THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 60, 19 May 1868, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

After the unsuccessful mission of the brig Amherst to tho Auckland Islands, an account of which we recently printed, the steamer Southland was despatched to the spot where the General Grant was wrecked, to ascertain whether it was possible to rescue any part of the cargo, tho vessel having had I a quantity of gold on board. The ttoulhlunil JS'etvs, of the sth instant, gives the following particulars of the trip, which was likewise unsuccessful : — The p.s. Southland left the Bluff for the Auckland Islands on Saturday, the Gth March. Towards evening, a strong gale sprung up from the S.W., with a heavy se;i, obliging her to fake shelter in Lord's liiver (Stewart's Island.) Cralo continued with great fury till Tuesday morning, when it moderated a little. Got up steam and started at noon, but tho wind again increased to a gale, with the barometer, falling vapidly. Kept the steamer close in shore, to avoid tho sea as much as possible. At four p.m. it was blowing a perfect hurricane, but she still continued to make good bead-way. At five p.m. entered Port Pegasus, having from noon steamed twenty miles against tho gale. At ten a.m. on the 12th got up steam, and weighed anchor at eleven a.m., but as soon as the land was cleared, found the gale as fierce as ever, and to have continued on the course would have been only a waste of fuel, llan back again, but this time anchored in the north arm of Port Pegasus. The gale continued until the ldfli, when it moderated, and the wind shifted to the N.W. Got up steam, and proceeded to sea at ten a.m. At noon the wind was again S.W., and they had to anchor in Wilson's Bay. On Sunday, the 15th, at five p.m., finally loft Stewart's Island, and shaj ed a course for tho Aucklands. On getting clear of the land, found the sea very heavy from the continuance of westerly gales ; steamer going about six knots, with the engines going a little better than half-speed. On Monday, at midnight, having run 180 miles from tho South Cape of Stcwurt'B Island, hove-lo till daylight. On Tuesday morning the wind was blowing ii gale from the ]S r .N.\V\, with very thick weather and heavy rain. At nine, a.m., calculated the position of the steamer to be fifteen miles to the westward of tho islands. Steaming very slow, as they could barely sec half-a-milo ahead, at eleven, a.m., the land was seen looming through the fog, and Disappointment Island a quarter-of-a-mile on the leo. To clear the north end of the island, they had to haul up and go full speed against a tremendous sea. Ilerc the Southland's stcaming-powcr was put to the test, and well she sustained her reputation a 9 a fast powerful boat, shipping very little water, although the spray was going over tho top of the funnel, and making four knots against tho gale. Atoioon, passed the North Cape. At three, p.m., anchored in Port Eoss. Captain Kirkpalrick and Mr. Tecr went up to (he signal-mast erected by the Amherst's party. The cases, and the bottle with letter, appeared just as they were left, also Mr. Armstrong's emphatic "curse of tho fatherless and tho widow to light on the man that opens this case, except in case of need;" to which Captain Kirkpatrick added — "Does the writer of tho above think that sailors are so unprincipled and destitute of common humanity, as to make use of stores left for such a Immune purpose, except in case of need?" Sunday, March 22.— -Six days since tho steamer arrived at the Aucklands, and during that time it had been blowing one continued gale, with hail and sleet. On Sunday, March 29, the wind having moderated, started at six p.m. for the west side of the island. Coasted close along the western shore, passing between tho rocks lying to tho eastward of Disappointment Island and the mainland, through which there is an excellent passage of two and a-half miles wide, and free from all dangers. At eleven a.m. the steamer was abreast of tho place indicated by Mr. Tcer as where the General Grant was wrecked. Tho lifeboat was got out, and Mr. Putman, the diver, and Mr. Toer made an attempt to reach tho spot, but owing to the heavy sea still running, and the wind increasing, they did not succeed. The boat was hoisted on board, and tho steamer put stern on to the shore, and backed slowly and carefully, taking soundings as she approached the shore, the water gradually shoaling from twenty-five fathoms to fifteen fathoms (which was the least water obtained.) The steamer being about forty yards from the rocks, and 200 from the spot where the vesssel sunk, and as the rebound of the waves against the rocks began to wash over the stem, it was not deemed prudent to venture any further in. Captain Kirkpatrick describes this part of the coast as " cliff's rising perpendicularly out of the sea," and for a distance of twenty miles he only saw one place where it appeared possible that a man might climb to the (op from the sea. The gulch where the General Grant was lost bears, by compass, S.W. by S. from Disappointment Island ; distance, eight miles. It forms a deep indentation in the clifl's, and is about 800 yards wide at the mouth, and gradually slopes inwards until it forms a large cavern, running underneath flic dill's. At one p.m. steamed away, and anchored iv the North Harbour. Oij April 3rd, got up steam, and proceeded to Port lioss, it being a better harbour to lay in than the North Harbour. On April sth, at five a m., weighed anchor, and started along the cast side of the island (weather line), with the intention of looking at Adam's Strait on the way round to the west side, to sco if they could get shelter and good anchorage nearer to the scene of operations ; but a sudden change in the wind again compelled them to anchor in a small bay, midway between the east and west entrance to Adam's Strait. On Thursday, 9th April, made another attempt to get to the west side, but was compelled to return. Captain Kirkpatrick now determined to cross tho island, which was accomplished in company with Messrs. Tecr, Putman, and the engineer, and succeeded in reaching the west side, bat no practical good resulted from the journey. The large boat that was to be used for diving purposes was hauled up on the beach, and left for tho benefit

of any unfortunates who might be cast away on the islands. At ten a.m. on tho COth April, steam was got up and a course shaped for tho Bluff, the idea of reaching the Avreck being abandoned for the present. At midnight a heavy sea struck the steamer, carrying away some stanchions, bulwarks, a portion of the j starboard paddle box, and washing the boat out of the davits. Kept tho steamer bowing the sea, and engines g'.-ing dead slow. On Friday the gale moderated a little, but towards night it commenced with great fury, and causing a tremendous sea, which continued during tho night and following day. At midnight, on Saturday, hove to tho south-east, off lluapuka. Arrived at the Bluff at noon, after a severe passage of seventy-three hours.