AUCKLAND SHIPPING. ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP VERNON, DISMASTED AND

Otago Witness, Issue 714, 5 August 1865, Page 7

AUCKLAND SHIPPING. ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP VERNON, DISMASTED AND

LEAKY.

A signal was made at the pilot-station shortly before noon yesterday, indicating the approach of a vessel under jury masts, aud some anxiety was felt until it was known that i* was the ship Vernon, from the Navigators' Islands, bound for Sydney for repairs, she having been dism isted and sprung a leak in a severe gale on her passage from Sydney to Shanghai.

The Vernon is a ship of 875 tons, in command of Captain Edward Murray (formerly iv this port with the barque Mary and Edith), find well known in connection with Messrs Green's line of Australian passenger ship?, left London for Moreton Bay on the 27th November, 1863, with 375 passengers, and arrived at her destination on the 13th ot May, last year, after a stormy passage, and with eleven deaths, the steward and a seaman having been drowned. Remained at Moreton Bay nearly six months, when the vessel was seized by the Vice- Admiralty Court, the crew having some difficulty in obtaining heir wages, and purchased by Messrs R. Towns and Co., of Sydney. Left Sydney on the 29th of December last for Shanghai, laden with 841 tons coal, 2 tons sandal-wood, and 11 casks old metal. On the Ist January a strong breeze sprang up, which split her fore and main ro; al and earned away the foot of main top-gallant sail. Had strong N.E. galesfor some days, which tried the ship, and induced the captain to throw overboard some coal to lighten the ship, which wa3 at that time almost unmanageable. When in lat. 7 S. and long. 171 E. fell in with a a hurricane from the wesr, which lasted from the 22nd to the 29th January, and carried away the ship's masts, the mainmast breaking off six feet above the deck. During a heavy s-quall and cross sea the fore topgallant and royal masts, main top-gallant and royal masts, jib and flying jib-boom, and 6pricsail yard, were all carried away by the board, dragging with them the foie yard, and one of the seamen on deck. The wreck was cleared away on the following day, whilst the gale still con ■ tinued, and an effort was made to get the vessel rigged again. A spare topsail yard was rigg< d for a fore yard ; the main and mizzen rigging was set up and the main yards lashed, when the vessel was again put before the wind,jury-rigged. She was found, however, to have sustained >uch serious injuries by the loss of her mainmast and dam ge to her hull that she made from twelze to fifteen inches of water per hour, and had to be constantly pumped to keep her above water. The ship's lifeboat was carried away during the gale, and two other boats smashed by the falling of the mainmast, which likewise carried away a considerable portion of the bulwark, and opened the deck seams. Made sail for Apia, Navigators' Islands, which was sighted on the i4th February, and which was reached on the following day. Remained at the islands for four months, without being able to permanently repair (ho vessel. Discharged 312 tons of coal, in order to lighten the vessel and have her caulked. Left the islands en the Ist of July for Sydney, and experienced fair weather and trade-winds during the early part of the passage, but soon discovered that the vessel was still very leaky in her top sides, and bows. A heavy sea made her still more leaky, and she rolled violently. The leak gradually increased, and both pumps had to be kept working, as she was making more than twelve inches per hour. Twenty-five tons of coal were hove overboard from the forehold, in order to lighten the vessel forward, but still the leak gained ground, and the pumps had to be worked, even when only a moderate sea was running. Captain Murray, therefore, deemed it advisable to make lor .his port, the wind being favorable for the run in, with fresh breezes blowing from

W.B.W. He was theu in latitude 31deg S., longitude 168deg. E. Had two carpenters constantly at work, repairing the vessel, and put into Auckland yesterday morning, for temporary repairs: after which she will leave for Sydney under jury masts. The appearance of tho vessel gives ample evidence of the severity of the weather she has encountered, and all on board must be sensible of the narrow escape they have had from total wreck. Every available spar and rope has been used up in the effort to rig the vessel, which presents a very similar appearance to the ship Bombay, on her arrival here from England." — " Southern Cross."