A SHIP IN DISTRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9774, 22 March 1895, Page 5

A SHIP IN DISTRESS.

THE WOLVERENE PUTS INTO PORT

LEAKING. When our Russell correspohdenb telegraphed on Monday lasb that a full-rigged ship, bound South, had passed there on the previous afternoon, considerable speculation was indulged in as to what it could be, as there was no vessel answering the description expected at this port, and it was surmised thab it must have been a vessel bound to one of the Southern ports. Yesterday morning, however, it became known that the stranger was the ship Wolverene, bound from Sydney to Liverpool, with a cargo of shale, tallow, and guano, that she was in a leaky condition, and was making for Auckland for repairs. The Devonport Ferry Company's tug Eagle went to Tiritiri, where the vessel had anchored on Wednesday night, and took her in tow, the harbour being made aboub three o'clock yesterday afternoon. The ship is under the command of Capb, Steinmann, who reports sailing from Sydney on February 24 with light northeasterly winds and fine weather, which continued until the 6th instant, when a hard gale, accompanied with a very heavy sea, was encountered, causing the ship to labour heavily. The next day the wind had further increased, and was blowing a terrific gale, with a mountainous sea, the ship being under fore and main lower topsails only, and labouring and straining heavily. During the gale ib was found that the vessel was leaking seriously, and all hands were ordered to the pumps ab times, and notwithstanding the efforts of the crew ib was found that the water was steadily gaining. At half-past five a.m. on the Bbh, the crew al! went aft, and informed Captain Steinmann that they refused to proceed any furthur on the voyage, as they deemed the vessel was not in a fit state to go round the Horn. This was in lab. 45"78 south, long. 16349 east. There being no other alternative, Captain Steinmann decided to make for Auckland, and the ship was at once laid on her course. The Three Kings were sighted on the 14th, and light easterly winds prevailed until the 18th, when a heavy gale from the E.S.E. was experienced, afterwards moderating, the wind going into the north-west. Tiritiri was made on Wednesday nighb last, where the vessel anchored until being taken in tow by the Eagle yesterday morning. Captain Steinmann has communicated with the owner, Mr. J. Ellison, of Sydney, informing him of the situation, and will await instructions from headquarters. While in harbour the leak makes no headway, it only assuming serious proportions when the vessel is under way. Messrs. Cruickshank and Co. ore the agents for the vessel. The Wolverene has had a most eventful history, she having been at one time one of the finest vessels in the British navy. She was launched in 1864, and was commissioned to the West Indian station as flagship, Admiral de Horsey being in command, and took part in quelling the riots at Jamaica. She then returned to England, and was commissioned to the South Pacific and other stations, her last commission being to the Australian station as flagship under Commodore Hoskins, and served two terms of three years each, being superseded by the Nelson, the first of the seagoing armour-clad ships appointed to the sbation. The Wolverene then returned to England, and was condemned by the Admiralty, as being unfit for further service, and was ordered to be broken up. , The New South Wales Government, however, made such representations bo the Imperial authorities on the matter that the order was revoked, and the ship was presented to that colony in 1881, and early in the following year she arrived in Port Jackson, where she was utilised by the Naval Brigade and Artillery Volunteers as a training vessel, making trips around the New South Wales coast at stated times with the volunteers, who were put through a course of seamanship and big gun drill. Owing to the establishment of the Auxiliary Squadron, consisting of the Wallaroo, Katoomba, and warships of a similar class, the Wolverene was considered of no further use, and in 1893 she was laid up, and remained in idleness until last year, when she was sold to Mr. J. Ellison, of Sydney, the price paid being about £2090. She was then fitted up as a merchantman, and sailed for Liverpool about the middle of February. She, however, had bo pub back a few days afterwards, owing to an accident occurring to the steering gear, and resumed her voyage on February 24.