THE SHIP MONARCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 941, 19 November 1866, Page 4

THE SHIP MONARCH.

A ciiuel and infamous hoax was perpetrated on Saturday evening on tlio public of Auckland, through the thoughtless credulity of the Southern Cross. Some person took to that establishment a bottle, said to have been picked up near the Queen-street wharf, containing a paper, as will bo seen below, to the effect that the Monarch, which sailed from Auckland on the 17th ult., with troops and passengers to tho number of nearly 700 souls, had foundered on the 2Sth of that month. A little reflection on the part of any intelligent person having such a bottle and paper brought to liim, would have shown the transparency of the hoax, and would have saved the feelings of a large number of persons from harrowing suspense. The Monarch sailed from Auckland on the 19th of October, was seen to the westward of Three Kings oil the 20th of the same month, and the paper taken to the Cross office bears dates of tho 27th and 28th of the same month; and yet the probability is at once accepted, that a bottle thrown from a vessel eight days out from tho westward of the Three Kings would find its way in twenty clays, even if at all, into the very harbour, and almost to tho exact spot, from whicli'the vessel had sailed a month before. By no possibility short of a miracle could it havo done so, and anyone exercising the slightest amount of reflection must have come to this conclusion. Any prudent person, therefore, having such a bottle brought to him would at once havo checked all publication of the contents, and have taken steps to prove the authenticity of tho document. Fortunately, tho agent of the vessel, Mr. Smart, of the firm of Cruickshank and Smart, was one of those to whose ears camo early intelligence of the rumour circulated through tho town by the scores of persons who thronged round our cotemporary's office on Saturday evening to hear " tho news." By that gentleman the contents of the bottle were at once taken to Mr. Hamley, as the most likely person to elucidate the matter. The careful investigation mado by Mr. Hamley, which we publish below in the form of a letter from that gentleman, sets tho matter finally at rest, and establishes the fact that the Cross has been most shamefully hoaxed, and, through the Cross, the public likewise. We may also state, as further corroboration of this view of the matter, that Mr. Smart states that the whole stock of liquor on board the Monarch was supplied from their establishment, and that the cork found in the bottle is stamped with a different brand to any supplied by them.

The public is indebted to Mr. Hamley for the care which lie lias taken in speedily putting to rest the character of a report, which, had it been worthy of credence, would have carried sorrow and grief into many a house in Auckland. To tho Editor of tlio New Herald. Sir,—A report was widely circulated on Saturday evening through the place that the Monareh, which had lately sailed for Melbourne with tho Head Quarters of tho 14th Regiment, had foundered at sea. The report waa founded on the fact of a bottlo being picked up near the Queea-ttreet Wharf in this harbour, and taken to the Southern Cross office, containing a piece of paper on which was written the following: — " On boar 1 the Monarch troop ship, " Saturday, October 27, 1866. "Ship sinking—waves breaking clean over us. Ten of the soldiers drowned. " Heaven help us, for the captain can't. " S. J. Bountrke, ."Late of Auckland, N.Z. '■ Goodbye to earth." On the back of the document, written apparentlv the day after, was the following:— " Sunday, October 2Sth, 1866. "No hopes!! the vessel fast settling down. " Gale never ceased for 4 days.

. " S. J. R » Un seeing thiß document I felt convinced that the statements were untrue, or at least very doubtful and I immediately mado every exertion to inquire into the reports which-were rumoured through the * J, found t^ ore ""'as only ono soldier of the name of Bountrce in the 14th Regiment (a sergeant) and on applying to Sergeaut Murphy of that corps who was lately discharged, and was intimutelv acquainted with him, he brought me Sergeant Kountree s signature, which is now in my possession, and on comparing it with the above document there was not the slightest resemblance in the handwriting and thero is also a difference in the Christian names. Moreover, Sergeant Murphy informed methattho company to which Sergeant Roan tree belonged n, detailed for Hobart Town, and that his mother-in-law had just told him that she saw him on board the ia m, shortly before that vessel sailed for Tarmauia. The Monarch sailed on the 16th Octobe-, and was sobn by the e.s. Auckland on tlio 20th, to the west,wa.™ oftbo Three Kings ; it is, therefore, scarcely procable that a bottle thrown overboard eight dura afterwards, or twelve days after she left Auckland, would be picked up in this harbour near the Queen-street wliart. 1 he document does not appear to have boon written by a person on board a vessel after an unceasing gala of four days," or « fast settling

down." It is plain and. legibly written, and the punctuation and notes of exclamation are carefully inserted. J

•?iAt V 0 it my duty to acquaint the public with the information I have succeeded in obtaining*, and I trust ifc will afford convincing proof tbat the whole affair is a hoax, and that some steps will be token to discover the individual who could be guilty of spreading so cruel and infamous a report, as he is deserving of the severest punishment.— I remain, . ~ , J. O. Hamley. Auckland, Nov. 18, 1866.