THE PORT OF LYTTELTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVI, Issue 912, 7 August 1861, Page 5

THE PORT OF LYTTELTON.

lo the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. . Slß— My attention has been called to a letter ) n your number of the 24th instant, signed by An Old Bivalve," in which he represents tbe shipwrecks of 1851 as owing to the deficiency of tlie ground tackle of the unfortunate vessels, and negligence of their masters. Now this is too bad, my worthy Old Bivalve, to throw water on a drowned" rat. Whatever may be the qualities of the port of Lyttelton as a harbor, 1 am not inclined to discuss: but, my worthy old mend, when you again sound your trumpet in its praise, I would recommend you to confine yourself to facts, not fiction; or at the expense of the unfortunate victims of your said noble harbor. Had you been at home on Port Levy Rocks— perhaps you were not living there at that time —on the 7th June 1851, about noon, you would probably have seen a smart looking brigantine of 160 tons working up the harbor with a light south-wester, and when close to your domicile you could have pepped on board, and would have seen, had you bee" capable of judging, that her ground tackle was first-rate. Half way up your harbor the vessel was boarded by several of the inhabitants of h.vttelton, some of whom remained on board until alter she was anchored. It then being rather dark, the best anchorage was perhaps not selected. The lollowing morning the master went on shore to enter his vessel at the Customs, when he was informed she was rather too close in shore, as to the best anchorage, he went on hoard and removed his vessel—as he was told— to the best anchorage in the harbor. Considering, as a matter of course, that his ship was safe, he <hu not, as "Old Bivalve" suggests, think it requisite to study his barometer, but commenced to discharge cargo. On the evening of llth June, 1851, it began to blow very hard from south west; at 6 p.m. gale increasing, gave ship more cable; 8 p.m. heavy squalls; payed out the whole of cables, ship now having 75 fathoms on one anchor and 90 fathoms on the other, and anchored in 3| fathoms of water. Midnight, a perfect hurricane with heavy sea on; * a.m. complete breakers frequently coming over the bows; ship now began to drift, at times holding °". Schooner Perseverance anchored within a cable length, drifting also; both vessels at times holding °». The master of the Pauline did not think it

prudent to cut away his masts for this simple re-ison viz. the vessel being his own property J d 2' suied, and again, he was in hope. ■!,/woud s J rule out the gale ; but poor fellow, he was doomed ' di.appointni.mt. At, 3 a.m. the vessel tookWh r start, and before you ,ould say 'Jack Bob.W "hi n ai? o** 0,d wh v v H j; ; vh 117 u,d you iwve d- " I i \ , ?' l slumld !,(lve recommended jou to have taken it easy and smoked your pi e - that is it you could have mustered a li4t I may mention for the information of my old triend, that the schooner Perseverance after drifting witl, m a cab i - 8 , Hl Qf the fortunatel -

Now then 'Old Bivalve,' what steps do yoh think the master of the Pauline tookP Why like a prudent man, first discharges the remainder of his cargo, then procures empty casks to assist in floating his vessel; borrows an 8-inch hawser with stream anchor from the ship Duke of Bronte, and waits patiently for spring tides. 28th June, 4 p.m. highest tide-all ready-plenty of hands-succeeds in getting Ins vessel once more afloat-of course tlie poor fellow is delighted. He hauls her off as far as circumstances would permit, runs out his second anchor with^7s fathoms of chain, his vessel now having 165 fathoms of cable, two good anchors of ship h tackle, and 50 fathoms of 8-inch hawser, and stream anchor of Duke of Bronte; heaves all taut and leaves the rest to Providence (not parliament). Don t you think, my friend, this tackle ought to have been sufficient in a good harbour. Remember, old brick, this affair cost the unfortunate owner and master all the cash he had in the world.

Now,' Old Bivalve,' fancy his horror and disgust on getting up next morning (having slept on shore) and finding his vessel on the beach a^am— and himself a ruined man. a

This time, I regret to say, the Pauline was not alone, having in company the schooner John and Charlotte, distant a few yards, and the brig Torrington about a cable's length, the schooner Supply would have joined the party had the gale continued a few hours longer, having drifted until she touched the ground aft. I would remind' Old Bivalve' that the Supply was built expressly to attend on the light ships and light houses on the English coast and therefore had anchors and cables sufficient for a vessel double her tonnage. Is my old friend aware that nearly all the larger ships on the stream drifted in this gale, some of them miles down the harbour.

Now then, old fellow, what do you think of all these facts ? Are you still under the impression that these vessels all had bad ground tackle and their masters, a set of careless and negligent men? If so, I must confess they ought all to have been instantly unshipped, and some young Bivalves (if any) put in charge of their ships. If the Pauline, John and Charlotte, and Torrington did not come on the beach by Act ol Parliament by what act then I would ask did they come ? Surely my worthy old friend would not be so cruel as to say they ( came there by the wilful acts of their masters, who would render themselves liable to the serious charge of defrauding their insurances ; or was it in consequence of not attending to their barometers and weather breeders ? Now, my old chip, this is all bosh, for if Lyttelton is the magnificent harbour yon represent, you certainly don't require a watch kept over the barometer, or to shift a vessel about from corner to corner with every breeze of wind; if so, this does not say much for your noble harbour.

Now, ' Old Bivalve' take my advice, for the future, when you again come forth in praise of Lyttelton, quote ' Stokes,' ' New Zealand Pilot,' or ' Colonel Wakefield,' and with a little dash of poetry, if you like, but don't gloat over the misfortunes of others; the Pauline,.John and Charlotte, and Torrington are no more, therefore, my dearest friend, let them rest in peace, and never again trouble your head with things you appear to know nothing about.

In a few words, I will unlay all your single and double wall knots, viz.: should ever Lyttelton experience a repetition of the gales of June, 1851, you will have (I am afraid) similar wrecks disfiguring your town beach, and all the harbour masters in New Zealand with ' Old Bivalve' to assist, will not save them.

Now, my dear old brick, I must bid you adieu, trusting the harbour master of Lyttelton will soon give you warning to quit; should he not, it is high time someone else did, until you can entertain the public with more interesting subjects. I remain dear Old Buffer, your affectionate cousin, MUSSELL. Timaru Rocks, June 30,1861.