THE ACCIDENT TO THE ALDINGA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 240, 26 September 1862, Page 4

THE ACCIDENT TO THE ALDINGA.

The following notes made by a passengCT frbinPprt Chalmers to Melbourne' per Aldingai and Ci^foff Hobart, have been handed to us for pubKeation:—- i. "At four o'clock p.m. on Saturday; 23rd AuGrust» we left Port Cbaliners, -with every prospect of fair weather and a rapid passage to Melbourne in the farfamed Aldinga, so celebrated {briber trips of from four 10 five days between the two ports. About five ,a.ro. on Sunday morning, just thirteen hours after leaving Port Ciialmera, when running under easy steam, about four miles an hour, wafting for daylight to make out the Bluff, thump came the poor Aidinga on a sunken reef; off Waipapa Point, to the great horror and consternation of ail on board. . Four times in all did she strike .heavily, and then, forged off into deep water. Th§ anxiety of the crew and passengers *ho felt that the question of life1 and death was in the interval being decided, may easily be imagined, but cannot be: adequately poiirtrayed. and this, too. in ;t!ie tnidst of the noise and confusion of iettin" off * «am, and trying to stop.the vessel aid ascertain if possible the damage she had sußtamed. Many of us considering tfiia rfcenfc and very similar accident which eventuated -in ; the total . loss of the Wfcite Swan steamer, thought when "she stfucK xso :h<avily that there was but- little hope lor us; and when., it was found on examination that she was not making much water, or h*>d received no.se ious injury,aß we then imagined,the sincerity of our gratitude to the all merciful Creator, who bad seen fit to spare us, and f'vtf us; perhaps, another"trial, may be well believed, be Aidinga was not destined thia time to share the fate of t^ Swan, When daylight dawned. Captain M'Lftin made for the "Bluff,- nnd anchored in the roadstead on Sunday tnoruinar, to land some passengers from i)unedin, and take in others forMelbuurne. . "-. ..-■.-,. . -^' ■■-."••-■:■

"Sahda^^lt'.-lift «ie Bluff about mid<V w-thstronawutaaijead, which increased to a heavy gale; by midnight, when the , Aldinga was found to be inakngwat^rsofost (there being then 4 feefc to's feet of water in the after part), that there was no help tor it but to turn back, as the pumps were unable toTceep her clear, she was so much strained by the head sea. And on her return to the Biuff, where fbe arrived on Monday morning about eleven o'clock, it was nectary to keep the steam up, and the pumps going constantly, till we quitted her. An attempt made to get at the leak, on. Monday af te noon, proved ineffectual, and Captain M'Lean thru decided on sending back the mail by the Guiding Star to Port Chalmers, aud asking Captain Darby, of, the City of Hobm-t, to call for the passengers." * "Monday. 25tb.-rThis afternoon, a full-rifwed ship of 1,100 tons,; the Flying Mist, > revenly-nine days out from Glasgow, with ,1,000 imported sheep and valuable rams ou board for some flockowners at Southland, cauio round jthe Bluff and anchoml in the ro;«lsteAil, as the tide would not allow of her eomrcg inside till morning., ; She had shipped about 1,700 sbe>?p and rams at Glasgow, but lost 700 from the over-crowding of the peua during her voyage : what nre left are mid to bevery valuable, worth on ihe average 212105. to Ll3 each. — ' Toetday, . 2Jth.—At; daylight this morning, nothmg CTuld exceed our surprise when we leprnt thai the;Fiying Mist had dragged htr anchors Ja»t night, bad grounded on the rocks at one ride of tli« i channel^aiid was fast sinking. As the Aldinga had steam up, Captain M'Lean lost no time in hastening to her assistance, and by g^^t exertion before the tisue of high water when the tide nearly covered her upper deck, most of the sheep'and the passeneer's luirgaße that; could be got at, were on board the Aldjnga. Bat it was snch a scene as those unused to Vteeking willnot easily Toilet. Such appropriation —or. misappropriation—of bottled porter, hams, canvas,; crockery, glassware, cabin furniture, book*, ic., took place. No doubt they may have been taken yn\h the good intention of gaving them for their owflewjafe the time, but it ') is to be feared in many cases possession was cfin^idered to establish' the rigfcteof the findera, especially -to the porter, bam«, and fruit, till nothing but empty bottles, bare bone», and grape stalks remained for the original proprietors. , i

" Wednesday, 27th.~Most~of ■ th# sheep were Jsnded.toiday, and, it is said,, Captain M'Lean daima for the Aldinga, as salvage, £4000, or one-third the estimated mtue of the sheep. If he geta it tfie owner* will not havie much reason to complain of the accident that brought him back to the Bluff; but it issad to we so fine a ship lost in such a manner, with her mnstt and .sails uninjured, and a valuable cargo of whiskey, galvanized iron, and iron wire on board.

11 Thursday, 23tk—This morning the City of Hobart arrived. We.all left the Aldinga with regret, as the accommodation in her fore cabin wa3 goad, and she was kept clean. The food also was fair; but a great complaint we had to make was that there were up pannikins, plates or knives, forks or spoons provided, which, seeing that the expense would be so paltry, is not right of the owners, and is a great nufsance to the passengers, who ought not to be required fo provide such articles, or to wash or clean them after every meal."— Melbourne Examiner, 13th September. . -