NEW AUSTRALIA

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 27, 1 August 1923, Page 14

NEW AUSTRALIA

CAREER OP THE ROYAL TAR

WBECKED ON NEW ZEALAND COAST.

Amongst the records oE the early days of Australian shipping thove is probably no more interesting story than that of the Royal Tar, writes P.J.N. .in the' "Sydney Morning Herald." Most of our early history is associated with the shipping of other lands manned by seamen ■generally of British, Dutch, French, or other European nations.

The Royal Tar was built on the Nambucca River for Engineer ■ William Marshall about 1880. She had a register of 597 tons, and was in marine parlance known as the "jack-ass" type of barque. The builder was Mr.- J. Stewart, who had several trading vessels on the coast. The Eoyal Tar is said to hold the unique record of being the largest colonial built ship in Australia that has yet sailed out of the harbour of Port Jackson. There are others, certainly, built since- immensely larger, but so far have not yet left the port. . ■■ ■ But that is another story! The Royal Tar was eventually acquired by a syndicate of well-known pioneers in Balmain, •consisting of the late John Booth' (timber merchant), Henry Pcrdriau (ferry proprietor), Captain McLean, and James Barr.

For some years she traded with varying success until she was chartered to take a cargo of coal to German New Guinea, and- then proceed to America and load timber for Sydney This proved an exciting and disastrous trip. The intricate passages of the Great Barrier Reef haying been successfully negotiated and the coal discharged in New Guinea, the officers and crew contrary to advice, went shooting m the. bush at a dangerous season of the year Captain Franklin and Chief-Officer Eodgers were the first to pay the penalty. -Iney both contracted malarial fever and with a sick crew continued the voyage. Captain Franklin died after a few days, and the second in command Rodgers took charge of the barque. Next Rodgers succumbed, a victim to the foil .disease, and the unfortunate ship was J? f, fc, wath °?ly Third-Officer John M'Coll and a crew of two available seamen—the rest being victims of the dread disease.

One can scarcely imagine the feelings of those on board as they, practically drifted rather than navigated the tropical seas. Day after day they continued on their miserable journey, scarcely daring o hope ever to escape alive from their terrible predicament. Sickness and death had almost driven them to de??a??' £ U- -with that indomitable spirit of the British race they persevered until at last they came in sight of the Golden bate at San Francisco. Even then their troubles were not ended, for the American marine authorities debarred admission and .wanted to sink, the vessel outside the harbour to prevent the spread of the malarial fever. There was a scare created and feelings of indignation led to charges being made concerning the equipment of the- Royal Tar Correspondence ensued with the Marine IJoard of Sydney, who on inquiry found that the owners had liberally provisioned the ship and had taken every precaution for the necessities of the voyage. An official .'letter dated January, 1892, from the Marine Board, Sydney, to the Board of Trade, London, contains an interesting list even at this date of the provision then-necessary for a long voyage. It "commends in a special manner the action by the experienced! managing owner, Mr. John Booth. After much delay the Eoyal Tar was released from quarantine, fumigated, and refitted, and under charge of Master John M'Coll set out on her return voyage with a cargo of timber for Sydney, and on arrival lay for some time in the harbour off Balmam.

_ The next, episode in the career of the tfoyaj Tar brings to recollections the history of the ill-fated "New Australia" expedition to South America. About the year 1890 William Lane aroused much interest in his scheme for social revolution. Lane was a man. of undoubted ability, keenly influenced by the writ- i ings of Karl' Mail, and by his earnest- ! ness and deep- conviction able to influence many who came into contact with him. The labour troubles and- depression of the period also tended to the spread of the doctrine of social reform and equality of mankind then prevalent in many European centres. ' ' " The dream of a modern Utopia, where all would be equal in rank, with no bosses and no servitude, led to the formation of the "Now Australia" scheme. Ihe party was formed with much enthiisiasm, Lane being appointed leader, and Paraguay in South. America having made a liberal offer of land for the expedition it became necessary to secure a vessel for transport of the iparty to the new Eldorado. The gallant barque Eoyal Tar was purchased for the sum of £1620, on 22nd May, 1893, and just thirty years ago sailed on its most historic voyage. Hearts beat, high with hope and ardent anticipation as the Royal Tar carried the new pilgrims to the promised land. What a contrast it was to her previous voyage. Now "all went merry as a marriage bell," and no thought of failure damped the suirit of the expectant adventurers in their quest of a Tegenerated world. But (alas, that fatal but), in a very, short time all were ready to command and no one willing to obey. Orders might be given but there was no power to seuure obedience, and lon<r ■ere the Eoyal Tar reached her destina" tion there wa s a seething mass of discontent and disorder on board. However the party took possession of the allotted territory, but the spirit that animated the new party m its .early ambition failed completely when confronted with the inevitable hardships and disappointments that ever confront the pioneers. .Disaster seemed to follow fast and follow faster and rain stared them in the face. The scene was changed to another . settlement as Cosme, but all in 'ntn'- that the new Utopia, had eluded their grasp, and that the best laid schemes of mice and f e\ B™S aft agley." Lane returned to New Zealand a disappointed man. He.stall mamtained the troth of his doctrine, but was forced to admit however unwillingly, that he had failed to u}r In ° "'^"P of h <»nan naeditor of the "New Zealand Herald" he died at the age of 56, in Auckland, New Zealand, in the year 1917 The Eoyal Tar also returned to Australian waters, and after many vicissi tudes was finally wrecked on the New career coast ',thus ellding her eventful