WRECK OF THE LAYARD AT TIMARU.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4001, 18 June 1870, Page 4

WRECK OF THE LAYARD AT TIMARU.

The Timaru Herald extra contains an account of this wreck : — " The wreck of the brig Layard, Captain Worledge, took place this morning, about 500 yards north of the Government flagstaff. The Layard was a British vessel, built at Poole, Dorsetshire, in i the year 1856 or 1857, and owned by Pigott ] Brothers, of Melbourne — Captain Worledge being part owner. She was a vessel of 175 tons. The Layard sailed from Newcastle on the 17th of May, with a cargo of 262 tons of coal, and arrived here on Friday last. Beyond being boarded by the pilot, she had no communication with bhe shore, as a nasty sea was runniug the whole of the time, with no wind. On Monday the sea increased in violence, but little apprehension was entertained of the Layard, as she appeared to be riding with perfect ease at her anchors. On Tuesday the sea showed no sign of going down, and it was even higher than the previous day. The brig was then lying in her original beitb. At that time she was riding with her port-bower anchor, with about 70 fathoms of cable. In the afternoon the sea became heavier, and about 3 o'clock the cable parted at about 29 fathoni3, also carrying away the hawse-pipe. The stai board bower wa-s lumie.lialoly let go, with GO fathoms clear of the hawse-pipes ; and, wibh the aul of ooir-spinigs round hei stern, she rode easily. About 11 p.m., the .sea, which had previously gone down a little, commenced to break seaw^ii d of the brig, and some &cas bi oke over the ill-fated ves&el. At about 3 tliib morning, a ticmemloua sea struck her, and swept the deck, cairjing away the -wheel and steeling apparatus, together with the after end of the deck-house, through v Inch the sea made a clean breach. At about halfpast 4 the second anchor parted, carrying away the hawse-pipe, and the brig began to dritt in steadily towards shore. The sea at that time was not so heavy, and, the vessel having her stern to the sea, endeavouis Avere made by the captain, by setting the jib, &c, to keep her end on to the beach. There was another anchor on board, but ib was not dropped, as it was too small to be of any practical use. About 10 o'clock the brig touched the ground, smashing the rudder at the same time. About 5 o'clock this morning they saw, by the alteration of the position of the vessel's light, that she had begun to drive. She soon drove in-shore, and about 10 o'clock began to bump on the rocks. The rocket apparatus was all in readiness, and about halt-past 10 o'clock a line was sent over the gaff of the brig, which was then not more than a hundred yards from the top of the cliff. After the lines had been arranged, the basket was sent on board, and, with the assistance of a large number of volunteers on shore, the crew were all drawn to terra firma, the captain being the last to leave his ship. All except the captain were landed on the beach below, but he was drawn to the top of the cliff, and as he left the basket the crowd cheered vigorously. The time occupied in landing the nine persons on [ board was only nine and a-half minutes, showing how "Well the life-saying apparatus was worked. The crew consisted of Captain I Worladge ; D Nioholson, mate j John I Samelon, second mate ; Alick Purdy, I A.B. ; H. Schaman, A.B. ; John Atti water, A.B. ; Patrick Long, A.B. ; Francis Davenport, cook and steward ; and William Quirk, apprentice. Excepting a chronometer brought on shore by the captain, a\ evy thing was left m the vessel, and the crew came on land wibh but the clothes they wore. Captain Worledge is in hopes, if the weather moderates, of being able to save his and the crew's personal property on | board, and also a considerable portion of the car^o. The vessel lies at present embedded in the sand, and is lying with her mast and sails without much apparent damage, but fear3 are entertained thab she has knocked several holes in her bottom by bumping on the reefs. A survey was held to-day at noon by Captains Scott and Crawford, -when the vessel was formally condemned, and it was announced that she woul i be sold at 2 30 p. in. We hear that the Layard was insured for £],G00 in the Derwent and Tamar office up to last May, but it is not known whether the policy was renewed. A sale of the Layard was effected this afternoon by Mr. F. LeCren. The vessel, as she lies on the beach, together with the cargo, was first put up. The bidding commenced at £100, and the lot was finally knocked down to Captain Cain for £220. The anchors and chains were also sold to the same purchaser for £10 10s. The Inquiry.— The official inquiry into the cause of the wreck was held by C. E. Cooper, Esq., Sub-Col-lector of Customs, Timaru, and Captain Scott, Nautical Assessor, at the Custom-house, yesterday at eleven a m. After evidence had been adduced, the Court returned Captain Worledge his certificate, and remarked that the loss of the brig Layard was purely accidental."