WRECK OF THE BARQUE AFFIANCE AT THE HEADS.

Evening Post, Volume III, Issue 230, 8 November 1867, Page 2

WRECK OF THE BARQUE AFFIANCE AT THE HEADS.

We regret to announce the total wreck at the Heads of the barque Affiance, 347 tons, W. A. Frodsham, master, bound. from Newcastle to Lyttelton, with a cargo of 550 tons' of coal and 7 tons of coke, consigned to Mr. IG. Simpson, Christchureh. For fuli par j ticulars we are indebted to the courtesy of Captain Frodsham, who arrived in town last night in a state of great exhaustion. The. Affiance sailed from Newcastle on the 24th October, and experienced variable weather up to the night of Tuesday, the sth inst. When running in a heavy N. W. gale with thick weather in the Straits she struck a little to the north of Kapiti or Entry Island, forty % miles from the harbour, shaking her stern 1 frame, aud starting the stern post. By dint | of great exertions the captain succeeded in getting the vessel off almost immediately, and on the morning oi the following day, Wednesday, 6th inst, in consequence of not being able to keep the ship free, he made for Wellington as the nearest port. Not being able to make the harbor owinsf to the terriffic gale that was blowing, and from the fact of his sails having been all blown away, he anchored inFitzroy Bay, believing that being in smooth water he could man the pumps, and save the vessel and cargo. During the whole of Wednesday signals of' distress were kept flyingr, but, finding no notice taken of them, though a steamer passed in sight, Captain Frodsham.. at daylight yesterday, (the ship being about settling down) ordered the cable to be slipt so that the vessel might drifb on shore, and the lives of the crew, 11 in number, saved. This was done, and the fine barque now lies submerged in Fitzroy Bay, the crew only escaping with a few of their personal effects. The captain rode into town at once with a a Maori guide, leaving his chief officer and crew at the scene of the wreck. We believe the vessel was insured in the Sydney Marine Assurance Company for £2,300, and the the freight and cargo for £600.