LOSS OF THE SCHOONER RAVEN AND TWO LIVES.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1591, 14 June 1861, Page 4

LOSS OF THE SCHOONER RAVEN AND TWO LIVES.

To ike Editor of the Weekly Rtujlsler,

Mission House, Kawhia, May M, 18(31

Sut,— Henare Takerei, a native of this place, and half owner of the above vessel, has just given me the following information . — On Sunday morning last, the 12th instant, the Haven left the Wailara with a crew of four men, viz.: — Mr. Hopkins, the master, another European called Ho, Henare Takerei, and his cousin Hira. When but a short distance from laud it was found that the vessel was leaky. She had been injured in the Waitara by a large tree, during the Hood a week ptcviously. The anchor was dropped; for an hour, and the leak stopped with oakutn, after which she proceeded ou her way to Manukau. The weather was veiy fine, the wind fair, and nothing particular occurred until seven p.m., when Hira, who was in bed, heard the rushing in of the water. The vessel's course was then altered, her head turned towards the laud, and three men hastened to the bow below, where the water came in. 1 Hira having burnt his hand that morning did not assist. They endeavoured to stop the breach with a blanket, but it being in a decayed board, the hole became larger, and the water rushed in more and more. After working an hour and a half they returned to the deck, which was then only one foot above the sea. All procured some clothing, then pushed the boat into the sea and left the vessel : Hopkins steered with a paddle, Ho and Henare pulled with oais, and Hira baled the water out with a saugepau, the bout being leaky and small. When they had rowed about 200 yards they saw the' raven go down. It was then 9 p.m., and they were some five miles from the land, about halfway between Mokau ar.d Kawhia. The high hill Wareorino was in sight. They pulled towards, the land, but a strong land breeze from Marok'opa, milled the sea, which filled the boat and upset her. Three clung to the" boat but the sailor Ho was washed away. Henore swam after him and brought him back with the oar still in his hand. The boat was now righted, the water got out, and three men got in again, but the fouith upset it- . Both . Europeans were now washed away. Heuare swam after them and brought Hopkins to the boat again, but the poor man Ho was seen no more ! He was a good swim mer, and might have been saved if he had not worn long and heavy boots. Hopkins had his taken off while in the water clinging to the boat. lie was carried away and brought back again by Henare four times, but about four (judging from the -stars) yesterday morning he was drowned ! His last word was a languid call " Henare," whose strength was also nearly exhausted, so that he could help the sinking man no longer. Hira, who was very weak, and now looks very ill, had lied himself, to .the boat with a rope, which enabled him to draw himself up again when he was washed away, otherwise he must have been lost too. His clothes were torn off him by his cousin. With part of his shirt they baled the water out of the boat, the saucepan being lost, and getting in they embraced each other to "tangi" (weep) in their distressing state. After (hat Henare sculled the boat with the oar they had left, and Hira continued bailing the water out until, quite exhausted, he was compelled. , to. lie down. But at length the sun rose, the wind from the land gradually ceased, there was a calm, then a gentle sea-breeze set in, which enabled Henare to scull the bout to a sandy beach at Harihari, some leu miles- southwest of Kawhia, where he landed about noon, fie carried ■ Hira ashore and laid him in the waim sand, got a fire by rubbing wood together, rubbed and rolled Hira until he revived, and procured some mussels from the rocks, which, they roasted and eat. In the evening they came to Tuuaroa, where they found people and food- To-day they came here to give me the foregoing account. The' poor sailor was drowned soon after the sinking of the schooner, but the other three appear to have been some six or sever, hours alternately in the sea and boat. Those who have seen the terrible' rocks of the coast, and know also what it is to be exposed (though but a short litne) to a winter night's land breeze in the mouth of the 'liver Mohoropa, enn, well judge what these poor men must have suffered from fear and cold, and fatigue.

We do not know as to their feelings at the prospect of being .so suddenly and unexpectedly launched into eternity. ■

U. Hi SciINACKENnERG.

P. S. — Two horses and 13 casks of beef was all the cargo the Haven had ou board when she fouiiueied.