GREY RIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 898, 29 September 1866, Page 6

GREY RIVER.

[communicated.] September 20. We are sorry to record the loss of the fastsailing and pretty schooner Excelsior, of Ouehunga, owned by the enterprising member for that place, D. Kirkwood, Ksq.; but we are glad to find on enquiry that he is not such a loser as we anticipated, the cargo having been all saved and sold, we are happy to say, advantageously. We cannot help mentioning that through the energy and perseverance of 3lr. Kirkwood, the Manukau port has become so much more available than formerly ; his vessels were the first to open up the trade between the different ports — amongst others, between Mauukau and the Grey Iliver, &c. —and has proved by the good and quick trips of his vessels that the Manukau bar. which has been a bugbear, is in reality a myth through many years. Mr. K. has continued his stead}' and persevering course, adding vessel to vessel, and giving work to many who, in many instances, would have been unemployed. "We hope he will l'O on and prosper, and the unluek3 r tide of circumstances which has been against liim this time will again turn in his favour. We are glad to sec also, in llic enquiry. Capl Ivrerseii has no blame attached to him in the late disaster, and his name, which we have so often seen in your Auckland papers mentioned with praise, has not lost anything. OFFICrvH, ENQUIRY IN'TO THE LOSS OF TUK EX^KLSIOR.

At an official enquiry into the circumstance? of tho wreck of tho schooner Pixeelsior, hold by O. Johnston, Esq., the evidence of tiio captain ani mite of the schooner ; of tho captain, mvu. and engineer of rhj Persevere, and of ike harbour-iuaster, and the signalmaster Wis taken. iJ.ip K ii -J on i-on, the harbour-mlatei-, was first examined, and gave it as hw opinion that the wreck w;i3 occasioned by the insufficiency of trio power of the Whoa ho saw the schooner she had lier sails s-:t; when she Rot. into the brca'i of the bar the towline parted, and tho vessel drifted on to the beach. fl"e thought that the mite of iho steimer used every effort in order to stop the drifting of the schooner, and that th-5 master of the schooner could not have done more than lie did to save his vessel. The schooner made for the bar at the top of high water. When she attempted to take tho bar sho was on the steamer's weather quarter. Had tho towline been cut Bhe then miirht have got to soa again, or else entered the river safely. Captain Iwerson, mister of the TCxcelsior, stated thnt ho hoisted signals for a tug at 11 o'clock on Wednesday morning, and the Persevere came along side, and to>k the vessel in tow. JFirst found ihe vessel in danger when outside the break, by her touching the ground. Mo then set the mainsail to get her more up to windward. was setting strongly to the southward, arid the tug had no power to get the vessel to the northward. Believed that the tug took the ground, and that then the c.tpttn cut the tov ripe. Tho vessel then drifted on to tho beach. When the tow rope was cut, he tried to get out again, but the vessel would not stay, on account of there being no way on her. He considered the cause of the schooner's goinjf ashore was tho insufficient power of the tug. Samuel Phillips, mate of the Excelsior, stated that when the lino was thrown from tho tug, tho steamer drifted astern of the s'hooner bef ire the}' could make fabt. The s'.hooner then 1; t the lino go, flipped anchor, and sailed after the steamer. Game up again ti get the rope aboard. Whon clobo to the bar, the tide was setting very strong to the southward, and when on the bar sho grounded on the outer spit. They then hoisted the mainsail, trying to make for the channel, but the vessel made littlo way. Thoy wore inside the main channel when tho tow rope parted, and the vessel was then afloat. When they tried to wsar the vessel would neither wear nor stay. Did not think ihat when they struck on the outer spit they could have got to sea again if the tow-line had br-on cut.

Captain M'Meckan, master of the steam-tug Persevere, staged that when he went to the schooner lie did not consider the sea too heavy for taking the bar. When ho got alongside the schooner the current was running strong to the southward, and n strong northerly breeze was blowing. They could nit manage to haul tho line on board the schooner, and she slipped her anchor and sailed after the tug and took the rope aboard. He told them to make all sail, and to keep to windward as far as possible; but instead of setting tho after-sail they set tho head-nail, which caused her to drift to leeward. After they got into the break they at'empted to hoist the mains til, but could not succeed pmnerly. The insult was that tho schooner hauled the tug so fur to the south that it was impossible to make headway against the s*n and current. Witness then cut tho tow-rope, the schooner being in tho channel between the beach and tho outer break. Tho schooner would not wear. The tug grounded before the tow-rope was cut, and the schooner went ashore. Her going ashore was caused by the heavy current and sea ; nothing moro oould have been done to savo tho vessel. Tho mate of tho Persevere corroborated tho evidonce of Captain M'Meckan. The signal master at the flagstaff stated that tho bar was favourable and a good channel at tho time in question, but the steamer could not get to wind■ward, and the schooner also could not do ao. Tho

schooner went to the windward of the steamer, and if the rope had been cut the schooner could have got. safely into the river. When the steamer went out the weather was not favourable for taking a vessel in tow. The schooner could have; sailed m.wtely,thewiud being from the,.north-west, /rbe.caueeof the schooner going ashore was the irMufficient power.' of the tug boat. : .^.:' ;, v ; .'<^;:" V'. : - '."'"'■:' '■■■