Heavy Spa at Timaru.—Break-up of the Wrecked Ship Lyttelton.

Otago Witness, Issue 1812, 13 August 1886, Page 27

Heavy Spa at Timaru.— Break-up of the Wrecked Ship Lyttelton.

Timaku, August 8

It was raining heavily on Saturday, and a fearfully high breaking sea came in from the south-east. Despite this, the s.s. Orawaiti steamed out. for Westport, her departure being watched by a large number of people. A few seas broke on board, but she seemed to be none the worse. The Graf ton arrived early, but as the rain was heavy she did not open at all, and only put out a little deck cargo. Of course, the wreck of the Lyttelton was keenly watched all day ; the sea was breaking over it, and making the spot one large, white mass. So far as could be seen, the two engines on the fore rigging platform and the engine on the main rigging platform were all right, Saturday night closed in, and the hull seemed to be intact. This morning, however, the shore from Whale's Creek to fully a mile up the Ninetymile Beach is strewn with wreckage, bales of wool so much damaged as to be hardly worth saving, cases of goods, casks of spirits, tallow, &c. It was not long boforc this news reached town, and soon the beach was dotted with men^most of them bent on plunder. I hear cask upon cask of spirits were broached, and that nothing else being handy

hats were used for drinking cups. This ad lib drinking bout did not last long, for the police getting scent of the "finds," constables were detailed for duty, and very quickly and properly put an end to it. No arrests have been made so far. The beach, in the opinion of old surf boat men, has never be'en'so thickly covered with wreckage since the time, about 20 years ago, when the steamer William Miskin was lost here. As to the ship Lyttelton herself, it is almost impossible to make out what is standing, as the weather is thick and dirty, with a heavy mist hanging close over the water. At daylight this morning a few minutes' view was obtained, and it was then seen that the mizzen and main masts had fallen. About seven o'clock, with the aid of a good glass, it wa» noticed that the foremast had gone over the side also. The engines, therefore, have gone to the bottom, and the chances of their being recovered are very remote indeed. All day the fog has laid, and at the time of penning these lines (4 p.m.) the wreck, or rather what is now left of it, cannot be seen. Captain Webster, the. harbourmaster, gives it as his opinion that the vessel has broken in two above r the waist, judging from the manner in which the masts fell. He has taken bearings as well as possible, and finds that the heavy sea has not shifted the hull ; but he desires all vessels making this port to keep a sharp look-out for wreckage during the next day or two. As I predicted two months ago when giving an account of the wreck, the first heavy sea has sealed the doom of this fine ship.

Timaetj, August 9.

I learn on good authority that the Harbour Board's solicitors, Messrs Perry and Perry, have received claims from the late owners of the ship Lyttelton and some owners of cargo amounting to £37,803, for damages sustained by the loss of the ship. Other claims are likely to follow. The Board have retained Sir R. Stout. Some of the cases are to be tried in the district, and others (the majority) in the Supreme Court. There is nothing fresh to report concerning the wreck, as the sea is still running too high to allow of the survey. Wool, tallow, &c, are washing ashore all day, and is being secured by.gangs of men. The rain has ceased, and as the swell is going down fast the authorities hope to send a diver down to-morrow to ascertain the ship's position.

—Jules Verne's wound from the pistol-shot of his insane nephew has given him more trouble than was expected— for although the occurrence took place four months ago, he is still confined to his bed. And it will be several months before he can hope to go around without the aid of crutches.

—The names of the baby King of Spain are Alfonso - Leo - Fernando - James - Mary - IsidorePasca. Shortly after the Royal birth the Spanish Gazette'announced that by Royal degre Senor Rafael Alcalde-y-Burill had been ap pointed surgeon-dentist to the new King Whereupon the Globe, a Republican journal shocked Madrilene aristocracy by inquiring whether the young sovereign had been born with teeth.