THE LOSS OF THE MAILE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 90, 18 April 1893, Page 5

THE LOSS OF THE MAILE.

NO HOPE FOR THE VESSEL

SOME NEW FACTS.

WAS THE SCHOONER SEA WORTHY 1

The three-ma9ted schooner Maile, of Auckland (Captain W. S. Lane), to-day 64 days oub from Launcoston (Tas.) for Auckland, is now given up for lost at sea with all hauds. Mr M. T. Lane, registered owner of the Maile, called on us to-day and supplied us with authentic information as to the condition of the Maile \»hen she left Launceston for Auckland, f»rom which it appears that she was quite capable of reaching here in Bafety under anything but very extraordinary circumstances. Mr Lano informs us that the Maile was not coming across to Whangaroa for repairs. Captain Lane had instructions to como across to Auckland for repairs here, and to call at Whangaroa if the wind was favourable. Messrs Lane and Brown, who builb the Maile, have a shipbuilding yard at Whangaroa, and they wished Captain Lano to call in there on his way to Auckland, in order to allow them to inspect the vessel and see what tho damage was. and also to place a new false keel o"n board the vessel for conveyance to Auckland, where she was to be docked and thoroughly repaired. Captain Lane was also bringing a large anchor over from Launceston for Messrs Lane and Brown, and he wished himself to call in ab Whangaroa in order to see his brother and Mr Brown on bu-ainess. Besides this, Messra Lane and Brawn wished him to call there in order to geb his advice as to the rigging of a new vessel which they are at present building. The Maile was bo be refitted at When the Maile lefb Launceston the charterer iCaptain W. C. Daldy) had to find ballast, and Captain Lane was ab liberty to take any quantity he chose without cosb to himself. The crew's articles expired in Launceston — they could all havo lefb if there had been tho least dissatisfaction. The Maile has been under charter to Messrs J. T. Arundel off and on for nearly three years, and Captain Daldy vouches that there was not a better-found vessel oub of this port, and the captain wa3 one of the ablest and most careful masters known, and was respected by all. Captain Daldy acted as agent for Mr Arundel. Mr Lane states thab, wibh • reference to various rumours going fche rounds regarding the unseaworthiness of the Maile, > thore was no foundation for them. She had been surveyed in Launceston, and there was nothing to prevent her from coming across here. As to tho statement that the vessel was insufficiently ballasted, Mr Lane says that while admitting that Capb. Lane may possibly have committed an error of judgment, he could have taken as much ballast as he liked, for he did not have to pay for it, bub he evidenbly considered that he had taken enough. He had the greatest faith in his brother's judgment in matters of this kind.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM CAPTAIN LANE.

Writing to Mr M. T. Lane from Bet Islet (Great N.E. Cbannel),on the North Queensland coast, under date of December 12, 1892, Captain Lane wrote regarding the Maile :—" We have again to thank God for answer to prayer, as we have just got off the reef where we wore stranded, when there was every probability of our being stuck there till 'nexb spring, if she did not become a total wreck in the meantime. We unfortunately ran ashore at the top of high water springs. She was aground here (in the Coral Sea) fore-and-aft at low tide, with 12 feeb of water on fche side she listed (port). On the other side tho rocks were jusb awash afc low water. She is leaking badly aboub six inches per hour." Captain Lano was beating between Bet and Cocoanufc Island, againsb tho flood tide, keeping the lead going when the Maile wenb ashore % There is only one tide in 24 hours up in that Waiting subsequently from Gladstone (Queensland), where the vessel arrived after getting off the reef, Captain Lane wrote to his brother, under date January 17fcb, 2393 : _« When the Maile got off the reef, there was a hump in the deck and rail, which, however, has gone back somewhat gince, She was making six inches per hour, bub now it has / returned to about the usual thing. No doubt the copper is off more or less, and the B hoe will be adrift." Captain Lane 2008 on to say thab it was hia uso ot tha ,* ad which really pub him on to the reef. ,\ Yet had I not used the lead," he added, •< ni >d' struck, I should have been blamed. Our ,-uainsail and mizzen are badly in need of relict bab they will carry "3to Aucklaud if H.n wither is not too bad." HWMiAite a"»ved a*> Launceston (Tasm«nl^ earty in February last, after a fine m™ 6 e fro mthe North Queensland Coast, £S£ *%0W of between 2,000 and 3000 miles with a largo cargo of guano in safety This fact, Mr Lane says, showed that I il'a "t-ken MP," and she was seaworthy she had t^ p,^ at Launceston for Auckland '•Tho cargo is not damaged to speak of,' wro te Capt. Lane. » There is no damage visible to the vessel, except that the copper is wrinkled a little on the bottom. lampracHcallvwell. ,\»ut cannot stand much exertion/ Capt. Lane further sont across a copy of some accounts from which ib appears fchab she was surveyed at Launceston. The xVaile's articles ( *hich were for six months) were expired before she reached LauncesUrn and the whole crew could have walked ashore if they like^i with no one to hinder them. However, all except the cook preferred to come across to New Zealand m h6 Mr Tana admits that the vessel was leaking slight^., bub says the leakage was nothing extraordinary for /craft like the Mailo He aav * that had the vossel ht>Qo. mtbad comUt.^. Captain L».™jl hava had her rep. ™f ab LaunCO f f r t°n a *' stead of riskit./ *he voya«e acrosß *° m •7«irs % nrn «-of the vessel's sails New Zealand, Somo -, , . ~ were in a bad condil \°?> bub <*?•* *c™ somo spare sails on boai i t ,H hit w able weather the Maile ? hf ld have mat with no mishap on her voy. V* , ~ ~ The general opinion is *•'hhoe o Made was capsized and founders 1 ■ > l? e?° f£° Australian and New Zealand «»8t du"n.S one of the terrible gales w >icn ragea in February lasb. Ib is nob likely now thab an -ything more will ever be heard of her.