AN OLD RELIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 25

AN OLD RELIC

INDEMNITY'S BELL

There is in the office of Mr. E. D. Cachemaille, chief engineer of the Wellington Harbour Board, an old ship's bell, now green with age. It is,the bell of the barque Indemnity, and was for some time in the Tinakori Road hall. When the hall was partially destrpyed by fire, the remainder of the building was sold for dismantling, with the proviso that the bell was to remain the property of St. Paul's parish. In due time it came into Mr. Cachemaille's hands. Mr. H. Fildes has managed to find some information about the vessel. -

The barque, Indemnity, 450 tons, Alfred, Adams, master, left London for Port Nicholson about March 1, 1842. She was fully freighted and, not being an emigrant ship, she carried only seven cabin passengers, and eight in the intermediate. Port Nicholson was reached on July 19, the passage exceeding 140 days. The local agents of the vessel were Messrs, Waitt and Tyser, a year or two later Ridgway and Co. taking over the agency. If the inscription on the bell, "Indemnity, 1842," may be taken as a guide, the vessel was by no means an old one when she arrived in 1842. Yet she lay in the harbour for nineteen months, refitting after her long voyage. E. J. Wakefield tells us that she made port in 'a leaky; state.

After discharging her cargo, the agents reported the vessel's ill condition to London and asked for instructions. The owners apparently decided on local repairs. Wellington, fortunately, possessed a most spirited and enterprising ship-builder and