"THE GENUINE, REAL SIR ROGER."

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4516, 19 November 1884, Page 2

"THE GENUINE, REAL SIR ROGER."

Auckland Evldenco In Favour of tho Tlchborno Claimant.

Though a court of law has decided that tlio notorious Tichborne Claimant is Arthur Orton, and though the adipose individual referred to has " served his terra" for perjury in connection with his claim, there are many people who persist in believing that the " mnch-wronged nobleman " fairly made out hia right to the vast fortunes and estates of the Tichborne family. It will be remembered that a point was made against "Sir Roger" because of his testifying that when the Bella was wrecked he was picked up by a three-masted American schooner called the Osprey, bound for Melbourno. Inquiries were diligently prosecuted at Melbourne, which proved that no such vessel had ever visited Port Phillip, and the story of rescue was therefore set down as a groundless concoction. It would appear, however, that this conclusion was rather hasty, and that such a schooner was actually in these seas about the time of Roger Tichboroe's travels. A story reaches us from Wellington by telegraph, which though a palpablo "mare's nost," ia worth referring to, since it has been the moans of calling to rcolloction certain remarkable evidence in Auckland. This story is to the effect that while removing a number of ammunition cases from Mount Cook Barracks, Wellington, some of these were found to be marked "transport Osproy," dated variously 1844, 1846, 1854, and 1850, and bearing the names of destination—"For Melbourne," "For Hobart Town," "For Sydney." To conclude from these facts that the transport Osprey was the vessel which saved the wanderingTlchborne heir would beas unwarrantable as the former conclusion that no ship of that name had picked him up. Tho recollections of an old Auckland resident on the subject throw considerable light on the question, his statement in effect being as follows:—

He remembers that a British transport called tho Osproy visited New Zealand with stores shortly after the settlement of the colony. That was a large vessel, and she was wrecked on tho coast. Her fii'uro-head, a largo wooden representation ofan osprey, was saved with other wreckage, and gave its name to a public-house situated in High street, Auckland. At the great fire over twenty years ago, the Osprey Hotel was burned down with a lot of other property, and thewoodon figure-head which had escaped destruction by water perished by fire. It could not have been this ship which picked up young Tichborne, as he would never have made tbo mistako of describing it as an Amorican schooner. But the gentleman who informs us of these facta has a clear recollection of a three-masted American schooner called tho Oeprey arriving in Auckland Harbour. This was shortly after tho breaking out of the Califomian "gold-fever," and the Osproy was the first vessel to reach NewZealand direct from Son Francisco, the circumstanco being well remembered, through local merchants having sent goods to the "diggings," and being anxious to obtain direct information as to the markets, which the churlish skipper of the Osprey refused to give. This, then, conclusively establishes the fact that there was a vessol, exactly answering the description givon by the Claimant, trading in these seas at a time corresponding very nearly with that of his alleged rescue; and as there is some talk of tho claim being prosecuted afresh, this cvidonce may havo considerable effect in corroborating the story so circumstantially told, but which was liolieved to bo pure fiction. Other old Aucklandors will no doubt call to mind tho visit of tho Osproy, and may bo able to confirm tho tale told to us by an " old identity," which suggests tho question—Whatifpaftcr all, it should prove that tho real Roger Tichborne has been imprisoned for asserting his claim to Mb own ?

Since the abovo was written wo have received tho following particulars of the wreck from a correspondent : — " H.M. Ship Osprey, 13 guns, was wrecked near Hckianga in 1846. No lives. lost. Tho crew marched overland, and were for come time stationed with the two complies of the 58th Regiment at Victoria, Hill, Bay of Island?. Tho captain was tried and acquitted. Part of stores, guns, &c, were recovered by Sir Bverard Home, R.N , and lodged in the mngaziues in the Britomart and Albert Barracka, Tho Sgure-head ni tbo ill-fated brig wws for many years decorating an inn in High street, end so the interesting discevery is explained. The Press Association has a romantic imagination."