WRECK OF THE BARQUE “POSTHUMUS,” AT KAIPARA.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 778, 28 September 1853, Page 2

WRECK OF THE BARQUE “POSTHUMUS,” AT KAIPARA.

Tbe Posthumous was a well known vessel in the East India and colonial trade, of from 500 to 600 tons burthen. Originally built at Liverpool in 1798, she had withstood thirty-six years of hard wear and tear in employ, and went to various quarters of tbe globe, when in 1834, she was burned to the water's edge whilst lying in the West India Docks, London. On examination after tbe accident she proved so sound in her lower works that she was docked, lengthened, and almost rebuilt. She received a new classification at Lloyd’s and passed into the bands of Messrs. MarsbalFand Elridge tbe well known ship agents of London, by whom she has since then been regularly employed in tbe Australian trade up to within a few weeks of her loss at Kiapara, when she became tbe property of her late owners. Upon enquiry we find that the following are tbe particulars of the unfortunate catastrophe : " The barque Posthumus, Capt, Bruce, sailed, in ballast, from Melbourne, on the 6tb of tbe present month, bound for Kaipara, bavin" on board IVIr. William Williams, of the Tamaki, part owner and passenger. All went smoothly fill the Bth, when it began to blow a hard gale from the W. and W. S. W. before which the ship pursued her course for the next seven days. On tbe 13th, Capt. Bruce having found by observation that he was only 150 miles to westward of Kaipara Heads, and with every appearance of tbe gale continuing, hove tbe ship to ; well knowing, from practical experience of tbe coast, that, bad be continued to run, it would hive been utterly impossible to enter Kaipara ; tbe ship was, therefore, hove to for the next four days, tbe gale continuing with unabated violence: fortunately it veered to about S.S.W. by which tbe ship headed off shore and drifted to the northward.

“ On the 19th, about 4 p.ra., tbe gale having somewhat abated, Capt. Bruce made sail, and, on the 20th, a - out 2 p. m., descried the land some 15 miles to the scu hward of Kaipara. As it was too late to attempt the entrance that evening, he tacked ship and stood to the north west. At daylight of the morning of the 2ist, it still blowing hard from the S. W., the land was again seen; but it being too hazj to determine the locality, Capt. Bruce kept off shore until lie had ascertained by meridian altitude that he was 8 miles to the northward of his port. All possible sail was then made for the entrance the tide being first quarter ebb. At 2p. m., tbe Posthumus entered the main channel, the black patch on the South Head bearing, E. by N. £ N., and the centre patch on the North Head bearing N. £ W. Allowing for the ebb tide, Capt. Bruce kept the ship up N. \ E., tbe channel being quite visible; no break but a very heavy swell. After rounding the elbow on the east side of the Western reef, the Tory shoal and the outer reef were both plainly distinguishable, the sea breaking furiously on both. The soundings at this time were seven—six —and not less than five fathoms and a half. But almost immediately thereafter, the seamen stationed in the port chains sung out —“ half two.” At this moment the chief and second officers were on the look out on the fore-topsail yard (Capt. Bruce himself, being on the top-gallant forecastle), and could discover no break near the ship. The instant the leadsman sang out half two, the helm was clapped hard-a-port, and the ship in falling off struck the ground very heavily abaft, carrying away her rudder. Instantly both anchors were let go, in order to keep the ship (which was then unmanagable) from driving on to the outer bank with the tide, that was running very strong. Tbe ship continuing to strike very heavily, broke right in two amidships, the sea making a clean breach over her. The boats were now cleared away; but the launch was no sooner over the side than she filled and broke adrift. The quarter-boats were then lowered (Mr. Williams in the lee one), and with much difficulty were kept clear of the ship, and at some distance under her lee. A lead line having been hove from the ship to the boats, those who where left on board attached the line to their persons and plunging into the breakers, were dragged successively through them to the boats. Capt. Bruce and his chief officer were the last to leave. The captain was sorely bruised in his limbs, having been washed to leeward, with the hencoops dashing about him. The mate likewise, received severe injuries on the head and face. All hands having gained the boats, they pulled in for the land, which they reached at midnight. So rapid was the destruction of the ship, that nothing whatever could be saved ; aud, after reaching the shore, eight aud forty miserable hours were spent without food or fire. The following morning, Capt. Bruce proceeded round the North Head, and found the beach strewed with the fragments of the wreck. Finding there was nothing to bo saved, the shipwrecked mariners proceeded up to Kaipara, and from thence to Auckland, where they arrived on Monday morning.”

The Kirkwood which arrived on Monday, sailed from Melbourne on the 15th inst. She is now commanded by Captain Courtenay, formerly of the brig Two Friends—Captain Gill having taken command of the Melbourne Packet. The Kestrel, hence the 17th August, arrived at Melbourne on the loth inst.; and the Algerine, hence llih August arrived on the let inst. The Deborah wiiicb sailed on the same day as'the Algerine from this port, had not arrived up to the 12th inst. The brig Spencer, J.B.Wooton,commander,cleared out at Melbourne, on the 12th instant, for Auckland with the following passengers—Captain Williams, Captain Mackenzie, Messrs. Atlwood, G. Buckingham and son, Grainge, Mackenzie, Mr, and Mrs. Robertson. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher, Mr, and Mrs. Murray, and six in the steerage. The fine clipper barque Imautn, Captain 11 . H, Waters, arrived in Port on Sunday last, from Wangaroa via the Bay of Islands, with a full cargo of timber shipped at the former port, for Melbourne and Geelong; and will sail to-day with a full complement of cabin and intermediate passengers. 'I be Imaum bails from Salem, Massachusetts, and is a fine specimen of the United States merchantmen, combining large stowage with great sailing qualities, presenting an appearance in her taut and trim rig, which many of our colonial traders would do well to copy. A sail was signalled to the Northward yesterday evening. g MELBOUBNE SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. Vessels in Pout. —September 11, U153. SHIPS. H.M.S. Elcctra, on the station, Adriadne, Ampintrite, Abdallah, Akbar, Aurora. Anne Mary, Asia, Benjamin R. Milam, Barrend Willem, Calliope, Carntyne. Constant, Clara Symes, Castiliian, Caroline Glen, Duke of Bedford, Derrick Castle, Emma Goodwin, Edward, Euphrasia, Europa, Exchange, Frances Ilenty, Falcon, Frances Ridley, Formosa, Five Brothers, Gibson Craig, Hempsyke, Hurricane, Hanover, Indiana, Koning Wilhem 11., Jupiter, Jessore, Julie, Kate, Kortennaar, Lady Kennaway, Lord George Bentinck, Lochiel, Lowell, Louisa Baillie, Lodervyk, Anthonie, Lelancl, Medusa, Mercia, Martha, North Atlantic, Oscar First, Prince Arthur, Prince Regent, Patsaroeang, Propontis, Pacific, Queen of Sheba, Roxburgh Castle, Rajasthan, Rockland, Splendid, South Sea, St. George, Texas, Una, Vanguard, Van Galen, Vandalia, Wilhelmaburg, STEAM Elia. City of Norfolk, Cleopatra, Hercules, Lowestoft, Manchester, Shaughae, Tasmania. BARQUES. Alster, Ajax, Aden, Antiles, Aurora (2), Argaum, Alibi, Agusta, Brightman, Bright Planet, Belle Vue, British Isle, Belle Creole, Benjamin Ileape, Chieftain, Cheviot, Couriren, Clarkstone, Casho, Canton, Duke of Norfolk, Derwent, Dorothea Henrietta, Don Pedro, Deane, Daniel Ross, Eolus, Eleanor Lancaster, Eliza, Fleetwood, Fire Fly, Flint, Francis, Flying Cloud, Fairy Queen, General Wootl, George Hope, Gem of the Sea, Helen, Helen Lindsay, Helen and Mary, Isa-

helita Hyne, Jane, John Buchanan, Koning Willem 11., James John Pink, Jane Catherine, Johann George, Lady Sandys, Lady Emma, Lady M'Naughten, Lucy Anne, Lucy L. Hale, Luny de Paita, Lorenzo Sabine, Lord Ashley, Marquard F’amily, Marchioness of Douro, Mazeppa, Monarch, Mary Green, Mary Barker, Mary Anne, Margaret, Maximilian Theodore, Neue Valley, New F'orest, Nautilus, Onyx, Potomac, Panope, Pro. tector, Perthshire, Rostock, Rival, Rowalan, Reaper, Stats Radets Farbeus, Salopian, Sarah Hooper, Sagit- I tarius, Stratheden, Surrey, Sultana, Sir W. Molesworth, | Sydney Packet, Sadwich, Salsetlo, Scottish Maid, Swan, St. Anne, Star, Tutelina, Theokend, Trent, Tory, Two Antbonys, Thomas Hughes, Tomatin, Unicorn, Urania, Uncle Tom, Vigilant, Will Watch, William Hyde, Wilbelmine, Willing, Wellington, Whampoa, Yarmouth. BRIGS. Algerine, Anne, Amy, Anna Dixon, Bernard’ Calypso, Clara, Dove, Diana, Experiment, Envoy’ Elizabeth Wilthew, Ellen and Elizabeth, Exchange’ Elizabeth Hughes, Esperanza, Fortuna, Flash, Flint, Favorite, Grecian Queen, Guiana, Gera, Huntley, Henry William, Henrietta, Harriett, Highland Lassie, Harmony, Joanna, Julia, Isabella, John Scott, Jane Geary, Lucille, Lavinia, Lady Jocelyn, John Robertson, Kirkwood, Louis and Miriam, Lord Montgomery, Lydia, Montezumu* Melbourne, Mary Clarke, Maypo, Maid of Erin, Maid of Julpha, Martha, Maria, Margaret, Midas, Omri, Onku* paringa, Peri, Pryde, Randolph, Holla, Richard, Rapid, Sailors’ Friend, Sordfish, Seaton, Sporting Lass, Scsta, Sisters, Standard, Spencer, Thomas Worthington Treasure, Triton, United, Urdina, Valiant, Ventute, Vulture, Vernon, Village Belle, W. and M. Brown. Wave, Witness, Watchful, Wanderer, WeeTottie, Wild Irish Girl, William Henry, Xenophon, Xarifa, Zuma. SCHOONERS. H.M. schooners Anonyma, and Empire; Amicus, Agnes, Agend, Adolphus Yates, Angostura, Australian, Apparition, Adelaide, Adah, Albion, Brissal, Brilliant, Burra Burra, Briton, Creole, Ceres, Caroline, Camilla, Crispin, Cecilia, Collina, Clipper, Coila, Catharine, Coquet, Dove, Don Juan, Durham, Douglas, Eureka, Eleanors, Elizabeth Eureka, Esther Arthur, Flora Bella, Freak, Flying Squrrel, Fanny Gann, Favorite, Freehridge, FVeedom, Georgina, Gem, Hannah, Harriet, Henry, Henry and Edward, Hoppett, Indianola, Jessie, Jenny Lind, John Nussey, James Paxton, Kestrel, Laurel, Louisa Maria, Lusitania, Lioness, Mary and Ellen, Martha and Elizabeth, Margaret, Maid of Alicante, Mariposa, Mount Alexander, Mary Goddard, Messenger. Melbourne Packet, Munford, Mary Stewart, Minalto, Nonpareille, Nancy, Osprey, Prince Patrick, Princess Victoria, Phoebe, Presto, Pauline, Pasha, Pilot, Reliance, Red Rover, Reindeer, Rebel, Rattler, Rebecca, Scotia, Sarah Ann, Sebim, Sulla, Salcombe Castle, Tiger, Tamer, Thane of Fyfe, Vixen, Velocity, Viceroy, Vibilia, Willing Lass, Waterwitcb, Yarra. HULKS, &C. Deborah, President, Success (penal bulks), Sacra r mento (emigrant depot), J. W, Dare (lightship), Si 1 Harry Smith (guardship), Argyle (A. S. N. Co.’s coa depot), Janet (Argus store ship). (From the “Argus,” Sept. 12.) The Hurricane reports that one ship ran into another near the Heads on Saturday, doing considerable damage; and that the Julia was burnt; but no further particulars could be ascertained. Our repoiter enquired of the pilot for more definite information ; but this functionary, either Irom ignorance, a mistaken notion of dignity, or tbe total absence of good manners, would hardly deign to give monosyllab c replies. One of the ships sailing down the Bay was met with her fore and maintops carried away. Her name was not ascertained.

It was so stormy in the Bay on Saturday and yesterday that few boats could weather it. Several of those that attempted to do so were driven ashore between Sandridge and Brighton. The liev. gentlemen who have arrived by the Hurricane are all connected with the Free Church of Scotland. They, together with all the passengers, speak in the highest terms of the efficient and gentlemanly conduct of the captain aud officers of tbe ship. lu order and cleanliness the Hurricane forms a most striking contrast to tbe Emma Goodwin, which arrived on the same day. Two deaths occurred on the latter vessel ; that of the steward from natural causes, and one of the passengers, who commited suicide. Fire in the Bay. —The fine ship Protector from Bristol, was burnt down to the waters edge in the Bay on Saturday night. How the fire originated remains a profound mystery, but there are not wanting strong suspicions that it was a wilful act of one or more of the crew The fire is said to have been first discovered in the fore part of the ship, about twelve o’clock at night and several boats were immediately at her side, but the flames soon caught hold of the sails and tbe rigging, and precluded the possibility of approach. The wreck was towed down below Sandridge yesterday, by tbe Comet steamer, aud there driven ashore to save her copper and iron work; nothing else was saved from the fire. The Protector was a fine vessel, abont three years old. She had a large quantity of patent fuel on board, which continued burning until our reports were made up. The Shanghae reports the ships lost in Torres Straits, viz. :—The Middleton, in the Straits of Allas; Fatal, ship in Torres Straits; Jack, also in Torres Straits; Napoleon in Lapodie Straits, near Madeira—crews all saved; Bournoeuf, Torres Straits—captain, wife, and sister-in-law, boastwain and four men lost—3l seamen, including officers, saved. Despatch.— The Shanghae was to have left Adelaide on the Bth inst., but owing to her screw having.) been fouled by one of the river buoys she did not leave until 9.30 a. m., on the 9th. She arrived off Cape Otway on the 10th, at 7p. m., and off Port Phillip Heads at 12.30 midnight,—thus making the passage in the short space of thirty-nine Lours. The following are the dates of her last three trips:—The Shanghae Mail left London March Bth, 1853, and arrived in Melbourne .May 18th—71 days. Left Melbourne June 9lb, and arrived in I.ondon August 14th—66 days. Left London July Bth, and arrived in Melbourne September 11 th—6s days. A trial of Sir Thomas Mitchell’s boomerang propeller was one made on hoard 11. M. S. Conflict, at Portsmouth. The average result of six runs was 0,378 knots —an improvement of about two-thirds of a knot on the speed attainable with the Conflict’s own propeller. The Great Britain. —We understand that this fine ship, rigged as a three-masted clipper ship, with masts and yards of the largest size, aud fitted with Griffith’s screw propeller, is now in the Sandon Dock, Liverpool, taking in coals aud preparing to bend sails. The state rooms are being painted, and every arrangement mad e for the comfort of her passengers. She will begin taking in cargo on the 6th inst., when she will he open to tbe public from twelve to four o’clock, at a charge of one shilling. The proceeds to ho applied towards the establishment of another Immigrant’s Home at Melbourne. — Leeds Mercury, July 2nd, The A. S. N. Company’s iron screw-steamer Sydney, was to sail from the East India Docks on the sth August, and embark her passengers from Gravesend the following day. A splendid steamer for the General Screw Company was launched on the 21st June. She was named the Croesus, aud her first destination was to be Australia. She was to have been called the Jason, but her name was changed to the Croesus. She is considered a beautiful vessel, 400 horse, power, 2500 tons burthen. Her length between tbe perpendiculars was 280 feet, within 40 feet of the length of the Great Britain. She is the largest vessel yet built for this Company. The A, B. M. S, N„ Company.— A third class passenger on hoard the Melbourne, to Port Phillip, sued the company to recover compensation for the inconvenience and loss which he had experienced by reason of the company’s breach of contract to carry him to Australia. Plaintiff detailed the history of the voyage to the Bay of Biscay, back to Portsmouth, and then out to Lisbon, where the ship was compelled to put in in order to undergo repairs. The water in the cabins was nearly six inches deep, the topmasts were carried away, and entangled with the screw propeller, and it was impossible to proceed on the voyage till the vessel had undergone extensive repairs. Plaintiff was sent home, with others, at the expense of the British Minister at Lisbon, and when he applied to the company for compensation, all the satisfaction he could obtain was the return of his fare and some small sum for expenses. The defence was, that plaintiff' had accepted the sum of £3O from defendants in full satisfaction of his cause of action, and a paper was put in evidence, duly stamped by wlffch plaintiff agreed to accept of 30 in discharge of his claim upon the company. Plaintiff, however, contended that this was only received in respect of Lis fare and expenses, and not as compensation for the inconvenience and loss which he had sustained, and that at the time he signed the agreement he declared his intention to sue the company. — Lord Campbell left it to the jury to say whether the plaintiff had received the amount in respect of his whole cause of action, or only in respect of one portion.—The jury found af verdict for the plaintiff, with £SO. damages. An expedition is now being fitted out at Portsmouth for the purpose of proceeding to Greenland with several scientific men, whose object will be to test with care the mineral resources of that country. Extensive discoveries of copper, tin, silver, and lead mines are understood to have been recently made by Mr. Lundt, a Danish traveller, to whom the King of Denmark hss granted certain rights. The vessel engaged for the purposes of the expedition is the Dolphin, 217, tone a fine craft, and at one time a crack schooner yacht.

The Melbourne A. S, N. steamship arrived at Plym°The*Java papers announce that the English ship Middleton, Stone, from Australia, was lost upon a reef in Allas Straits. After burning the vessel the master and crew sailed for Sourabaya. at which port they arrived on July 16. ENGLISH SHIPPING. Arrived from Adelaide; June 28, Brooksby. From Hobart Town—June 23, Derwent Water. From Laun- ! eeston June 12. Stirlingshire. July 7, Cadet. Erom Melbourne—June 16, Queenstown; 28, Aberfoyle; 30, Enchanter. July 7, Elizabeth Buckbam. From New Zealand-June 16, Fancy. From Portland Bay— July 7, Runnymede. From Sydney—June 15, Waterloo ; 16, Wood bridge; An^lesea; L 2S, Brisk; 30, Lady Peel; July 1, Ann Bridson ; 7, Templar. Sailed for Melbourne June 4, Lovatt; 7, Clara; 8, W itt Cornelius'de Wilt; 10, Baretto, June; Island Mary ; Nimrod; 12, Waterlily; Margaret Poynter; 15, Ivanhoe; Melbourne; 16, Adolphus ; Firefly, 17, Marie; Admiral Jan Eventsen ; Eliza Bowen ; Escape; Faraway; 20. Ann Dasbwood ; 21, Satire! 23, Admiral: Statesman ; 24, Kangaroo ; 25, Catherine, and Marie Eliza. July 5, Julia; 6, Champion, and Johanna Hendrika; 7, Polar Star. For New Zealand. —June 16th, Rajah ; 19, Joseph Fletcher. For Portland. —June 12, Oitbona. For Sydney. —June 7, Palembang; Walter Morlee; 9, Singapore; 11, Blackfriar, Constitution ; 15, Walcheren ; 18, Isabella Hercus; 19, Victoria; 21, Telegraph; 22, Amicitia ; 23, Holland; Jason; 25, Kate; 29, Ballarat, and Ellenborougb. July 2, Syria; 3, Athenian; 5, Zeemanshoi p; 6, Duchess of Sutherland- For Van Diemari’s Land.—June 11, Pio Nono. Tbe following ships were preparing to enter outwards from London, and would probably sail about tbe periods inserted against each vessel: For Launceston —July 11th, Stirlingshire, 409; July llth, Ralph Thompson, 385 ; July Ist, Druid, 249. For Hobart Town—July 13th, Wellington, 588; July 10th, Tasman, 562 ; July 10th, May Queen, 407; July 26th, Derwentwater, 623; August sth, Southern Cross, 347; July 4th,' Koophandel, 531; July—, Laura en Adele (Dane), 504; August Ist, Australasia, 485. For New South Wales—July4th,Ellenborougb, 1031, with emigrants; July 4th, Queen Margaret, 533 ; July 4tb, Athenian, 673, with emigrants; July 10th, Myrtle, 521. For Melbourne and N. S. W.—July 20th, Vimeira, 1037 (lands passengers only at Melbourne). For N. S. W. —July 12th, Windsor, 676; July 29th, Herefordshire, 1355, with emigrants*. July 7th, Abel Tasman, (Dutch), 642; July 12th, Maidstone, 938, with emigrants ; July 6th, Inglewood, 518; July sth, Niger, 319. August 20th, Waterloo,B9B, July 231h, Epsom. 319. F'or Melbourne and N. S. W.—August 25th, Anglesey, 1010 to land passengers only at Melbourne. For N. S. W.—July 15th, O,ion (Dutch), 839 ; July 30th, Cheapside, 621; July 2nd, Earl Selkirk, 692; July 16th, Admiral van Heemskerk (Dutch), 1002. For Adelaide, N. S. W.—July 28tb, Leonidas, 697; August 3rd, Sydney (s. 5.,) 734; for New South Wales via Adelaide and Melbourne. F'or Melbourne July Ist, Havilab, 256; Statesman, 874, (emigrants), July Ist, Oriental, 506; July 2nd, Royal Stuart, 837; July stb, Melbourne, 495 (Geelong); July 5, Melpomene, 378 ; July 25, Gilmore, 5 0 ; July Ist, Leichhardt, 589; July Ist, Peregrine Oliver 409 (Geelong); July Btb, Countess of Yarborough, 437 ; July 6tb, Polar Star. 535 ; July 2nd, Northumberland. 759 ; July 10th, Joshua, 804; August Ist, Blackwall, 838; July 10th, Alfred, 405 (Geelong); July 27tb, Adelaide, 492 ; July IBtb, Pekin, 562 ; July lltb, Padang (Dutch), 557 ; July,—Johanna Hendrika (Dutch), 217; July 10th, Credenda, 901; (Geelong); July,—Twee Godfrieds (Dutch), 357 (for Geelong) ; July 14th Saladin, 856 ; July 30tb, Launceston, 640 ; July,—Semiramis, 342; July 13th, Ferozepore, 358 ; Antoinette (Dutch), 627; July 26th, Woodbridge, 516; Melbourne and Geelong; August Ist, William and Jane; July 20lb, Persia, 63 8; July 25tb, Banca (Dutch), 740. F’or Adelaide—July 2nd, M‘Donnell, 551; Olivia, 799(emigrants); July 20tb, Epaminondas, 1171 (emigrants) ; July 7tb, Fanny, 223. For Swan River—July 15tb, Aerolite, 400; July 15tb, John Banlett, 381. For Nelson, Wellington, and Canterbury—July lOib, Mabtorec, 305. F'or Canterbury, Wellington, and New Plymouth—July stb, John Taylor, 788. F'or Auckland—July 28th, Aztec, 474. For Auckland, and New Plymouth—Augnst 3tb, Hamilla Mitchell, 561. For Otago, Wellington, and Canterbury—August 23tb, Carnatic, 800. For Nelson, Wellington, and Otago—July 21st, Constantine 608.