WRECK OF THE SHIP SOUTHMINSTER.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2690, 2 December 1878, Page 2

WRECK OF THE SHIP SOUTHMINSTER.

[BY TELEGRAPH.]

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day. The Southern Cross, which arrived here last night, reports sighting the ship Southminster, 1,243 tons, Captain McFee, with twenty-three hands, and the captain's wife (a passenger), on shore, inside the Kelp Reef, near this port, while on her voyage from Lyttelton to Wellington. _ The Southern Cross despatched a boat immediately on shore with Mr Lodder, manager of the Auckland Steam Packet Company, with the mate, the purser, and two hands, to see if they could render any assistance. They found the vessel had four holes in her bottom, and the water was washing in and out with the rise and fall of the tides. At high water, there was about 7 feet of water in the hold, and at low water about 1 foot. The captain and his wife left for the Kaikoura telegraph station that morning. THE MATE'S ACCOUNT.

The mate has supplied the following particulars :—The ship went ashore on Friday morning early, on the Shepherdess Reef, while the vessel was shaping N.E. by N., with light winds and thick foggy weather. The rudder was knocked out, aud afterwards she drifted inside the kelp bed, where she now lies with a rock through her bottom. fc*he was built in Quebec two years ago, and is now owned by a London firm ; Ler cargo being Yankee notions, McCormick's reapers and binders, and American organs from New York ; in all between 400 and 500 tons of cargo. She was consigned to Messrs. W. M. Bandayne and Co., of Wellington. lam unable to give any particulars about the insurance, although I believe both the ship aud the cargo were partly insured.

All the crew had landed with their effects by noon on Friday in the ship's boats, but nothing has been done towards landing the rigging and cargo ; in fact, the sails were all loose and flying, just as they were when she went ashore.

THE STELLA GOES TO THE SCENE.

It is considered that it will be a hopeless attempt to get her off; but with the wind from the N. VV., as now, all the cargo and running gear ought to be saved, as the sea is quif c smooth, and the vessel close to the beach. With aS. E. wind she would go quickly to pieces, and nearly everything be lost or seriously damaged. A portion of the cargo, consisting of organs, will be completely damaged. Pieces of the cargo are floating about at high water. The crew reported they were in want of nothing, having landed enough stores, and made tents of the sails. They declined going to Wellington with the Southern Cross, because the captain was absent; so the steamer proceeded on her course, after a detention of about two hours. The Kiwi, which arrived here early this morning, reported having seen .the wrecked \essel, with the sails flying loose, as described above. The Stella has gone to the scene of the wreck, INSURANCES. The United Insurance Co. has £550 on the cargo of the Southminstor, aud the National £500. The South British had lines to other ports, which are landed ; amount on goods remaining in vessel, £2,189, F.P.A. only. Any re-insurances are under open policy on total lives in vessel, and are not now accurately known.