in the capacity of first or second steward, lie says that it stood upon the deck, and he was in the habit of making a seat of it. Several rumours are afloat to-day through the town, but we refrain from giving thetrt, because of our own knowledge we cannot answer for their truth, and most of them are too absurd to gain any credence whatever. The particulars we have given are from the most reliable sources, but we anxiously await further tidings in the hope that the City of Dunedin aud her passengers have reached some place in safety, and that our forebodings are merely the result of a combination of suspicious circumstances.— Wellington Evening Post, May 20.

The Ship Empress, prom London.—The splendid American clipper ship, Empress, in command of Captain Ellis, arrived in harbour on Sunday night. The Empress has accomplished the passage in 95 days from the start, being the quickest made during the Reason. On her last trip, she made the passage here in 92 days, on which occasion, it will be remembered, she brought the officers and men of the Military Train. The Empress brings a large cargo of general merchandize, and nearly 300 passengers. —Auckland Herald, 17th inst.

Arrival of the Dauntless, from England.— The ship Dauntless, Captain Moore, came into harbour yesterday forenoon. She brought 17 men and

the mate of the ship Fiery Star, which was fallen in with on the 11th instant, off the coast, and the news of the loss of a lieutenant and a sailorof H.M.S. Har* rier. The Dauntless took her departure from Kingston on the 31st December. On Feb. 14, inlat. 19'20 8., long. 26.4 W., the Dauntless was signalled by the Harrier, and two boats being seen, the ship was hove to. A boat with a Sub-Lieutenant enme alongside, and one with a First-Lieutenant, who told taptain Moore that whilst the boats were being lowered, a sailor had fallen overboard, and sank before assistance could be given him. The object of sending to the Dauntless was, that word might be conveyed to the senior officer on the New Zealand station ■ that, while the vessel was lying at the Falkland Islands, Lieutenant Jerroham left for the purpose of having a day's shooting, and though the ship lay at the island for some time after, he had never returned. The Harrier l&ft the Falkland Islands on the 28th of January, for England. The voyage of the DauntIsss has not been by any means a peaceful one. 1 lie sailors have, on several occasions, been in a state of mutiny. They threatened to take the ship into the Cape of Good Hope. The captain broke open a case of rifles, consigned to the Colonial Secretary, and he and the officers always went armed. Six of the worst of the crew were put in' if-ons during the voyage, and were yesterday taken offi the ship by the . water-police, and will be brought up at the Police-, court to-day. The Dauntless has, 420 passengers, principally Government immigrants. Three women have died on the voyage, and seventeen children,— Cross, 18th May. , Arrival of the Thomas Brown. —The clipper barque Thoma9 Brown, 278 tons, Captain G. M. Jackson, arrived in the harbour yesterday, after a passage of eight days from Launceston, which she left on the Bth instant. She had light winds during : the voyage till making the land, which was sighted on Saturday last. Since then she experienced heavy, gales from the N.E.„ in which, on Sunday morning last, she lost her foretopsail and foresale. From Tuesday morning till yesterday morning she lay-to between the Great Barrier and Point Rodney, the weather being very thick. The Thomas Brown brings a cargo of oats, flour, and bra.n. Captain, agent.—lbid. , Arrival of the Rangitoto.—-The P.N.Z. and A.R.M. Company's splendid new steam clipper Rangitoto, under the command of Captain H. Harris, R.N.R., arrived in Auckland yesterday at 1 p.m., after an unusually swift passage of five days and three and' a-half hours. Owing to the late arrival of the Northam with the English mail, she was detained in Sydney till the 17th. She cleared Sydney Heads at 7.30 that morning ; experienced moderate winds from S. to S.W. throughout the run, excepting a strong S.E. gale, which continued during the night of the 19th ; sighted the Three Kings at 11.15 a.m. on the 21st; rounded the North Cape at 7.15 p.m., and arrived here as above. At 7.15 p.m. on the 19th, Mrs. H. Humphries, one of the second-cabin passengers, gave birth to a female child. Under the skilful attendance of Dr. Wallace, who came out surgeon to the ship, the delivery was happily accomplished, and both mother and child are doing well. The Rangitoto is the latest addition to the company's fine fleet. She was built on the Clyde by James G. Laurie, the builder of the Otago, and promises to rival that celebrated vessel in speed. Her engines are by Blackwood & Gordon, of 140-horse power nominal, but working up to an indicated pressure of 700-liorse power. They are direct-acting, inverted cylinders, and fitted with expansion gear, governor, and all the recent improvements. Her dimensions are as follows:—Length from the stem to stern - post, 209 feet ; breadth, 25 feet ; depth of hold, 15 feet; gross tonnage, as per registry, 574 tons. She is brig-rigged, and has a low and rakish-looking funnel. These, with her beautifully fine lines, give her the appearance of a smart dispatch boat. Her passenger accommodation is unsurpassed. She has two saloons, an upper and a lower, and makes up 75 berths, irrespective of sofas. Her upper saloon is elegantly finished, in a style similar to the Otago's. Her second cabin is quite equal to the saloon of many steamers ; it contains 70 roomy berths, and two spacious dining tables. Ventilation in all parts of the ship is abundantly provided. She is reported to be an excellent sea-boat; this, combined with her fleetness and superior accommodation, must make her a favourite vessel with passengers. Her reputation for speed is already established. With only half her ordinary consumption of fuel she made the passage from England to Melbourne in 57 days, and her first in-ter-colonial voyage from Sydney to Auckland, made under the disadvantage of having a foul bottom, only occupied five days hours. The splendid fleet now owned by the P. N. Z. Company in these waters, and the order and cleanliness prevailing on board each of the vessels, without exception, is an earnest of the intention of the company to secure the faithful fulfilment of their contracts, and the approbation and support of the public.—Southern Cross, May 23. Arrival of the St. Kilda at Napier.—As our readers are aware, the St. Kilda, with his Honor the Superintendent on board, left Napier on Saturday last, at noon. She arrived off the Mahia at 9 p.m., and remained there till Monday. In the morning, Mr. M'Lean went ashore and saw Ihaka and some other natives; but as there was every appearance of a gale from the south, he returned on hoard, King Ihaka and other chiefs with him. The St. Kilda then steamed round to Whangawehi. The sea there was too rough to allow of landing, but a gieat number of natives gave a dance of welcome on the shore. The wind freshening from nor'-east, Captain Deck judged it prudent to return to Mahia. The Whangawehi natives, to the number of 250, followed next morning, and made many speeches of welcome, to which Mr. M'Lean replied. He spoke strongly against Hau-hau, and said that he was glad to find the natives of Table Cape so unanimous in resisting it—that Europeans and natives must join in resisting the dangerous fanaticism that now prevailed; and, being united, they would keep that part of the district free of all danger from such foolish practices. An old chief, Toiroa, had been drilling the young men of his own tribe; and, after the war dance was over, they went through the manual and platoon exercises with considerable accuracy. The natives generally stated that they were firmly determined to join the Europeans in preserving order and putting a stop to the hau hau fanatics. (The same chief has also composed some songs directed against this superstition, which are much used by loyal natives.") The proceedings were interrupted, however, by a heavy fall of rain, which finally put a stop to the meeting. On Wednesday, the St. Kilda started at 9 a.m. for the Wairoa, with the intention of landing Lieut. St. George and Mr. Locke, but the surf was tremendous and the landing could not be effected. Five natives attempted it, hut the boat was capsized and two of the oars broken. At 12 o'clock on Wednesday night, the St. Kilda started on her return, and arrived in Napier at 7.30 on Thursday morning—Hawkers Bay Herald, May 20.

The W.S.N. Compact's s.s. Wanganui, Captain Linklater, sailed from Wellington on Thursday, the 18th inst., for Wanganui, and experienced a heavy gale from the N.W. Crossed the bar at 4.4-0 p.m. on the 19th, was detained at Wanganui until the 24th instant, in consequence of a strong N.W. gale. Sailed from Wanganui on the 25th, at 10 a.m. During the first pavt of tho passage experienced a moderate breeze from tho westward; at 4 p.m., strong breeze from the S.E. which increased to a heavy gale towards midnight, and arrived in this harbour at 1.30 a.m., on the 26th. There were nine vessels off tho bar when the Wanganui left, consisting of two brigs, ono largo three-masted schooner, and the remainder briguntines and schooners. Tho bar had partiuliy filled up; there were breakers completely across tho mouth of tho river j and it was impossible for vessels to cross until the channel had been sounded. Tho Wanganui took soundings on coming out, and Captain Linklater reports twelve feet at high water spring tides. Major Von Tempsky is a passenger by tho Wanganui. She has also brought six prisoners for trial at the next sittings of tho Supreme Court.—lndependent, May 21).

The Brio Keatiihr Belt. put into port yesterday, three weeks out from Sydney, bound to LytlcHon.—lbid. Wreck op tub Bkioan'tinic CnoicM.—■The Choice, a large brigantine from Melbourne, Captain l'leace, wns driven on shore high and dry during tho recent gales nt Taranaki. Tho wreck, as it stood, was sold for £57.— Ibid.