NELSON INSTITUTE AND PUBLIC LIBRARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 1 May 1937, Page 4

NELSON INSTITUTE AND PUBLIC LIBRARY

(Contributed) “Shipwrecks, New Zealand Disasters,” by Chas. W. N. Ingrain and P. Owen Wheatley, is a recently published book of peculiai interest.- Thirteen hundred wrecks are described and many pathetic tragedies. The first ship to become a total loss on the New Zealand coast was the Endeavonr in i7QS. She was teak built, of 800 tons and about 80 years old. She sailed from India to Sydney with cattle and grain, and on her way io New Zealand k heavy gale opened her seams, and when the old ship readied Dusky Sound she was found to he falling to pieces so she was abandoned and became a wreck.

The barque Fifeshiro of 551 tons was lost on 27th February, 1342. She was iu the Narrows on a falling tide when the light breeze failed and siie drifted on to the Arrow Hock. She was supported bow and stern on rocks and as the tide fell she broke her back. She bad arrived in Nelson oil the date now cole, brated as the anniversary of the province. Ist February. A chair made from her timbers is in the Nelson Museum, and also tho ship’s speaking trumpet.

The brigantine l.cln ware of 241 tons irlt, Nelson on 3rd September, 1063, with 12 on board. A fearful gale came on t’nal, day and during the night Captain Baldwin tried to reach (lie Croixelles but failed on anchored on a lee shore. Finding the anchors would not hold, ho drove his ship ashore, striking the rocks at 8.40 in the morning about 120 vards from the shore near tlie Maori Pa, in what was afterwards called Delaware Hay. Heroic dulia Marlin—Huria Matenga —.and other Maoris swam into the raging sea and all were saved except the mate. lie bad been severely injured in trying to carry a line ashore and when the captain left the ship, was thought to lie dead, lie appeared on deck afterwards but his rescue was impossible and lie perished. As it was the Maoris displayed splendid gallantry. There is a line oil painting of the heroine, bv 0. Limlanier, in the Suior Art Gallery, inscribed “In public recognition of the brave deed of Huria Matenga. chieftaincss of the Ngatitoa tribes, who, in company with her husband, Henii Matenga, at the risk of life swam for a rope through the stormy sea, thereby saving the lives of. t!ie crew of the ship Delaware. wrecked at Wakapuaka, 3rd September, 1863. The ship's bell is in the Nelson Museum, presented by (be Appleby school. This book of New Zealand shipwrecks teems with adventure and lias 120 illustrations in which people will find pictures of vessels that played an intimate part in their family history.