THE PLEIADES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 299, 15 December 1923, Page 17

THE PLEIADES.

BEACHED AT AKITIO.

CHEW'S LtTCKT ESCAPE.

(By HEXRY BRETT.}

LXIX. After sailing the seas for thirty years, and bringing many thousand immigrants to the Colony, the ship Pleiades met her doom by going ashore on the East Coast of the North Island in 1899. She was a full-rigged ship of just upon a thousand tons, and was built by McMillan of Dumbarton, being launched in 1569. Jn 1875 she was purchased by the Shaw, Savill Co., and made her first run to Wellington. She was never a flyer, but made good average passages to the several ports.

On the last voyage out in 1809, after a rather lengthy passage to Port Chalmers, she discharged her cargo and then sailed for Napier in ballast to load wool for London. She had a fair run up the coast, and at daylight on October 31 she was seen to be dangerously close to 'the land, but all efforts to "wear" her were unavailing, and as she was slowly drifting inshore before a heavy gale, Captain Burton, who was in command, decided to run her aground to, if possible, save life. The chief officer saw over the tops of the mountainous seas a likely spot, and in accordance with his gestures the vessel rushed within a few hundred yards of the dreaded reef on to Akitio beach, south, of Cape Turnagain. At 8 a.m. the vessel grounded, and remained in an upright position. It was by the merest bit of luck that the vessel missed the reef which runs out from the beach and on which the seas were breaking with great fury. Had she struck this she must have gone to pieces in a few minutee, and the probability is that none would have survived to tell the tale. When the lookout man cried "Land on the lee bow," all hands were called on deck and the topsails were shaken out in an effort to claw off the land, but without avail. All acted calmly, realising that in a few minutes they might be struggling for life in the boiling surf. Lifebelts were served out, and the lifeboats were prepared. Captain Burton mustered the crew aft, impressing on them the importance of cool courage in the crisis. After the Pleiades grounded the port lifeboat conveyed all safely to shore in two trips. Subsequently the personal effects of the crew and some, stores were saved.

On landing, the crew recognised that they had got out of a very tight corner, and gave three hearty cheers for Captain Burton. The men were treated most hospitably by a Mr. Handyside, and were later taken to Wellington by the s.s. Himitangi.

The Pleiades came through the ordeal practically without damage. AH her masts and rigging were intact, and she

was making practically no water. She was high and dry forward, but the stern was afloat at high water. Owing to the rough nature of the coast nothing could be done to save the ship. At the inquiry the Court found that Captain Burton, though not a stranger to those parts, and acquainted with the dangerous character of the East Coast, sailed his ship, running light in ballast, in dangerous proximity to the land, apparently without cause or reason, and when in danger failed to adopt the proper course, to keep an offing. The Court considered he was right in beaching the ship and not anchoring. The Court therefore found him guilty of careless navigation, and suspended his certificate for six months. The chief officer was reprimanded for not taking and recording cross bearings. The costs of the inquiry were divided between the captain and the mate. Here follow the records of t_e Pleiades: —

Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days. iov. 29, '87 | Mar. 13, '88 j Moreton ;ov. 7, '89 i Feb. 13,'90 ; Moreton I I 104 . 98

TO AUCKLAND.

Sep. 27, '7 5 I Jan. 12, **6 Davies Sep. 2S, '78 j Jan. 1, '79 Setton 107 95

TO WELLINGTON.

TO LYTTELTON.

TO PORT CHALMERS.

Sep. 13 ! Dec. 58, '72 i Roberts Oct. 1, '7 3 j Jan. S, '7 i ' Roberts Aug. 28 ! Dec. 16,'7 1 ' Peters Dec. 12, "77 j Mar. I1,'7S , Setton Nov. 1. '79 • Jan. 20,'80 ; Setton Oct. 1 (. 'SO j Jan. 15,'81 ! Setum July 2S I Nov. 11,'81 Setton July 2 I Oct. I. - S2 Setton June 2 j Sep. fi. 'S3 Setton June 24 j Sep. 21, "85 Setton Dec. 20, "87 | Mar. 31. '88 Setton Oct. 18, '92 i Mar. 1 I, '03 Moreton June 20 j Sep. 27. '96 Moreton Juno 19 | Oct. 5, '97 • Moreton 106 96 110 39 88 93 106 91 96 83 92 143 100 107

Oct. 25, '76 Jan. -22, "77 | Selton S9 Land to land 82 June. 25 I Oct. 5, "84 Setton 102 Oct. l. 'S6 | Jan. 6. '87, Setton 95 May 23 i Sep. IS,'99 Burton 112 I I