Discovery of Wreckage Near Port MaeQuarie.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 234, 5 October 1886, Page 2

Discovery of Wreckage Near Port MaeQuarie.

THE WRECKAGE UNDOUBTEDLY THAT OF THE MISSING CUTTER.

Infoiimation to hand per Manapouri from Sydney leaves not the slightest doubt as to the fate of the cutter Sovereign of the Seas, the wreckage of that vessel having been identified by certain well-known signs, names and numbers. How the notorious CafFrey and Perm and tho unfortunate girl have fared still remains in doubt, further than, as recorded in our last evening's issue, a man having a great rcsemblanco to the former is already in tho hands of the polico. The following particulars appear in the "Sydney Morning Herald " of September 29th : —

Port MacQuaiue, Tuesday

Lost Saturday afternton Pilot Kingsford received information that somo wreckago had been washed up on the boach, north of Port Macquario. He at once proceeded to search tho beach and found part of a deck beam, with combing attached, In tho beam wascut thetO'jnage,3l, and also the official number, 02,115. The pilot sent his men out again on Sunday to search the southorn beach. They discovered a board evidently from the stern of a vessel, with the name Sovereign of tho Sea painted on it. It had boon painted over with black paint except the letters "reign." It will be remembered that on tho 19th of June a murder was committed on the Great Barrier Island, New Zealand, by John Caffrey and Honry Albert Perm, who had charge of the cutter bearing the above name. The man murdered was Robert Taylor. No doubt this wreckage is the remains of the samo vessel, which left the island cutter-rigged, and flying a black flag, and which was occupied by the two men named. The New Zealand Government offered a reward of £300 for their appro-hen-ion.

The finding of the beam with the tonnage and official number cut upon it, and also tho board with the name of the vessel, appears conclusive proof that she at least has finished her career. The circumstance of the name having been painted out with black paint, excepting tho letters "reign," shows that the crew had an evident intention of destroying as far as possible the chance of tho vessel being identified, but it does not settle the question whether the wreck of the cutter may or may not have boon a wilful act, although it is probable that, at all events, the men Caffrey and Perm reached the shore in judging from recent reports, it appears safety.