THE WRECK OF THE RONA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6164, 19 August 1881, Page 5

THE WRECK OF THE RONA.

Although nothing definite has been heard relative to the vessel said to have been washed ashore opposite Helens ville, it is now almost beyond doubt that the main lines of the Maoris' statement are correct. Captain D. H. McKenzie received a telegram from Captain James Smith, of the Christina, who, with Captain John McKenzie, proceeded to the Kaipara yesterday morning to inquire into tho matter:—"Helensville, 12 a.m.— We are starting for wreck with guides. Maoris say yards, blocks, and one anchor up on the beach. Vessel buried in the sand all but copper." Superintendent Thomson also received a telegram from Constable Inger, to the following effect:—"l am informed by natives that a largo quantity of sails, the hatch of a vessel, and the body of a man have been washed high up on the beach about.six miles'south of Kaipara Heads." In the face of these telegrams it cannot be doubted that a vessel has been lost, and the question now is, what one is it? The inference is steadily gaining that it is the schooner Rona. That terrible weather was encountered, the following letter from Captain R. Caitcheon, of theschooner Sovereign, to his owners, clearly demonstrates :—

Aratapn, August HI, 18S1.—T take this opportunity of giving you a 'little Insight of the passage I bad coming round. Thought the vessel rather light, ao called at Russell ana took in eight boatloads of ballast. Alter rounding the North Cape, the wind came in to N.E. with thick weather. Ran down to tho bar, but too late for that tide. The wind came in N.W., and heavy over the land. On Friday night act in hard from tho westward, and increased to as heavy a gale as I have seen on the coast, and continued so for five days and nights. Held on canvas until wo could not hold on any longer. Hove tha the vessel to on Tuesday at 5 a.m., it blew harder than ever. Fancy my feelings when I knew if she kept off the beach till next morning that was as long as could be, and tho glas3 going down. . At daylight there was tho beach about two miles under the' lee. Wore her round, and but for a favourable change for two hours must havo gone on tho beach. Under the close reefed sails for another twenty-four hours and the weather commenced to tako of. Have never beon in such ill luck in all my travels. Must givo the schooner all credit; had it not been for her good qualities I would havo nover been here now.

The Sovereign left this port five days before the Rona did, but made a call at Russell, and she arrived at Kaipara on Friday last, the 12th. Tho Darcy Pratt sailed for Auckland a day after the Rona, and arrived on Sunday. As the sailing capacity of the Rona was quite equal to either of these vessels in heavy weather, she should have been at the Kaipara before now. We understand the statement of the master of the Darcy Pratt fully confirms that of Captain Caitcheon as to the force of the gale. Of course how the Rona capsized is, and probably for over will be, a mystery. Perhaps her masts carried away, sho became unmanageable, the ballast shifted, canted her, and a strong wave striking the upper side sont her over sufficient to overbalance her completely. The place where tho vessel is alleged to be is just such as the wind prevailing at. the time would have driven her to. Captains McKenzie and Smith have not yet returned. Captain Kenneth McKenzie's family, consisting of four children; have been residing at Oamaru for some months. There was some speculation yesterday as to the lost vessel being the brigantine Roderick Dhu, which left the Kaipara on Saturday, the 13th, for Dunedin, with a cargo of timber, and the fact of yards being mentioned, gave colour to the idea. It is very improbable, however, that a timberladen vessol would have capsized in this way. The namet of the crew of the Rona are :— Robert Smith, Neil Cannichael, Charles Johnson, a.nd William Eagle.