THE OCEAN MAIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 336, 22 May 1877, Page 2

THE OCEAN MAIL.

The schooner Omatia, Captain Barr, arrived this morning from the Chatham Islands, where she left on the 15th. She brings the captain, officers, and crew of the ship Ocean Mail. It appears from the accounts given by the officers of the Ocean Mail that after passing Pencarrow Heads, on the 16th April, the weather was very thick for several days, until the morning of the 21st, when, during the second mate's watch, sail was shortened about 4 a.m. The third mate called the captain, saying the ship was nearly ashore. Every endeavour was made to work her off, but they were unavailing, and she struck on a bed of solid rock known as the French Reef, between Maharanaka and Taupeka points. The pumps, on being sounded, recorded five feet of water in the hold. The boats were got out, and the passengers landed, and stores and other things taken into the bush, until the surf became too heavy to allow of the work being con. tinued. The reef is about half a mile from the shore. On the following Monday a survey was held, and the wreck sold to Mr. Ritchie. An inquiry into the disaster was held subsequently at Mataranaka, before Mr. Leighton, R.M., and the Collector of Customs, the result of which inquiry was that the captain's certificate was suspended for nine months, and those of the officers for six months. Two of the officers have been committed for trial for perjury, for stating that that log was overboard when the vessels struck. Both of them have been lodged in gaol. A private letter from the Chathams says that the weather was very thick and dark when the vessel came ashore, and had been so several days. Mr. Ritchie has recovered between 400 and 500 bales of wool, and about 100 casks of tallow came ashore in one night. The letter says it was fortunate that the night was smooth, or all hands would have been drowned.