THE BRIGANTINE DESPATCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2341, 24 June 1868, Page 3

THE BRIGANTINE DESPATCH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LTTTELTOK TIMES. Sib,—ln your telegram from Tiniaru, June 15, regarding the of the brigautine Despatch, Captain Driver (deceased), you state that she is high and dry, and can be got off the beach. This last is utterly impossible, the beiug a total wreck. In another part you state that when she began to drag her anchors, she lost sight of the light, and did not know where she was. I should like to know what light you refer to, as there was no light that I know of, or saw. You again state that the crew lost heart at the death of the Captain, and allowed the vessel to go before the wind. '1 his, Sir, I must most positively deny. Unless you call sticking to the pumps and doing their utmost best to save the unfortunate vessel and themselves losing heart, not one man, seaman, or passenger refused or shirked work. Your telegram on the 16th inst. again states that some tf the crew refused work. I most distinctly deny that also.

lou state likewise that the crew allowed the vessel to drift anywhere. Might 1 ask what you mean by " allowing the vessel to drift anywhere?" Allow me, sir, to tell you the facts of the case, The wind was 5.8. E., and the sea oame in from the S.E., and the vessel drifted to the beach with sixty fathoms cable on the starboard anchor and thirty fathoms cable on her port anchor. Also, you state that we might have made the Peninsula. Allow me, as a nautical man, emphatically to deny this also, as, witli the wind from the S.S.E., and the sea from the S.K., and the quantity of sail I could have set upon the vessel, I could only have made a N. or N. by E. course, which would not have taken me beyond the Wanganui (Opihi) river, as her head would have been E., which, with seven points lee-way, from our starting place in five fathom water, would have brought me to the place I stated, as any nautical man can see by examination of the chart.

1 may mention that the only canvas I could have set—our main-stay sail being carried away iu a former gale—was closereefed main and fore-top sails and fore-stay sail.

Your correspondents must be grossly ignorant of the facts of the case, and 1 cannot conceive Tvliere they got their information from, particularly that part maligning the character of as willing a crew as ever manned a vessel; certainly not from me j your telegram being incorrect on nearly every subject. In conclusion, I beg to thank the people of Tinmru for their kindness to myself and crew 6ince our arrival on their const; especially H. Belfield, Esq.., for his real kindness to us on our arrival at his house on the morning of the wreck.

Trusting that, in justice to myself and crew, you will publish this, 1 remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, ALEX. TAYI.OK, Chief Officer, Brigantine Despatch. Timaru, June 20,1868.