COURTENAY.

Press, Volume XXVI, Issue 3391, 17 July 1876, Page 3

COURTENAY.

At a meeting of this Board, held on Tuesday, 11th instant, present Messrs Matthias pro tern), Cardale, Adams, and Coutte, the tenders advertised for since the last meeting were opened, and the following accepted—No 1, Greendale, Budd's road by Hirer Hawkins, Messrs Eli Harm and John Yeatman, at 10s 6d per chain ; No 2, Adam's road, Messrs Bonn and Yeatman, at 13j per chain ; No 3, Waireka, Hororata road, no tender was accepted, being considered much too high ; No 4, Kimberley, the Racecourse Hill and Kimberley road, Messrs Manson and Revely, at 8s ll£d per chain ; No 5, Conrtenay, the road past Bonner's, MrT. Croseeo, at 12s per chain; No 6, Bealey road, by Wei bourne's, Mr W. Barke, at 10s per chain; No 7, Chapel road, by McGarten'e, Mr J. Holmes, at lie lid per chain; No 8, road between Messrs Brown's and Hampton's land, to Mr Bennett, at 9s 6d per chain. Correspondence was read from several residents in the Kimberley section of this district, requesting the Board to form the roads leading to the different railway statione. The surveyor was directed to write to Mr W. Pitt and others to the effect that, in accordance with a former petition received from residents at Kimberley, the road leading from John Brown's to the Kimberley school has now been let for formation, and that the Board purposes completing all the roads leading to the railway stations as soon as possible. From the East Malvern Road Board, asking for a copy of the maps of this district; the surveyor was desired to forward them. From Mr Potts, chairman of the Halkett school committee, requesting a culvert,in front of the school entrance The surveyor having stated the culvert was wanted, waa desired to have it erected. From the Secretary for Public Works, stating that the first instalment of the provincial grant to Boad Boards for six months ending 30th September, 1876, had gone forward for payment. From the manager of Bank of New Zealand, stating that the amount of the grant had been lodged to the credit of the Board. From the Immigration Officer, stalling that two families bad been selected to occupy the vacant cottages in this district. The surveyor was directed to reply, that the families might be sent at any time, bat that the Board wished them to be informed there was no day labor to be obtained from the Road Board at present, and that consequently they would have to depend on each ether work as they may be able to obtain in the neighborhood. From Mr Cunningham, honorary secretary to the Conference of Chairman of Boad Boards. Mr Matthias was requested to a tend any meetings that may be held. The pay sheet, amounting to £25 12a Bd, was adopted and passed. Applications received from Messri Sawle and Trascott, to be allowed to erect gates on the accommodation roads, was acceded to, subject to the provision of resolution previously passed by the Board \ dated itith January, 1875, btiog

complied with. The surveyor was inati* to prepare specifications and advertise for contracts for the formation of several roaJs in the district; also, to have the fencing o\ free reserves completed as Boon as possible. The meeting was then adjourned to the Bth of August.

THB WBSCK OP THE CZABBWITCH AT BIG BAY. The following account of the above disaster has been supplied by Captain Webster:—"June B—Left Bluff in tow of steamer Express, bound to Sydney, having the Invercargill portion of the broad gunge rails on board; wind light, from E.; ship making about one inch of water per hour. 9—Fine weather, took departure from the Solander. 10—Variable winds from the eastward, with every appearance of a change; ship now making about Sin per hour. 11 Fresh breeze from south-west eprung up' latterly strong gale, ship straining and making more water, pumps attended every hoar. 12—Hard gale from the westward, with heavy sea running, ship straining heavily, high cross sea, leak increasing considerably, pomps had to be kepc working every half-hour. 13—Ship making more water, lee pump constantly kept going, weather getting worse; bar. 29.15 ; consider it necessary to get steam up in the donkey to work the pumps with. 14—Furious gale, ship continuing to strain heavily, crew began to get alarmed, weather getting still worse, one pump became disabled, on examination found a hole in it; after fixing the pump took soundings, and found 2ft water in the hold ; lat 46deg 8, long 160.10 E ; bar, 29.10 ; wind shifting from B.S.W. round W. to W.N.W. 15th—Terrific gale from 8.W., leak increasing, crew much alarmed and fatigued, fearful cross sea, 16th—Weather continuing same as previous day, leak still increasing, all hands to the pumps ; lat, 43.56 S, long, 159.21 E ; bar, 29.8. 17th— Hard gale from N.W, leak still increasing, all hands to the pumps when the steam runs down, found much difficulty in keeping up steam ; the gale was now furious. 18th — Terrific gale from S.W, ship laboring heavily and straining much, tremendous cross sea, leak still increasing, crew getting very much dispirited and exhausted, awful squalls with thunder and chain lightning; lat, 48.28 8, long, 158 E ; bar, 28.82. 19th—Terrific gale from N.W. with high confused sea, officers and crew protest against persevering with ship headed to the N.W., they now considering their lives being in danger through the ship going down, and not a single boat aboard that could live in such a sea; I then went below to the forepeak, heard the water rushing into the vessel at a most alarming rate, and all the port bow in motion, leaving the stem at every pitch she made. At thie time there being no chance of discovering what water she was making, but there must have been fully 3ft in the hold and all hands at the pumps, at 8 am. bore away for Port Chalmers, vessel then making about 26in per hour, Sydney then bore N.W. by N., distant about 520 miles ; lat 41.30 8., long 157.33 E.; bar 29.10. 20th— Strong gale from N.W., with, heavy sea ; people employed cutting np the cargo (timber) for fuel, to keep donkey engine going, as coal was getting played out. Much trouble is occasioned with the pumps, having to draw them frequently, they getting choked with gravel, which the vessel has had in on some former occasion, thus allowing the water to gain considerably; crew now becoming very much exhausted, and begin to feel so myself, bull impressed it upon the crew that there was nothing for it but to keep up their pluck, and try to pull her through; engine is getting troublesome; cannot get steam up properly ; weather improving, bar 29 50. 21st—Moderate breeze and cloudy, heavy swell from S.W.; pump constantly going. 22nd—Moderate breeze and dark threatening weather, wind hauling to the south, with heavy cross sea; cannot leave the pumps ; wind flew into the 8.E., and blew a gale. 23rd—Terrific gale, from S.E., heavy cross sea; crew fagged and dispirited ; all hands engaged in cutting np fuel, 24th —Same weather ; teniae squalls; discovered the tubes of boiler red hot, drew the fires and found them chocked up with salt, and so our engine is ueelees ; thin appears to be the worst of the troubles; officers and crew enquire if there is no place to ran in to save lives ; I make up my mind to run for Jacksoa's Biy, knowing assistance can be obtained the: c; all hands at pumps ; I cannot say at this time what water was in her, but after eight hours pumping got a suck with a heavy roll ; I then divided the crew into three watches—one below and two on deck —this relieved them considerably, and we keep the water down in this way, by all h tnde pumping when the watch was relieved until we got a roll and a suck. 25th— Moderate breeze from 8.W.; 6 a.m, made the land lying east; at noon Cascade Point bore by observation N.E, distuit 31 miles; fine weather, and am able to keep the water down 7 with two-thirda of the crew. 26th— Light winds and calms all night; daylight, light winds from eastward, found the current Betting strong from the S.W; all hands constantly at the pumps; water rushing in. at the stern, and also at the forefoot where the fastenings are all adrift; stood in towards Big Bay ; crew wanted to leave tie vessel in boats; this I would cot allow, but pointed out to them how much better it would be to endeavour to get anchorage. I knew something about the Bay, and we had most of the day before us ; at came to anchor in nine fathoms at the place I intended ; three feet of water in the hold. I went ashore for the purpose of getting assistance to endeavor to keep the »hip afloat, but only found two men there—Mr Andrew H., Williamson and Mr James Malcolm ; they accompanied mc on board at once. I then asked the officers and crew to remain by the ship all night, but they refused to do so, stating that they were worn out, and she might go down with them, besides they might not get a chance to land again. We then got some provisions into the two boats, also a sail for a tent, and at 4 p.m. left the once splendid Czarewitch with sft water in hold. I wonld run ashore at this time to save all I could, but the wind was not favorable for that purpose. 27th—Daylight, launched boats and got aboard ; vessel settling down fast, water up to the beams ; slipped the cable and ran her ashore on the rocks at Boat Harbor, Crayfish Point, north side of the bay, and at 9 a.m. she settled' down, and lay over on the port side. ... We could get nothing from below but cut away some of the sails and running gear, and then bad to leave her for fear of her masts coming down. 3 p.m—Again went on board and got the foresail down but the crew were afraid to remain on board at this time; part of her bottom was coming np ; wind N.E. 28th—Daylight launched the boats and went to the., wreck, but could do nothing, as she was fast breaking up. I may here mention that I cannot talk too highly of the assistance and kindness my crew and self received from Mr Andrew H. Williamson and Mr James Malcolm, in our extreme trouble—any room that they had we had for shelter from the weather, also their provisions were at our service; wind N.E. 29tb— Smooth water with heavy rain; launched the boats and proceeded to the wreck with all hands (two sick men excepted), got the balance of the sails that were bent, some of the running gear and wheel. 30th— Wind from 8.W., with heavy sea; cannot get sear the wreck, she betas broke up. July Ist, i 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and sth—Fine weather, heavy swell from S.W. Bam. on the stb, steamer Maori hove in sight and anchored in the bay. Captain Malcolm conld take nothing '.that was caved from the wreck, as he had the Suez mail on board, and the weather threatening and aea increasing. At noon, myself and crew got with their traps on board the Maori and proceeded towards Jackson's Bay, with thick cloudy weather and rain, and at 4.30 p.m. arrived at Jackson's Bay, and left at 7 p.m. for Hokitika. 6th—At 10 a.m. arrived off Hokitika, but the sea being heavy could not get inside. Communicated by signal the loss of the Czarewitch. An official inquiry into the cause of the wreck *ook place yesterday at the Cnetom House, before D. London, Esq. Collector of Custom?, assisted ty Captain Owen, a* aseeera. The depositions, which are eimplj corroborative of the aboTe, will be forwards to Wellington,