AROUND THE WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 305, 26 December 1931, Page 4

AROUND THE WORLD.

GOSSIP OF THE PORTS.

THE WRECKS OF A CENTURY

(By LEE FORE BRACE.)

Wrecks in 1882,

Schooner Josephine: This vessel left Eoxton, bound for Sydney, New South Wales, on May 17, and was never heard of again. She carried a crew of five, all told.

Schooner Richard and Mary: Sailed from Greymouth for Nelson with a coal cargo on May 27, but never arrived. Search was made along the coastline by the Government steamer Hinemoa, but no trace of her or her crew was ever found.

Ketch Jessie: When on a coastal voyage this vessel was capsized off the East Cape, drifted ashore bottom up and became a total wreck. No trace of her crew was ever found. The wreck was discovered on June 9.

S.s. Westport: Ran ashore in Lyttelton Harbour, but was got off in a leaky and strained condition. Without having an examination made her master took her to sea again in very heavy weather. When labouring in the seaway she opened up and the pumps were unable to cope with the inrush of water. The crew managed to get away in the vessel's lifeboats and landed safely. At the subsequent inquiry the master's certificate was cancelled. The vessel foundered off Flaxbourne on June 20.

Barqucntine Agnes Jessie: Got on a lee shove at Mahia Peninsula on June 24 and her master, finding that he could not make an offing, attempted to beach her. Crew got safely away in the boats, but on making a landing the boat was capsized and five of the crew were drowned. * Schooner Aspasia: Got embayed in Pegasus Bay on July 18 and, when attempting to beat out, the vessel missed stay* and crashed on the rocks, becoming a total wreck. No lives lost. Beached at New Plymouth. Barque Australind: When lying at anchor in New Plymouth Harbour on July 27 her cable parted in a strong gale. By great seamanship on the part of her master the barque was beached in order to save the lives of her crew. Vessel wrecked, but all the crew saved. Cutter Agnes Rose: When crossing Riverton Bar on April 5 was hurled broadside on to the incoming breakers and became unmanageable. She drifted on to the beach, where the crew made a sale landing. The vessel was totally wrecked in a gale which came away a few days after she went ashore, but a portion of her cargo was saved. , SS Patea: When crossing the bar ot the Patea River on April 11 she ran ashore under the cliffs. An attempt was made to salve her at the Hood tide, but when the work was in operation a large portion of tho cliff fell on the vessel, smashing in her decks and causing other structural damage which practically made her a total wreck. With the rising of the tide the vessel filled with water and she was abandoned as a total wreck. Crew saved. Barque Duke of Sutherland: On May 2, when this vessel was lying at anchor in Timaru Harbour, a series of very heavy seas came sweeping in and caused the vessel to strike the bottom very heavily. Her rudder and stern post were smashed and she was driven on to the beach, where she was abandoned. Some years later, in 1890, the wreck was blown up with dynamite. It was then found that much of the wheat with which the vessel was laden was in an excellent state of preservation and fit for use. No lives were lost in this accident. Schooner Elizabeth Curie: Ran ashore on Cuvier Island, near the Hauraki Gulf, and became a total wreck. No lives lost. Two Vessels Crash. S.S. Waitara: When coming clown the English Channel on June 23, bound for Wellington, she was run into by the u.s. Hurnui. The Hurunui was outward bound for Dunedin. Both vessels were steaming at half speed owing to fog. Another vessel was coming up the Channel, and in order to avoid her the Hurunui came sharply round on a port helm, and crashed into the Waitara, striking the latter vessel amidships.. Hurunui backed off and then went full speed ahead immediately afterwards. For the second time she crashed into the Waitara, almost in the same spot. For a few moments the vessels hung together, their maste and yards interlocked, which enabled 16 of the Waitara's complement to scramble aboard the Hurunui. A heavy swell was running which drove the vessels apart, and as soon as the Hurunui was clear the Waitara sank in a few minutes, taking down with her 2o of her passengers and crew. The Hurunui suffered extensive damage, but her collision bulkheads saved her from sinking. She was towed back to London. This disaster was remarkable for its awful suddenness, there being no time to lower the boats and give the people aboard the Waitara a chance of escaping from the sinking ship.

Tug Lioness: Was driven on to the breakwater at the mouth of the Grey River, and was smashed to pieces. No lives iost.

Schooner Makarau: On September 9 sprang a leak near the Great Barrier Island and was abandoned by her crew, sinking in deep water. No lives lost.

Ship East Lothian: When entering Kaipara Harbour on January 17, under the command of Captain Bropley, she stranded on the ill-famed Tory Shoal. She was salvaged in a badly damaged condition, and was later condemned. This vessel_ is identical with the very famous tea clipper of the same name which made history in the China tea trade.

Ship Grassmere: On May 11 sti*anded inside the Kaipara Harbour, salvaged later in a badly damaged condition. No lives lost.

Barque Caberf eidh: On August 24 stranded on the exact spot on the Tory Shoal where the East Lothian met her fate. All night the great rollers swept oyer her, and at daylight, at the top of high tide, she was driven clear from the shoal into deep water. When she was boarded she was found to be practically undamaged. Wrecks In 1883. Barque Mary Mildred: On January 19, when entering Kaipara Harbour, stranded near Tauhoa Creek. The big rollers soon pounded her to pieces. No lives lost. Schooner Pioneer: On February 9, when beating out of the Mataura River, struck on the bar and became a total loss. No lives lost. Cutter Magic: When lying at Kaitu Kala Island, loading copra, was driven on to the reef by a sudden and heavy squall. Became a total wreck, but no lives lost. Schooner Clardnda: Left Greymouth early in March, bound for Onehunga with a coal cargo. Never heard of again. She carried a crew of six hands, all told. •

Schooner Plannah Bavratt:-Sighted off Cape Terawhiti ion April 2, and never seen again. Supposed to have foundered in a heavy gale. She carried a crew of four hands.

Ship Loch Fyne: This vessel left Lyttelton on May 14, bound for Queenstown for orders and was never heard of again. She carried a complement of 35 in crew and passengers. This vessel was one of the best known ships in the famous Loch Line, of Glasgow, and when under the command of the famous Captain "Bully" Martin put up some records which have never been equalled. Her remarkable passage of fifteen days, Glasgow to the Equator, and her record of forty-nine days, Glasgow to Cape Leuwin, were never touched, even by the famous Thermopylae or Cutty Sark. Many seamen consider that the Loch Fyne was the most remarkable ship- for speed and beauty that, ever left the Clyde.