Catlins River Fleet.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 48, 10 June 1875, Page 5

Catlins River Fleet.

APPREHENSIONS FOR THE LLOYD'S ' HERALD. We learn from Dunedin that this wellknown trader has disappeared under circumstances which create serious apprehensions for her safety. She left Catlin's River on the atternoon of Friday last, in company with the schooner J-ne Hannah, and ketches Fanny and Itabella. The little fleet kept, well together, until tbe Taieri ] was breasted at 4 p.m., and then the Lloyd's Herald was lost sight of, and was not seen afterwards. It was blowing a ; heavy and increasing gale, with a hUh and rising sea at the time; and how furiously the gale raged throughout the night and into Saturday will be remembered. The other vessels reached the anchorage at . Otago Heads all right, but up to Mondayafternoon, when the two ketches came in, nothing had been seen of the Lloyd's Herald. She is commanded by Captain Marks, and had, welulieve, a crew of three men. It is possible she may have been : blown past the Port to the northward. Later intelligence supplied to the - Times' by Captain Williams, of the Fanny, states, that on noticing the Lloyd's Herald hoveto, the Fanny, which was running under double reefed mainsail, edged away and passed close to her. Captain Williams hailed, asking if anything was wrong, but : only the la*t two words of the reply, " on , deck,*- could be made out. The vessels! were then about three miles north of the ■ Taieri. The Lloyd's Herald was deep, having on board 2000 ft. of timber in excess ' of what she usually carried. Before she ' left Catlins her master appeared much dispirited, and remarked to the master of the Fanny about how all the rats had left his vessel. Latest advices from Dunedin state that the L-oyd's Herald had not yet ; turned up.

Although the remainder of the fleet reached Otago Heads all right, it would seam that they have had rather a severe time of it. The Isabella, as stated above, left the river on Friday, in company with the Jane Hannah, bound for Timaru, the Fanny for Oarnaru, and the Lloyd's Herald bound for Dunedin. A spanking gale drove them along the coast, and, excepting the Lloyd's Herald, to the Heads that night, where they anchored outside. Daring the night the Isabella parted from two anchors in the furious gale blowing, and had to stand to sea. She came in again on Saturday afternoon, and brought up off the Kaik with a kedge, and on Sunday went outbide, searched for her lost anchors, and recovered one. On Monday she was fortunate enough to pick up the other. With that she worked up harbor, and daylight failing, anchored off Rocky Point for the night. Captain Purdy states that the schooner Jane Hannah rode the gale out all night, and on Sunday morning put to sea for Timaru. The Fanny anchored at the Heads on Friday night, lost an anchor and chain during the gale, and came in on Monday afternoon to replace tbem.