SMUGGLERS IN N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 26, 1 February 1937, Page 5

SMUGGLERS IN N.Z.

CUSTOMS OUTWITTED.

THE SCHOONER ST. KILDA.

EXPLOITS IN THE 'SIXTIES.

While the folks of Auckland stood on the Queen's wharf watching the Anniversary Day regatta of 18GC, their attention wandered from time to time to a shabby looking schooner that had arrived three days previously from Sydney. The little vessel had brought with her a story that must have delighted the hearts of youthful admirers of Morgan and Kidd; for the schooner St. Kilda was a notorious smuggler, whose captain, Smith, a daring rogue, by all accounts, had slipped from the fingers of the Customs officers after he and his ship had been arrested at Whangaruru a few months previously. Since then, he had come to grief in the Pacific, and his ship was again under he himself was still at large.

As told in the files of the local papers of that day, the story of the St. Kilda's little brush with the Customs officers at Whangaruru and her escape must have raised a laugh at the expense of the officials. Even the pompous style of Victorian journalism lapses into a quite human, almost slangy, vein in the telling.

Cargo "Overboard."

On Monday, July 24,1865, word having been received at Rueeell that the St. Kilaa was lying at Whangaruru supposedly smuggling, Mr. Mitford, subcollector of Customs, accompanied by Constable McCabe, a Government interpreter and two Customs boatmen, e,et off to examine her. They founfl the St. Kilda at Whangaruru and boarded her. Examining the ship's papers, Mr. Mitford discovered a discrepancy and asked where the remainder of the cargo wae.

"Overboard," eaid the captain. "Don't you see the bulwarks carried away and the galley gone."

The sub-collector retorted by declaring that the ship was under arrest and must proceed to the Bay of Islands. Captain Smith appeared to accept the position, and dismissed his crew.

As the vessel was in need of repairs, the sub-collector left one of his boatmen, Brown, aboard, and returned to Riwsell. The repairs were finished within a few days, and then, the wind being fair, Captain (Smith gave the order. "Man the windlass." To Brown he said. "There are three chance* for you—go on shore, go overboard, or go with me on a cruise."

Brown chose the shore, and away sailed the St. Kilda, with about 4000 gallons of spirits and a considerable quantity of tobacco in her hold. On the cargo which had "gone overboard" (according to Captain Smith) the Customs collected over £3000 when they unearthed it ashore. It comprised 5000 gallons of spirits and six boxes of tobacco.

Disguised and Renamed.

Nothing more was heard of the runaway until a report wae received that she had spent some months at Rarotonga. where Captain Smith had dieguised her and changed her name, after which she was supposed to have sailed for South America. In the October following the St. Kilda's escape from the New Zealand Customs, however, a schooner under the name Success arrived off Apia, where the supercargo landed and made large purchases of goods, giving in exchange bills on an Auckland firm. Captain Clarke, in charge of the lighter that took out the 'first lot of the purchased goods, recognised the vessel ag the St. Kilda, and. on his return, after putting the goods aboard her. he reported this fact to the British Consul. On her next trip out to the schooner, the lighter was 'followed by the Consul, with an armed boat's crew, and the St. Kilda, alias Succese, was seized before her crew could offer any resistance.

Under the command of Captain Clarke, the St. Kilda , wae sent to Sydney, whence she was brought to Auckland. Meanwhile, her late master, Smith, and hie supercargo, Cobden, were shipped as prisoners aboard the mission brig John Wesley, but made good their escape when that vessel was wrecked on one of the islands.