WRECK OF THE SCHOONER QUEEN OF THE ISLES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 376, 11 June 1856, Page 4

WRECK OF THE SCHOONER QUEEN OF THE ISLES.

On Thursday morning last, information reached town of the total wreck of the Queen of the Isles, 130 tons, Captain Lewis, under the Lighthouse at Pencarrow Head.' t The following are the particulars of the catastrophe-, as far as we have been, able to gather them. The Queen of the Isles sailed from Port Victoria oa the Bth inst, with a cargo consisting of 6 bales of woo!, 750 bushels of wheat, and two tons of cheese. Nothing of importance occurred after leaving Port Victoiia, until between !2 & 1 o'clock on Thursday morning last, when on nearing the Heads, with a fair wind and moderate

breeze, she ran upon some rocks >vhich jut out under the Light house. The sails.were immediately thrown aback, and the anchors let go, and every effort was made for saving the vessel. The mails, a chronometer and othar valuable articles were placed on deck, with the intention of taking them on shore at daylight. Shortly after 5 o'clock the vessel was struck by a heavy sea, which cleared the deck, carrying away the long boat, heeling the vessel over, and leaving the gunnel under water. The life boat was then got out, and the crew remained by the vessel till daylight, when they attempted to land, but the surf was so heavy that it would have been dangerous to do so, so they steered for Wellington, and were the first to bring intelligence of the unfortunate accident. The agents for the vessel, Messrs. Bethune and Hunter despatched a boat to the scene of the disaster to render what assistance they could, but the sea was breaking so heavily ovei the vessel that it was dangerous to appi-oach her, and they had to wait till the afternoon before they could do so. The whole of the hull was at this time under water, nothing but the risrsrine1 being visible. The vessel has since broken up. A part of the Mail has been picked up, but it is feared that the greater portion of it will be lost. "We are informed that the vessel was running free, with a five or six knot breeze, and that the light and land were seen for some considerable time before she struck. If this was the case, we imagine that she must have overrun her distance,- or that there must have been a want of knowledge of the coast, as otherwise it would be difficult to account for the occurrence.

A Survey was held yesterday afternoon and the wreck is to be sold to-day, InPublic Auction, by Messrs. Bethune and Hunter. — Independent.

Report of a Volcano in the Middle Island.—Captain Milton on his voyage from Port Victoria, reports having seen what appeared to be a volcano, in active operation near Flaxburn, in the Middle Island. The place where it was observed by Captain Kennedy, of the Lady Grey, and Mr. Allen, was about 30 miles to the south of CapeJCampbell; these gentlemen had an opportunity of observing it for three consecutive nights, and it appeared to be about 20 miles inland ; the smoke apparently did not ascend from one, o f the highest peaks, but was seen through a gully. We think it highly important' that this matter should be set at rest., and that an exploring party should be sent by Government without delay, to ascertain the exact locality of the supposed volcano, as its existence has been disputed.—lndependent.