THE LEBU.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 307, 27 December 1924, Page 17

THE LEBU.

'CAPTAIN H. McKENZIE LOSES I HIS LIFE. (By HENRY BRETT.) CXXII. The first time the barque Lebu I appeared in New Zealand waters was on ' a trip to Auckland, which was marked !by a tragedy resulting in the death of ! tho captain. She was under the flag of the N.Z. Shipping Co. Leaving London on May 18, IS"S, she did not reach Auckland until .September 27, 13- days from the Docks, and her exceptionally long passage was accounted for by the terrible weather she met after crossing the Equator. She was in command of Captain Henry McKenzie. All went well until the Line was crossed on July 4. On the 25th of that month she encountered a fearful storm that compelled her to heave-to for 20 hours. Thence to rounding the Cape on August 0 variable winds were experienced, and on tho 10th a terrific pale struck the ship. The storm had been foreseen, and every preparation made to meet its violence. Just after mid-day a tremendous sea was seen coming up astern. Captain McKenzie, who was standing at J the Wheel, saw it coming, and sang out Ito the men to look out. The next ) moment the great sea broke over t'.ic | stern, and swept the barque from end to end. The cabin was half-filled, and everything that was movable was awash. When the decks were once more clear, after what seemed a terribly long time, it was found that great damage had been done. The companions, skids, some boats, and a lot of railing had been swept away, the two men who had been at the wheel were both injured, the third mate (Mr. William Kennedy) had his leg broken, and a seaman named Yates was badly bruised. Captain McKenzie was nowhere to be seen, and it was thought he had been swept overboard, but he was found under tho windlass forward with his head split open from the crown to tho bridge of the nose. He was quite dead. The burial took place in the evening. Mr. R. F. TVndeson, the chief officer, took command and brought the vessel to Auckland. The voyages made to New Zealand by the Lebu were: — TO AUCKLAND. Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days. May 18 Sep. 27,78 Wadeson 132 July 2 Oct. 24, '70 Lindsay 114 TO WELLINGTON. Apr. 25 Aug. 8, '90 Waddeii 105 TO DUNEDIN. • Aug. 27, '90 Waddell — * Via Welltr.g-ton. THE DILHAREE. t Originally a full-rigged ship built for I trooping to India, the Dilharce, a com-poeite-built vessel of 1293 tons, was rigged as a barque when she came to New Zealand in 1874 and 1575 under Captain R. McNeilly. She was a wellfound craft, and was pronounced admirably suited for carrying immigrants, as she had very roomy accommodation, having been built for a troopship. She belonged to Messrs. J. Lidgett and Sons, I London. The first port she visited in New Zealand was Lyttelton. Leaving Plymouth on December 12, 1873, with 300 immigrants and 15 cabin passengers, she made Lyttolton on March 11. 1574, a passage of 89 days. On January 16, 187f>. she arrived at Auckland from London, the passage having taken l<l3 days from the docks, or 93 from the Lizard. On this occasion she brought out 37") Government immigrants. While becalmed for several days early in November off the Cape Verde Islands the ship had plenty of company, there being ' no less than sixteen other sailing vessels , within sight. THE FONTENAYE. The fi.?n-ton barque Fontenaye was three times in New Zealand. She : arrived in Auckland on September 0. 1873, after a 101-day passage. She was ;in Auckland again in IS7B, arriving on March 21. after a 09-day passage from I the Docks. On June '21 ISS2. she i arrived at Port Chalmers after a pas- : sago of 109 days. Captain Taylor commanded on both passnges to Auckland, and Captain McKechnie when the visited Tort Chalmers. THE TYTHONUS. ' With 103 passengers on board the barque Tythonus, Captain Hewson, left London on October 11, IXS2, and arrived ,at Auckland on February 3. ISS3, a passage of 11") days, the reason for the long trip being the prevalence of lighi ' airs and calms. THE MARAVAL. Flying the X.Z. Shipping Co.V flap, 1 the ship Maraval, 12.">7 tons, Captain Ramsey, arrived at Auckland on January 1(1, IH7O, after a passage of '04 day's from Plymouth, bringing 32S I immigrants. She was llien a new vessel, having been built at Dumbarton by McMillan in 1577. The Maraval was Jin Auckland again the following year. arriving on January 23. 18S0. She had ! sailed on October 31, 1579. her time on the passage being H4 days. THE E. P. BOUVERIE. Seven passages were made by the E. P. Rouverie, 907 tons, to New Zenland, five of them from ftlasgow to Port Chalmers, between IKiW and 1572, and Gfifi people were brought out by her to Otago. The record of the trips she .made to New Zealand reads: — TO WELLINGTON. ■ Sailed. Arrived. Captain. Days. July 10 Oct. 19, '7:i Stevens 100 TO PORT CHALMERS. Oct. '«? ■ Jan. 27,v,s r.vnrh 96 Dec. 7, '68. Mar. ir,, -r,o thi.v 98 May 5 lAnc. in, '70 Tilly 97 All?. In I Nov. I",. '7! = revr>n3 91 July 13 Oct. 1!1,'72 Elevens 100 TO LYTTELTON. Augr. 15 j Nov. 23, "ii Roberts 101 I I