WRECKAGE AT THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10496, 21 October 1895, Page 2

WRECKAGE AT THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

A WOOL SHIP EVIDENTLY LOST,

SUPPOSED TO BE THE STONELEIGH,

[Pee TJIHTE9 Pbess'Association'.)

L_ttj_lton, October 19.

The Hinetaoa. arrived this morning from her periodical trip, to the sonthern islands. Captain Pahchild reports having 'visited all jihe island depot-!,' and Coding the stock in splendid order.; .; * A1* the.Auckland Islands he found that a large and evidently quite new iron . jbip had ; baen wrecked on the north-east _o.__i_r of the ' island. The rocks were strewm with t_se spars, risisirg, decking, and fittings of s largu vessel, and-aitb an abundance of Australiau wool, .evidently the cargoJ Nothing was fcund to indicate the name of tho vessel—no woolpacks or brands. All hands were evidently lest, as no trace conld be found of human beings, although a close search was made.

Tbe Hinemoa brought np a large quantity of wreckage, including a spare topsail yard, 60ft long. The yard is painted yellow on top of hematite,,bufc the underneath paint is quite fresh.

Ootober 20.

The wreckage! found afc the Auckland Island appears to be that of a nearly new ship with deck planks 3£i__ thick, topsail yards 60ffc long, and the paint quite fresh. All hands must have been lost, as no oue was to hs fouud on the island.:. -,"■"..'". '■-■'/'

All-the circumstances connected with the wreckage, point to the Stoneleigh ss the vessel which .hns been lost. This vessel left Melbourne on Ptbcuary 27 for Loudou, a*_d\ was spoken by Captain Waller, of the Rotomahana, midway between Tasmania and New Zealand. The undeiwriters soma time ago paid the: insurance on the-vessel.

-■y.i Chkistcbciich, October 20. ■It is considered likely that the wreckage found 'on ; the * Aucklands Is that of the Stoneleigh, a four-masted barque, missing on the Jvoyjgefrom Melbourne to London. The wood and ironwork are those of a large new ve.se!, and the wool is Australian and thickly infested with the Bathurst burr. It was repdifced spme time ago tbat the Stoneleigh had been spoken in 156 W. long, and 49 S. lab, when she must have passed the Aucklands. Captain Waller, of the Flora, however, reports that when in command of the Rotomahana he paMed the Stoneleigh between Tasmania and New Zealand, steering a course that would take her close to the' Aucklands. It seems possible that this speaking is referred to, aud that through somebody's error west longitude was substituted for east.' :