THE SCHOONER CLANSMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10047, 6 February 1896, Page 5

THE SCHOONER CLANSMAN.

FORTY-TWO DAYS FROM DUNEDIN. The Auckland schooner Clansman, Captain H. Douglas, arrived from Dunedin last night, after an exceptionally long passage of 42 days. Some days ago considerable anxiety was expressed regarding the safety of the vessel in shipping circles in Auckland, beoause, though the Clansman is a fine strong vessel, and Captatn Douglas has the reputation of being a most skilful and careful seaman, it was thought that when the vessel was over thirty days oub something of a serious nature must have overtaken her. Some of tho authorities, however, held to the opinio* that owing to the continued prevalence of westerly winds on the coast during the .past couple of months, the schooner had eimplj been blown far off the land, and could not make into the coast again ; and tliab surmise was proved to be correcb by the receipt of a telegram from Awanui la«;b week stating that the Clansman had put into Awanui for provisions; and about ten oYjlock last night the schooner dropped anchor in the harbour below tho Railway Wharf. In the course of a conversation with the Herald representative shortly after arrival, Captain Douglas abated that tho Clansman sailed from D'unedin on December 24bh with a lighb northerly wind, which continued until tho 30th, when the vessel was to £he northward of Lyttelton. A heavy westerly gale then sob in, and the vessel was 'put do sea. Tho gale continuod for 28 da/ys, during which the vessel was continually driven to the northward; the wind blowing with such force that ib was imponsible to reach in again. The sea at times was terrific, but tho vessel showed her splendid seagoing capabilities by coming through without the least damage. Being driven so far off the land, and the wind still 1 remaining dead ahead, for ib did nob appear to matter on which course she was pub, the vessel had to thrash up against a head wind ; ib took a long time for the coast to be made, and it was not until the morning of January 29 thab Awanui, on the Bast Coast, was made. By this time provisions and water were beginning to ran very short, as although, as a rule, Captain Douglas always goes to sea well prepared for all emergencies, it was not thought for a moment that when the schooner nailed from Dunedin that ib would be 42 dayn before she reached Auckland. Indeed, an Captain Douglas remarked last night, if iinyono had told him that his passago was g oing to occupy six weeks, he would have b eon inclined to say that he did not know w hat he was talking about. But such turn ed out to be true, nevertheless, and the experience of the Clansman is another exemplification of the truth of the saying, " That those who go down to the sea in ship nover know what is before them. After taking in a supply of provisions the vessel sailed from Awanui on the nighb of January 29, but the head winds against which she had to contend for so long still pursued her, and on Thursday she had to ear up to Hick's Bay for shelter, remaining there until Saturday, when another start was made, and the vessel made porb last nighb, Captain Douglas and all on looard being heartily glad that their trying experience had come to an end.