CORRESPONDENCE.

Colonist, Volume VI, Issue 611, 1 September 1863, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

TEE WEECK OP THE PRINCE ALFEED, CATTLE STEAMEE.

To the 'Editor of the Colonist.

Sir—Wanganui Bay never presented a more splendid sight than it did on the morning of Thursday, the 20th ultimo, when two steamers and two schooners floated on its then placid waters; viz., the Lady Bird towing the Scotia, and the Storm Bird towing the Heron (both schooners cattle laden), over the pellucid bar of the Wanganui river.

But Wangenui's billowy and shifting bar presented another sight—nearly eight days previously when the Alfred cattle steamer struck on the bar, and the huge rollers, despite the power of steam, spun the vessel round like a top, and forcing it more and more into tho boiling waves, left it stranded a short distance east of the river's entrance. Shall I say what causes tended to effect this catastrophe ? In a few words, chiefly through the want of a competent pilot and a full boat's crew. All shifting- bars require constant re-Biirveying. Not; the fate of the Orpheus and many a tall bark elae, with another example in the Alfred steamer may be enough to arouse the semi-torpid General and Provincial Governments of New Zealand to a sense of their duties in this important item of colonial commerce—an efficient pilotage. A competent pilot is not to be got at any inadequate salary—and thus valuable property is perilled and many gallant ships are lost, through penny-wise ehabbiness in some quarters, Now they (mis)manage these matters wonderfully at Wanaanui. The river of that name possesses the notoriety of being one of the worst to enter or to leave of all the bar bound rivers in New Zealand. Then, says common sense, it ought to have the most capable pilot. But this common sense quality is not often a common element in Provincial Councils or General Assemblies. So at Wanganui there is placed one of the least competent men for a pilot, with two ordinary, very ordinary, persons for a boat's crew. True, his predecessor possessed all the requisite qualities; but alas! he was wanted for some private and particular purposes, and for these the public service may sink or swim. We will put tiie last case.

The brigantine Scotia having taken in her cargo and complement of cattle on Monday, the 17th, hoisted a signal for a pilot on the 18th, the weather being fine and the wind favorable; her owner in full hopes of reaching Kelson by the 20th. After the lapse of several hours the pilot came on board, announcing that he could not tako the vessel to sea until the midnight tide began to ebb, so went away and spent the day in the township. At the time appointed; his pilotship came aboard the ship and took the command. Against every remonstrance of the Captain, this pilot ran the vessel hard ashore behind the Maori settlement, notwithstanding his vaunting that he would steer in the channel within hrtlf-an-inch, during the darkness of the darkest night. Mr. Pilot escaped over the bows, leaving the Scotia to be got off as the Fates will, or the captain and crew could manage it. The vessel next day again afloat by the exertions of her own crew, and—to the credit of the Wanganuians be it told— not one of them came down the rizer (only onefourth of a mile) to render the least assistance; a degree of attention for which all concerned are truly grateful and will remember.

The pi ot was put into the lock-up; « round robin being signed by captain, mate, passengers, and crew, " Unit on the night of the running aground, said Pilot was drutilc, combative, incompetent;- and abusive, and forwarded to the llesident Magistrate.

It having been arranged that on Thursday the steamer Prince Alfred, then getting in cattle for Dunedin, would tow out the Scotia, that steamer floated down tho liver. Imagine our surprise to behold our friend the pilot beside Captain Robertson on the bridge; and it became at once evident that no towage {rojn that quarter was to. b« expwfog.

A providential escape it was—no thanks to Mr. Pilot—or else two wrecks might have happened instead of one. Away steamed the vessel alone, to meet its doom. Tho fact is incontestible that 'Captain Robertson went out under the assurance thut there was sufficient water on the bar to float his steamer out in safety ; just as if a man two days in tho lock-up at Wanganui could tell what was the water depth at the river bar, nearly fnur miles distant! The result is generally known. This, vessel struck, and is now a total wreck. The' Scotia dropt down the river, and got over the sandspit in time to aid in establishing a communication between the wreck and the land. Mr. I'ilot walked about for a whole week most pertinaciously declining to take the ScotU out to sea. There was either too little water or too little wind, or when there was high water there was no wind, and when the wind was right the tides were all wrong; and thus the Scotia lay seven days until the Lady Bird towed her out; a loss of time to captain and charterer of about «£'1O() at least.

Such losses and negligence will not tend to encourage strangers to visit the port of Wanganui very often. No doubt when much evil is done means will be taken to apply remedial measures. Tlie signal staff is a mere mockery; the channel wants large buoys—as for the apologies for them at present in the river, they require a forty microscopic power sometimes to see them. The wharves, a kind of two are, one tumbling down, the other nothing to brag of. The life-boat—more like a death-boat, for it filled on its way to tho Prince Alfred, and was no use. In short, the Wanganuians, good easy folks, must bestir themselves, and take cure that matters shall be no longer so (nrisjruanagod in Wanganui. Yours, &c, A MARINER. Nelson, August 31,1863.