THE KAIPARA FEUD.

New Zealander, Volume XIX, Issue 1790, 10 February 1863, Page 3

THE KAIPARA FEUD.

We stated, a few days since, that the hearing of evidence in this case on the part of the arbitrators had been concluded, and that, as there seemed no probability of any agreement being come to, it was the desire of all parties concerned that the making of the award should be left to Sir George Gkey in the capacity of umpire. On Saturday last, accordingly, the Governor met Tirarau and Hir.v the representative of Matiu, the chiefs of the claimants, and their people. Tlie arbitrators, two Natives on one side and two Europeans on the other, stated the case to His Excellency: Tirarau's claim rested upon descent from the same ancestor as Matiu, and also upon undisturbed possession of the lands in dispute for five generations. The Native arbitrators for Matiu insisted that the better right by descent was on Matiu's side, but they admitted, we learn, that Tirarau, having been so long in possession, ought not now to ~be driven off, and they suggested that both sides should be declared to be in the right, and that the disputed territory should be divided. After a long and patient enquiry, Sir George Gret decided that as Tirarau's ancestors had undoubtedly received part of the land now in dispute as a gift from the ancestors of Matiu, and as they and their descendants had used other portions of it for cultivation and had held the whole, Tirarau and his people could not now be turned off the land so long as they used it for cultivation. But, His Excellency is reported to have said, if Tirarau should in future wish to sell any of this land, then the people of Matiu would be entitled to a proportion of the price, and in case of any difference arising as to the just proportion to be paid, the Government would adjudicate between the claimants. The Governor would also take care that none of the land should be bought except by the Government, and that that portion of the land on which the blood of relatives and friends had been shed 'should remain unsold. Tirarau, we have heen informed, frankly accepted the condition that a portion of the payment for land sold in future should he handed over to the opposing claimants ; Te Hira and his people, who are on the losing side, do not, display more dissatisfaction with an adverse verdict than bold Britons under similar circumstance i very frequently exhibit. The judgment is in our opinions a most just and wise one, and we regret that we are not in a position to report with accuracy the reasons which His Excellency the Governor giive as being those on which he based his decision. A\ r e presume that an official narrative of a matter so important will bo published by authority.

LOSS OF HER MAJESTY'S SHIP ORPHEUS. [The following account of the loss of the Orpheus appeared in our impression of yesterday. That impression having been exhausted in a couple of hours we have been induced to reprint it, for transmission to England in our present number. Some corrections in ie«pect of the names of officers reported as lost we are happy to be able to make, —these made, the sad narrative may be accepted as authentic] Yesterday (Sunday) morning, at an early hour, the inhabitants of Auckland were horrified by the appalling intelligence that Her Majesty's ship Orpheus, for some time back expected on this station, had been totally wrecked in attempting to cross the Manukau bar; and with the awful loss of one hundred and eighty-five souls out of a ship's company mustering two hundred and fifty-six officers, seamen, boys, and marines. The Orpheus (a fine new corvette of 21 guns,

1706 tons, 400 horse power) sailed from Sydney on

the 31st January, and, after a fair passage, under canvas, fetched the land off the Manukau Heads

on Saturday at noon. The ship was at that time under all plain sail and within eight miles of the entrance, the signal flying on Paratutai

"Take the bar," —Commodore Burnett and the Master being at that time on the bridge. Steam was got up at once, the Commodore determining to go in ; the lead was kept going, a sharp look out was observed, the ship steering East until 1 p.m., and then N.E. by E., the Nine Pin Rock on with Paratutai, being in accordance with Drury's sailing directions in the New Zealand Pilot. At I*2o, the ship bumped slightly, but still went ahead; at P3O, however, she struck hard, and orders were given to back astern full speed. The engines never moved ; the ship fell off broadside to the rollers, the sea knocking away her sternpost, port bulwarks and boats, and making a clean sweep over all. The wind was from about S.W. to "VV. S. W., a stiff breeze, with occasional puffs. In this dismal plight, Commodore Burnett, whose coolness and decision was the theme of admiration among his officers and men, gave orders to Mr. Fielding, midshipman, to take a cutter with the records, ship's books, and other articles ; but, on losing sight of her, fearing that she was swamped, the pinnace was got out, and, with Lieutenant Hill, Mr. Amphlett, Paymaster, (formerly of Dido and Niger, and well known and esteemed in Auckland) dispatched to her assistance, with instructions to push on afterwards to the Heads, in the vain hope of obtaining relief through White's Life Boat, known to be stationed there, but, alas! without a crew to launch or to man her. It was an awful moment; but it is gratifying to know that even in this extremity all hands, officers and men, spoke in praise of each other, and of their gallant Chief, who expressed a determination to be the last to quit the wreck. After the pinnace had left, the launch was got over the side with forty men to lay out anchors, in the hope of making grapplings fast to haul into smooth water. The ebb-tide, unhappily, swept her under the bows, where she was stove, and nearly all on board, including Lieut. Jekyll, were drowned.

The pinnace, meanwhile, continued her course towards the heads, descrying the steamer Wonga Wonga, outward bound for Wellington; the anxiety was intense, as the Wonga Wonga went round and round, and nearly out of sight. Air. Amphlett at length succeeded in reaching the pilot boat, and came up with 11. M. ship Harrier at 10"30 p.m. The Wonga Wonga anchored, and the few survivors were transferred to her from the boats of the Orpheus that had been got afloat. Had White's life boat been able to be lauhched and manned, we are informed upon good authority, that most of the ill-starred seamen might have been saved. If she neither can be launched or manned, of what use is it to suffer so fine and expensive a boat to rot piecemeal on a barren headland. This is a point which should be determined forthwith. It is hard for any pilot to have the presumed means of safety in his charge ; it is still more deplorable with such means in existence that they should be left as inoperative as the flinty cliffs on which they are falling to decay. To return: —The heavy guns broke adrift, about 5.30 p.m., tearing up the upper deck, and driving the people to the tops, the rollers becoming longer and heavier. The masts stood firmly, untill the flood tide made at about 6.30 p.m., they then began to go, and the ship parted in halves, the rollers breaking into the tops. When the masts went the crew gave three cheers, as if taking farewell of life. Commodore Burnett and the young gentlemen were in the mizen-top ; all perished except Mr. Barkly, son of the Governor of Victoria. Commander Burton, Mr. Strong, sailing-master, and Lieut. Mudge, who were in the main-top, were lost. The men who were saved succeeded in getting down the jib-stay on to the jib-boom, dropping from thence into smooth water, where they were picked up. Many of the survivors are badly wounded, having legs and arms broken, and bodies bruised and maimed by the guns and falling spars. A dispatch from Commander Sullivan, 11.M.5. Harrier, which was received on Saturday at midnight, informed His Excellency the Governor of this disastrous event. With the utmost promptitude the Military authorities took measures to render every possible assistance, Colonel Gamble, Quarter-Master General, D. A. C. G. Chislett, Mr. Hamley, Ordnance Department, with six ambulance waggons, tents, five hundred blankets, and other requisites, setting out for Onehunga. The steamer Avon was unable to start from that port in consequence of some of her machinery being in the hands of Messrs. Vickery & Masefield. This was at once Obtained, sent off, and. fitted, and the Avon, in charge of Mr. Hunt, with Captain Jenkins, H.M.S. Miranda, started yesterday at 2 a.m. On reaching the Heads not a vestige of the wreck was to be seen. The Wonga Wonga, which was < on her way to Onehunga, on meeting the Avon, transferred the rescued seamen to that vessel, and proceeded on her Southern voyage. Harrier got under weigh on Sunday, at 4 a.m., but having grounded, had to wait the Hood tide, ami did not

get fairly away until nearly 3 p.m., about which hour the Avon had got back. The Avon went at once alongside the Onehunga Wharf, and every care and attention was paid to the wounded, His Excellency Governor Sir George Grey, Lieutenant-General Cameron, Major McNeill, Drs.MouA.TT and Tem it. e, with Messrs. Hamlet, Chislett, and several other officers, being present. We appened a list of the ollicers saved and lost. Those saved were:—

Lieutenants Hill and Young; Mr. Amphlett, Paymaster; Midshipmen, Barkly, (son of Sir Henry Barkly, Governor of Victoria), Fielding, Hunt ; Boatswain, Mason; Carjienter, Beer ; 61 sailors and marines.

Officers drowned :—Commodore W. F. Burnett; Commander R. 11. Burton C.8.; Lieutenants Mudge, A. Jeykill, D. Youge ; Lieutenant Hill, Royal Marine Artillery; Rev. Charles Haslewood, Chaplain and instructor: TV". T>. Stronir, Master; Dr.'Clarkson, (late of 11. M. S. Fawn); M. Coates, Assistant Surgeon ; W. Stephens, Chief Engineer; W. Gilliam, Secretary; A. D. Johnston" Assistant Paymaster ; W. T. Taylor, Second Master; Midshipmen, F. D. Jerningham, W. A. Huddlestone, A. R. Mallock,

T. 11. Broughton, G. 11. Verner, R. G. Fairfax; J. J. Tozer, Master's Assistant; Aylen, Assistant Clerk ; J. 11. Adams. Engineer ; Vickery, Miller, and Adamson, Engineer's Assistants; W, Hudson, Gunner.

Yesterday evening, just as the sun was setting, t the last honours were paid to the gallant Commodore, a salute of eleven minute guns being fired from 11. M. Ship Miranda. A more lamentable shipwreck than this has never occurred on this part of the New Zealand coast. It has aroused universal sympathy ; there is a very commendable desire on the part of our fellow-citizens to give a becoming expression to their sentiments on the mournful occasion. Officers and men have lost everything. They are literally naked and penniless, many very severely wounded. The Government, as a matter of course, will do their duty; but there are little comforts which the Government cannot be expected to provide, but which the public may. For that purpose a meeting will be held at the Mechanics' Institute this morning, at 10 (Scinch, sharp, as the Miranda sails for Sydney in the course of the morning. Auckland has never tailed whenever any work of kindness or benevolence was required, and on no occasion has it been more requisite than now. AYc need but call attention to the fact that such a meeting is to be held, to feel satisfied that the work will be well and faithfully performed.

FURTHER PARTICLTLARS. Xo event has occasioned a more profound sensation among all classes of this community than the frightful wreck of the Orpheus. Occurring in broad daylight, in comparatively ?mooth water, and with moderate weather, it has been one of those appalling catastrophes which strike grief and dismay into the stoutest hearts. There has been nothing to parallel it except the wreck of the Dunbar on entering Sydney harbour; and then that awful calamity took place amidst the darkness of a wild and dreary night. The loss of IT. M. brig Osprey, off False Hokianga, in 1845, was nothing by comparison: the ship was sacrificed, but the crew were saved. And in the subsequent wreck, on the West Coast, of the French corvette Alcmene, but few of the ship's company perished, and they who did chiefly through their own impetuosity in leaving the ship, from which, in a few hours afterwards, they might have walked on shore dry-shod. Considering the many 'long shore, and other romantic rumours, poured upon our reporter, it is satisfactory to know that the account given by us of this distressing aiFair is in its principal points essentially correct. With respect to the names of officers lost, there have been one or two mistakes, in consequence of exchanges that had taken place, from Orpheus to Fawn and Harrier. For instance, Assistant Surgeon Coates is not drowned, having exchanged with Dr. Crawfoiu> of Fawn, who is lost; Mr Jerningham is on board Harrier; Mr. lluddlestoxe died in Sydney; Mr. Fairfax is on board Miranda; Lieut. D. Yonge is safe; Mr. GteoFvGe Gossage, Assistant Engineer, drowned. These arc the inaccuracies into which we were led at a moment of much confusion and excitement. All the officers droAvned, with the exception of the Commodore, were, we arc informed, married men, some with young families to lament their untimely loss.

The poor fellow picked up off Poponga Point, after a seven or eight hours' immersion, lias been so severely lacerated as to 'render his recovery extremely doubtful; he is on board the Harrier. Yesterday, some time after noon, intimation reached town that two corpses had been washed on shore. Harrier had not returned ; and from the well-known energy of Commander Sullivan there can he no doubt that an active search along the coast is being made. As we have dispatched a reporter to Onehunga, we may possibly have further intelligence before we go to press. We learn that five and twenty of the rescued seamen have volunteered to Harrier, and about an equal number to Miranda, which ship is likely to be detained a short time for the Governor's despatches. As the mail does not leave Sydney before the 22nd instant, there will be ample time for Miranda to intercept it.

It is with equal pride and satisfaction that we draw attention to the proceedings of a public meeting improvised as it were on the instant, and held at the Mechanics' Institute yesterday morning. The report will be found in another column. Considering the shortness of the notice, the meeting was numerously and influentially attended, demonstrating the keen sense of sympathy of the people of Auckland in all matters of legitimate appeal to their humanity. Seventy-one seamen were cast upon these shores naked, maimed, penniless. Upon a hasty calculation, it was assumed that a sum of six hundred pounds would be required to minister to their immediate and urgent necessities. That sum was required within two hours. In a few minutes half the amount was subscribed, and in a very short time afterwards the full sum—the Colonial Treasurer, Mr. Reader Wood, in order to save time, undertaking to have the money placed at the disposal of those to whom it had been so cheerfully accorded.

Our latest intelligence from Onehunga, up to half past 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, affords us no additional particulars from the scene of the wreck. Xo communication, by boat or otherwise, had been received in Onehunga from the Heads. The Right Rev. Bishop Pattkson had offered to go down in the Aeon to the pilot station, to assist in burying any bodies which may have been drifted onshore. We have heard that the Orpheus had on board 12 months' pro visions for the other ships upon the station, as well as two suits of sails for each vessel.