EARLY SHIPPING DAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17028, 30 April 1923, Page 11

EARLY SHIPPING DAYS.

VOYAGES FROM THE OLD COUNTRY. TALES OF THE EMIGRANT SHIPS. The romance and some of the hardships of the early shipping days of New Zealand are recalled in the series of articles now being published by the “ Star ” relating to the early shipping days. Many people are interested in the subject, as there are still many old identities with us. while thous- *’~ of citizens of the Dominion are descended from the o iu. braved the voyages in the sailers of the 'fifties, 'sixties and ’seventies. The article printed to-day consists of extracts from early files. THE ISABELLA HERCUS. (From the “ Lyttelton Times,” .June 5, 3856.) The Isabella Hercus, Captain Sewell, ai rived in fort early yesterday mor« - ing with 110 assisted passengers loi this province, seven cabin passengers, r nd twenty-one assisted emigrants for Otago. This vessel left London on (September 13. There were two births r.nd eight deaths during the voyage, viz., four adults and four infants. Fever of a, low character appears to have prevailed on board during a considerable portion of the passage. Ten convalescents were admitted into the hospital immediately on the ship's arrival. COAST!NO CRA FT V.'RECKED. (From the “ Lyttelton Times,” (January 9, 1856.) The Catherine Ann. one of the small coasting craft belonging to this port, was totally wrecked last Saturday morning on the rocks off the easternmost heads of Port Levy. The accident-, we are informed, arose through the man at the tiller falling asleep while on duty. When .she foundered the Catherine Ann was bound for Pigeon Bay for repairs and had on board the timber and other materials necessary for that purpose. We reeve t to hear that Air W. .Marshall has lost many valuable tools by the accident. DAMAGE BY ROUGH WEATHER. (From the Lyttelton Times,” January 30, 1856.) The log of the brig Christina, Kay, master, from Port Cooper, New Zealand, records having encountered most severe weather. On November 9, when off the Hunter, a gale set in with such fury that she was driven a»s far as Hummock’s Island, and during the tempest she was struck by a heavysea on her starboard bow, which stove in her bulwarks, carried away her headrail, and started the cut water. On November 9 the brigantine Alexander. from Wellington, bound to Lyttelton, was spoken. This vessel had encountered rough weather, having lost a whole suit of canvas and been compelled to peek shelter under the lea of King’s Island.—Adelaide “ Observer.” LOSS OF THE ALMA. We regret to find that the steamer Alma, which was damaged while crossing the bar at Sumner recently, has been broken in two by the attempts made to raise her. It is supposed that, one of the chains placed underneath the vessel for that purpose cut through the bottom, as a noi.se was heard by -the men in the punts lash' u to the Alma resembling the sudden tearing of a sheet of paper, immediately after which the punts rose, having preiously been nearly swamped by the inflowing of the tide. From all we learn every exertion appears to have b-'en made by the parties who undertook the contract. The punts engaged in the attempt to raise this vessel returned to port this- morning. SCHOONER DRIVEN ASHORE. (From the “ Lyttelton Times,” February 2. 1856.) The schooner Wellington, Porter, master, has gone on shore near Motunau, where she was lying loading with wool from the station or .1. S. Caverhill, Ivsq. From the accounts that have reached us it appears that the day after her arrival off Motunau the hands commenced loading with wool, the weather being very tine, and continued doing so till the Friday afternoon, when the wind flew suddenly round to the S.W., blowing a gale. Before the anchor would he raised, in order to get under weigh, the vessel drifted so much that a second anchor was let down. In the evening the small chain parted, but they rode out the gale till Sunday two o’clock p.n?., when the best bower chain gave way. The captain then made sail 9 but in going about the vessel missed stays and before she could be made to wear got amid the breakers and drew on shore. Sixty-one bales of wool were on board at the time of the acident. There is every probability the vessel will ultimately be got off as no rocks are on the part of the toast she founded on. The Sea Bird sailed on Thursday last to bring down the wool. The “ Lyttelton Times ” of February 23 stated that the Wellington arrived the previous day from Motunau. She had been got off without sustaining any considerable damage. “ She is now lying in Rhodes’s Bay for repairs, which, we understand, will not occupy more than two or three weeks.” WHALER’S LONG VOYAGE. (From the “ Lyttelton Times,” February 23. 1856.) The master of the Father of the Thames reports an American whaler, the Clematis, from New London, off the Peninsula yesterdav. with 2200 barrels of black oil. and 80 barrels of sperm on board. The Clematis has been out thirty months; master, William Benaman. WRECK OF THE FATHER OF THE THAMES. (From the “Lyttelton Times,” February 27. 1856.) We have just been informed that the Father of the Thames, loaded with wool, struck on the rocks off the Sumner liar this morning. We understand that the vessel is considerably damaged. BAD NEWS FROM THE CHATHAMS. (From the ‘‘Lyttelton Times.” March 5. 1856.) The schooner Wave, from the Chatham Islands arrived in harbour on Saturday evening, and brings intelligence of the natives of these islands being in a state of great commotion. It appears that the Lady Grey, schooner, from Wellington, with the Collector of Customs on board, had arrived on the 19th nit., and their landing was a signal for a general rising amongst the Native population. Th«v bad long been in an excited state, and the arrival of the schooner added fuel to tb" fi’m Thev now threaten to drive the Europeans from the is-

lands, and in the meantime admit of no law or authority except then- own; The YYave had arrived there livini Sydnev, and had remained there for some time in the hopes of being able to trade, but from the threatening state of affairs, the captain was obliged to weigh and come here with her original cargo. The Wave, on leaving Sydney, had eighteen liofses on board, of which from stress of weather and being so that the voyage lias been a most uniortuuate one. The Natives had no wheat but plenty of potatoes. The 1 ketch Harriett Simpson had also been | obliged to leave (lie islands and no ves--1 sel remained on the departure of the ! Wave. The latter sailed on the 21st : ult.. and has therefore l>eeji nearly j three weeks on the passage. She has experienced westerly winds nearly the Avhole time, and was becalmed for two * days off the East Cape.