WRECK OF THE MAY QUEEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8112, 22 February 1888, Page 6 (Supplement)

WRECK OF THE MAY QUEEN.

Tho barque May Queen, from London to LyiteUon, went .i-bore at Lyttcllon Heads on the 20th nib. She struck on the reef known i-.s Ked Head, between the bay and Little Port Cooper. Bhe took the pilot on board outside the heads, and beat up against a strong;, uncertain breeze, but when oil" Ked Head she missed stays and ran upon the reef. Tho tug Lyttelton endeavoured to tow her elf, but iv vain, for she had gone nshoro at the top of high water, and us the tide ebbed she held fust. On the following day she was abandoned to the underwriters, having been badly strained at low water. The pumps were forced up through her decks, showing that her back was broken. Of 1300 tons of cargo on hoard, nearly all of which wns for Obristchurch firms, about 350 tons was got out and conveyed to Lyttelton on lighters. 'The underwriters decided to offer the vessel and cargo for sale, hud on the 30th this was done. The hull, fc., was sold to Mr S. Sinclair for £275, and the cargo to Mr Mill, of Port Chalmers, for £1000.

Since then the purchasers have amalgamated their in'..crustl:, They have saved a considerable portion nS tho cargo and havo held two sales by auction, both of which havo been eminently satNfacloi'v.

The M ly Q.ieen was cnmraiuidcd by Captain Colville an.!'owned by Captain John Leslie, of Aberdeen, who also owucd and commanded the ship IViypsr-, which was lost in tho English Channel !;\m or nix years ago. She is an iron barque of 7SI tons gross register, and wns built under special survey at Aberdeen in 1SG!) by Me.-srs A 11 ill and Co. She was classed at her last survey as *Aal. >Sho was insured in Home ofriecs.

An en(j-iiry was held into the circumstance1; of tho -.week, and tho court in giyiug judgment considered the occurrence v.;as occasioned by an ortor of ji;;i^n;.riil: oS the pilot in standing too pjosp. to thu shore. The Bench expressed regret that thH functions of the pilot should be entrusted to atiy person who has not been charged with the c.ire of square-rigged ships, Although in the present case they would not be justify (1 m a-snmin;; tout the wreck was caused by the abs..-nco of the tupr, which was employed in carrying the mails to Pigeon Ray. There was, howevvr, no doubt, that had. th,e tug been available the captain o; the barque would have directed Ijv.1 io bo employed, and have avoided the airjiueut, They finally recammend.d that ihe cui'tilieatos be rt-turiu.d to all the partii-?, >7o urder was made as to costs.