THE CRUISE OF THE CLIO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2854, 31 March 1871, Page 7

THE CRUISE OF THE CLIO.

"We have been favoured with the following particulars regarding the recent accident to the Clio, and Dr Hector's subsequent journey overland. The Clio, "with His Excellency-the Governor, Commodore Stirling, Dr Hector, and Captain Pitt, A.D.C., on board, left Wellington on. the 4th ult. on a cruising expedition. All went well until the vessel waa off Hokitika when a heavy gale was encountered, and the Viceregal party were prevented from landing there. Milford Sound was made, under steam, on the 10th ult., and the Clio anchored in Harrison's Cove, and remained there a week. During her stay another very aevere gale, "which thoroughly tested the strength of the vessel and the suitability of the anchorage, was experienced. Excursions wore made in different directions, and thorough soundings were taken for the , purpose of testing the manner in which the sounds had been formed. Shooting expeditions were improvised daily, and three fur seals, one of which weighed 2601b5, were shot by His Excellency. A kakapo and some other rare and interesting birds were also obtained, and photographs and sketches of the chief points of interest were taken. The mountains in the neighbourhood were remarkable for the absence of snow. Mount Cook shewed many bare patches, and on other usually snow-capped mountains, there was little, if any, snow to be Been. On Friday, the 17th ult., the dio'left'Milford Sound, and steamed &own to Bligh Sound. The intention of the party was to reach Deas Cove, Thompson Sound, early on the following morning, but when returning down the Sound, at about 5 p.m., in the onjoyment of calm, bright weather, the vessel suddenly struck a sharp-pointed irock surrounded by about sixty or seventy ■ fathoms of water. The rock entered the: side of the vessel about twelve feet below the water-line, under the port bow, ( and -whilst drawing T&ft. The ship at once put back to Bounty Haven, at do head of the Sound, where she brought to in 10 fathoms. The boats, trith the view of enabling the men to repair the damage, were lowered, but as it "Was then nightfall nothing could be done beyond passing a sail underneath the injured part. The donkey engine was then put in motion, but it was found 'necessary, to resort to the hand-pumps, by which means the effects of the leak were overcome in about seven minutes. The Commodore is sanguine that he will be able; to effectually repair the vessel without; Tunning her on shore. If, however, this Btep is found indispensable, it can be easily effected, although the immense weight of the. guns and the removal of other un■wleldy articles would render the operation Bomewhat tedious. Fortunately the place where the vessel, struck is well shel; tered from wind and weather, and plenty of good timber can be obtained to; repair; "the damage which the vessel has .sustained. About midnight of the j!7th, Dr Hector, accompanied by an officer and able men, left the vessel in a pinnace in charge of despatches from His Excellency ■and the Commodore, and the officers' letters, for Martin's Bay. They were off Milford Sound at daylight^ and Bad to' pull.against a heavy sea to Martin's Bay, where they arrived too late to enter ■svith the day's tide. The crew accordingly pulled round to Big Bay, remained there all night, and crossed the bar at the mouth of the Kotuku river next morning. In doing so, Ihe boat shipped a heavy sea, out sustained no damage; there was a ieavy S:W. swell on at the time, and the attempt to cross the bar, therefore,: was Tendered more difficult and dangerous ihan is generally the case. Dr Hector found that the bar was in almost exactly the same state as when he crossed'it in 1863 ; various marks, however, had been put up which are calculated to mislead any person not well acquainted with the l>ar. • The party afterwards pulled up the liver, with,'he tide, to M'Kerrow Lake, and ultimately reached a small settlement on the east side at Gravel Cove, where about fifty persons reside in rough log luts. •• Further down the river some gardens havf been laid out, but no real progress in cultivation has been made in the immediate vicinity of the Battlement. After landing Dr Hector and the two seamen who accompanied him overland, the crew, in charge of their officer, left Gravel Cove with instructions to ire-cross the bar and join the Clio on the first favourable opportunity. Preparatory to his attempt to ctosb the mountains, Dr Hector was rendered valuable assistance by Mr Thomson, surveyor, and in one of his assistants namedSpeidhe found an able guide. The party travelled a few miles on Sunday afternoon, the 19th ult., and on ihe following day they reached the ford on the Hollyford River, •when heavy rain set in and delayed them the whole of Tuesday. On Wednesday the party proceeded up the valley in the direction of the new track. They afterawards ascended a very steep and difficult part of the mountain. The limit of the trash was reached after climbin? about 2000 feet, arid the party were obliged to j camp at an early hour in the afternoon, in ! consequence of the heavy fog that covered the rest of the mountain. On Thursday \ morning, as soon as the fog lifted, they ! crossed the top of the range, a height ! of 4000 feet above the level of the! sea, descended by the side of-Lake Harris, and by 11 a.m. had reached the limit of the bush on the other side. ' This part of the road was found to be exceedingly difficult, and for travelling purposes would be found utterly impracticable when there is ihe least snow or fog on the mountain. At a point where the forest commences, on the east side, the party found a cut track, which they followed a distance of twenty-two miles to the head of Lake Wakatip, which was leached the same evening. On Friday afternoon—the next day—arrangements were made with a steamer, which brought the party to Queenstown. and Dr Hector Teached Dunedin, after visiting the Crom"well reefs, on Tuesday evening. Dr Hector considers that the new track which be followed oh the present occasion is much less preferable to that which he formerly discovered and crossed by the Greenstone Pass. The altitude of the latter is 1800 feet, that of the other being 4000 feet. With regard to the accident to the Clio, -we are informed that the existence of the lock, until the vessel struck, was unknown, that blame is attachable to no person, and that but for the very remote part in which the mishap occurred, it -would have been regarded as one of a i "trifling character. I The above was written in the early p?rt of the month. H.M.S. Virago afterwards sailed from Wellington to assist the Clio, and the Jatter vessel was sufficiently repaired to enable her to proceed to Sydney. !

At the first meeting of the newlyelected Town Council of Balclutha, the election of municipal office-bearers resulted aa follows -.—Town Clerk, Mr Wm. JRalston; Assessor, Mr A, Henderson ■ Susveyorj Mr E. Grigor. '