THE SCHOOLER PERIOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1900, 3 July 1890, Page 36

THE SCHOOLER PERIOD.

"Moßgiel" writes:— lf you will allow me I will give you a chapter of the schooner period. In March 1856 I embarked in the schooner Star of Dnnedin, commanded by Captain Davidson. We sailed from the Dnnedin jetty on a Friday afternoon. We went as far as Bloody Jack's Point, cast anchor, and lay-to there all night. Next day we arrived at Port Chalmers, where Mr M'Donald then landlord of the Koyal Hotel, and a newly-married couple came on board. We left the Port at 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Sunday was a beautiful day, and we sailed along splendidly until we arrived at theNnggets. Then such a hurricane arose that we thought we should soon arrive at the bottom. The sails were torn to ribbons, and one mast fell with a horrible crash. An old captain of a whaling boat who was on board, and knew the coast well, advised the captain of the Star to run into the Waikawa, a beautiful little cove where the water was as calm as glass, and with bush right down to the water's edge. Here we were windbound for 10 days, during which time, provisions being short, we had Irish stew three times a day (and I have never dared to look at Irish stew since). At last we escaped with a favourable wind, and arrived at the Bluff, where we were once more windbound. I waited for three days for a change of wind, and then, my patience being exhausted, I hired a boat and proceeded to Invercargill, where the Star with my luggage arrived 10 days later. The report had been sent back to Dunedin by Jock Graham that tho Star was lost, as it Bad not arrived at Invercarciii That was only one of my experiences of coastal twwUing during tbe schooner