THE TIMARU WRECKS. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6383, 28 July 1882, Page 3

THE TIMARU WRECKS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sin-When XVrota yon on the 29th Juno, re theTimaru vrt, I dm so simplj; with the object o putting the fe*ts so far as I was concerned plainly befere the public, so many different statements having aiWed in the i'ress ,f the Colony and did so without ill-feeling to^rds anyone. I certainly did not expect to have to trouble you again on what to me .and +o nlanv others, must bo a very painful subject; tut Sg received » copy of your paper of the 3rd July, containing a letter purporting to bo inrepWto mine (but which those conversant 'viththef^ssoald only judge as * tissue of misleading assertions) by an anonymous writer, sisnin- himself " Tjmaru/ attempting to con--smy statements. I ,eapot m justice to ™S, all am on the eve of sajhng for Lon" dou let it pass without replying to )$, even although it is from one who is cowardly .enough to hide himself behind a >wm dc plume, apd that too, I have no doubi, in the full expocta- ; Hon that I would be beyond reach of rap y. I; : Ko received a telegram on the Ist flirty W tfe iluBE, when on my way to Melbourne, from a Henry Green of Timaru, stating h.!l' ffgrsion of the disaster was a he, and 3rd July emanated frm, if it was not written b^^f "his letter states tM C^tain AliUs wa» .underwriters' agent as wp]l as fc^bour^tei-, which would preclude bus fim Soured them with the pwed-foi, breeze off the land, and they had got the riup to sea without me? I think not. I would afeo ask Urn what the instructions to Collis to get » , S crew together . meant» (wcto : boUis' evidence given at inqnmes and published in Timaru Herald of 16th and <!3rd May) • as also what the haulmg down of my ensign, in spite of my remonstrances, by one of said crew (got together quietly meant? In reference to •'Timaru's" statement tljat CaDtftin Mills sent to inform me that ha was ™Soff to my vessel. I again state, as I did at waa bent, I did not receive it." If Captain MMs was desirous of ascertaining how my ship W i left?***, fit my absence (I was m my r^nrt office, ouly a stonethrqvv from the breakwater or wharf), did he not inquire of my crew who were by my bo*te awaiting my ortos? When informed by a fcond of my ow^ (who overheard what was going m re Sing a crew together) that a boat's am fveregoing off to my ship, I had no option left but to Mow, and hurried to overtake them tefore starting. And I again state that when I got fcthe bLkwater I hailed Oaptam Mills, who did not respond to my call, although the Trew^f wjovvji lifeboat, who were alongsfda J3£hi»,heardmeandcauiem. . As regards .the pillaging of my vessel, your correspondent "'jrfmara " says that a number at townspeople took upon tbe)naelves (owing to wy aS) to watch the City of Perth and see that nothing of the sort was done. Evidently ho must have been under a cloud, or labouring under some hallucination or delusion when to wrote this, for if lie turns up the hies of the local paper he will see that 1 .offered a reward of £5 for any information that would lead to . the discovery of the tliieyss who pillaged my ship, while at the same time I « two paid watchmen looking after■her, »faj, the, wreckers where they found doors locked burs*, •them open, wrenched the lock of the lazarette JiaLb broke the sideboard to get at roy stores, ' andto get into my own room they broke m » aide doc* and took everything portable out oi ft, and aofottlJy unscrewed my barometer out at the skylight. But perhaps such dastardly «cts a* the abw* pxe not looked upon as .-ullage or theft by .your correspondent k'fimaru." He has itUo impudence to assert that they (the townspeople^/Jjoever that may mean! helped to save everything ff gin the ship, Sad bid lugU for charity's sake at ice suction %de ofmy stores and the ship's fittings. What w'thel acts' I will give a sainpla of this Sst meiQ London 2Cs per dozen, were sold at 6 fid per dozen, and tU rest of my goods at a woportionate loss. It cost«..) much to watch, KandTell the stuff landed*t Xmiaru as it Ssed. I had to pay, and && pretty Meetly, to everythrngthat was done te roe, .'.nd where your correspondent's charity comest v. X fail to jsee. mf reference to the £18,000 yonr corresponj i -totes tbat the ship was insured for, 1 d. ent , b;Vtbe Court oi Inquiry (see Timai-u. stated a- 9Ut j^ j tua f,her market v&fup was iIU.UW, -. j.' t -\yith regard to the veracious corre."'^*£. £■ j c | rtain] did getting the ship otf My conduct *™»™J time Ileft her untU she was sold on the beac» Ls all been reported by the Press, and every person who has read those repute J^kw* what reliance is to be placed on the statements made by " Timaru." In conclusion, I will give one najßstance of your correspondent's veracity. He states that none of my crew were » the Timaru lifeboat. I reiterate my statement that there were four of them jn )>e —cide Timaru Herald of 15th May—and that they are getting medals for the services they rendered on that occasion. Apologising for again troubling you and at such length on this, to me, painful subject, and trusting that you will do me the favour- ot giving this a jxlace in your columns,--1 am, &c "' Coii MABDOtrifJ?, Late waster " City of Perth," Melbourne, July 18th.