TOTAL WRECK OF THE STEAMER CLEOPATRA.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 113, 18 April 1868, Page 5

TOTAL WRECK OF THE STEAMER CLEOPATRA.

The non-arrival of the steamer Cleopatra from Napier, clue on Sunday night, caused not a little alarm, and it was feared that she was wrecked. All uncertainty was at an end on Tuesday night, when Captain Palmer, master of the vessel, arrived in town and reported that the ill-fated vessel was ashore at White Cliffs, Pallisser Bay. The statement made hy Captain Palmer to Mr. Hackworth, who, in the absence at Auckland of Mr. Seed, is acting as Collector of Customs, is as follows—

Left Napier at 7 a.ra. on the 2nd April, for Wellington, with two passengers and no cargo ; weather fine at time of leaving; about three hours afterwards began to blow heavily, vaiying from W. K.W.; brought np at Kidnappers ; left again same evening, and got along as far as Maungakura; increased to heavy gale; obliged to steam in-shore and bring up for the night; on the 3rd the wind lulled at sunrise; got under weigh; kept moderate till we got down abreast Plat Point; came onto blow again, and were obliged again to steam in-shore, and brought up at Pahau in the afternoon of the 4th; got under weigh again next morning (sth) ; reached Cape Pallissor, and anchored there in the evening, as it was blowing so heavily in the Strait that I dared not try it; on Sunday (sth), still blowing frightfully from K.W.; in the afternoon the wind suddenly veered round to the S.W.; got under weigh ; tried to steam oft' shore to get an offing, in hopes of fetching Wellington ; found the vessel’ laboured heavily and began to work; called the engineer and mate up to consult them; they strongly advised beaching her to save life, in which I concurred ; bore away at 6 p.m. for White Hock Bay, and took the beach at 7 - 20 p.m. ; passengers and all hands landed safely at 1 p.m. ; saved all the moveable property I could that night; during the night, as the flood-tide made, she broke in halves. She is owned by Joseph Paul, of Kelson. Ido not know if she was insured. She was valued at £2,500 in Kapier, for the purpose of being insured.— lndependent, April 9th.