WRECK OF THE LORD WORSLEY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1768, 18 September 1862, Page 3

WRECK OF THE LORD WORSLEY.

In addition to the very full particulars we gave in our last paper of the wreck of the I. C. R. M. stea'oer Lord Worsley, we have been allowed to copy the following Journal kept by Captain Muirhead, who was a passenger on boaid . —

Sunday, August 31.— The Pilot left the ship outside of Nelson harbour. Wind blowing strongly from the S.W., which in .-leased as we proceeded do,vn Blind Bay, the ship being under all fore and aft sails and fore and main topsails which latter were reefed at four p. in., we were goiug a'uout ten and a-half knots an hour. At ten, p.m , her course was shifted, the wind then blowing strongly with a heavy beam sea. Weather thick and hazy with drizzling rain.

Monbay, September 1. — At 1.30., a.m , the topsails having been just clewed up, a cry arose of "breakers a-head." Orders were im" mediately given to starboard the helm, and reverse the engines ; but the ship was going at such a rate that she struck almost instantly. Finding that the ship must have several holes in her. aud also that her screwfan was broken, the topsails were again set in order to force her as far up the beach as possible, it being then close on high water. In half-an-honr after she struck, the fore hold was full of water up to the tween decks, and the ship had settled firmly on the rocks fore and aft. The boats were cleared way, and rafts constructed from some timber that was on deck, so as to be prepared iv the event of the ship breaking up. Ai three a.m., the water made its way into the engine room, putting out the fires, and stopping the donkey engine, which, till theu, had been kept going. In the mean time the passengers had dressed themselves, and now sat quietly aud anxiously awaiting daylight. When day broke we discovered that the Lord Worsley was stem on within fifty yards of the beach at low water. The beach, at this point, is composed of rocks and immense black bouldeis, reaching even up to the cliffs, which are about ICO feet high, and rise abruptly from the beach, the sea flowing almost close to their base. At ten a.m., we had all the passengers and part of the light baggage safely landed ; the captain then left the ship until the following morning. Tuesday, vSeptember 2 — Went again on board with Captain fiowden, and remained there, having with us three men, two boys and the third officer. We got at most of the passengers luggage, which was in tUe aflerhold aud placed it upon deck. At high water the sea struck heavily under the counter, and caused the ship to strain a great deal. Midnight. — The wind shifted from S.W. to S.E., the barometer rising. Wednesday, September 3.— At seven, a.m., Captain Bowden took the whale-lioat and, accompanied by the third officer and three of the crew, started for New Plymouth. With the man and boy I had left with me I got all the shot (fifty kegs) out of the hold, and emptied it from the kegs over the side. When Captain Bowden left, he had merely said, "Please look i out for my cabin." He did not say whether or 1 not it contained ammunition, arms, or anything else. At seven, p.m., I received a message from those on shore, to throw all the shot overboard, as the Maories were coining to search the vessel I next mottling, but I had already .love so. Thubsday, September 4.— Beautifully clear weather. We were this morning taken possession of by the" King's" officers, who searched the ship throughout. They found, buried beneath the coals, Captain Campbell's gun ami sword, Captaiu Bowden's revolver, and some cartridges which I had put therein the morning. They fouud some powder-flasks, and accused me df having emptied their contents overboard. They also discovered the magazine, which contained some five or six pounds of powder. Unfortunately, some of the sliot casks, which we had previously emptied and thrown overboard, floated ashore, and, being at once descried by the natives, excited much suspicion on their part. Mr. Giuluun had been ou board all day, and did not go ashoie till five, p.m. He left me with two men and two boys. The Maories had full possession of the vessel, ordering aud doing just what they pleased, and continually coming to me with whatever excited their fancy, and asking for it. 1, of course, could not refuse. At the time I wrote this there were four Mauries squatted around me, one of whom informed me tnut he had lived at Paramatta and Sydney. One Maori had appropriated Captain Campbell's sword, and strutted about with it, slung by bis side with a piece of spuny4rn.

Midnight. — The yelling and noise of those on board crying to their friends on the shore, and the large ship's bell which they kept continually ringing, mule a fearful din . Wherever I moved about they watched me like hawkes. Three of them kept guard, armed with swords, and one of them stood sentry at the saloon door having in his hand a tomahawk. He was dressed in a flax mat, and spotted a regimental hat which had belonged to the (?slh, I believe it was he who had something to do with the murder of six persons at Taranaki. My head ached from the noise and the tobacco smoke. There were four Maoris who sat in Captain Bowden's room watching me as I wrote, and tliey t ilked incessantly. It was, at this time, low water, aud several natives kept passing to and fro between the ship And the shore. Friday, September 5. — I had orders to leave the ship and join the passengers and crew who were on shore, as the drays were then starting for town. I got my box and bag, and landed with them, but had to submit to a thorough search. I was searched three times between the cabin and the ship's side, and had to pay one pound in gold, notes they would not accept. Two of them took me up to the camp, when I found that the dray had started. I therefore had to leave my things behind, and purchased a horse for £4. I then stai ted, soon overtook the drays, and passed them. W.e stayed at a pah until the drays came up to us, the roads being very heavy in places. We passed through a thick flax country, baring a fine rich loamy soil. At one place we passed along a sandy beach, which I took to be the Harriet Bay on the chart. 1.30 p.m. — We made another halt at a pah situated on the edge of the cliff, on the sea beach, named Waiota. The cliffs were very low, but the beach was composed of stones, was very flat, aud ran out for, say, a quarter of a mile. After resting here for about an hour we once more started on the road. A maori and myself pushed on as far as his brothers place, where I dined with the family on potatoes and fried pork. They also let me have two small kits of cooked potatoes which I took to the drays. I pushed on again, accompanied by the native, who carried uiy valise slung across his shoulder. We passed along the beach, through flax, until we arrived at a gate, a native toll-bar. The natives were very kind to us in giving us ivhares to sleep in and also in supplying us with potatoes. There is a large building here, which is used as a meeting house or place where the king party hold their runanga. They will not permit Europeans to enter, but I got a peep into it. It is about eighty feet long by twenty feet wide, very neatly built of stakes and flax I saw iv it one table awl two chairs. This was the only approach to anything like civilization I had seen among the Maoris.

Saturday, September 6.— At five o'clock, a. m. , I arose, after as .sound a sleep as I ever enjoyed, although I had but a leathern ports manieau for my pillow, and my gieat-coat for a bed. I had a wash in a fine stream which ran close by the pah. I inspected the gate and the list of toll rates which are written on a slab set in the ground, with certain things carved upon it, the meaning of which is that every one passing that way has to pay one shilling, or, in the event of-their evading it, to pay a fine of £5. In the morning we were all ranged in column and counted over. I think our number was 59. We had all to pay five shillings each. The o'd man who appeared to be the chief walked up aud down our line counting us himself while two others assisted him. This old gentleman had a baby strapped on to bis back, euveloped in a not particularly clean blanket. Indeed, I much doubt whether the baby had uot thus passed the night, for I never saw him without it. There was also si very good looking young girl, a half-caste, living here. She talked English beautifully, having a sweet and gentle voice. I heard that she had been brought up in Auckland, in some minister's family, and that her fatter had gone to England. She told the ladies how much she would like to leave, but that her step-father would not permit her. Judging from the distance we had come from Harriet Bay to this place, I should think it must stand almost on Cape Egmont. It is close to the beach. The weather was this morning very cloudy and threatening, and the wind was blowing S. W. We had some difficulty in catching two pairs of bullocks which had stiayed ; this detained two of the drays. We passed two pahs within four miles of each other, one named Warea, the other Motunngu. I bought a flax mat f'roin a native «it Warea for £2; I was only asked £o for it. At eleven, a. in. , I dismounted and tethered my horse with a rope, when, something startling it, it broke the rope, and slatted off by the way it had come. I followed iv the hope that it might be seen and stopped by some of our party in the rear. I walked as far as Warea, where 1 was told by the natives that my horse had gone into the bush, and, if I wanted it I should have to pay £l } and then they would cajch him for me. With this modest request I, of course, complied, as there was'no possible good to be obtained by attempting to reduce it ; and, in ten minutes, I had my horse, which I feel persuaded they had stopped and hidden in the bush. I a-lso saw there Robert, a native chief, who professes to be friendly, and who had come down to use his influence with the other natives, in order to get us through to Taranaki. When I saw him there, away from all the carts, he was in close conversation with a lot of natives, whose object seemed to be to get me to leave them. We arrived at Tataraimaka at four p.m. ,on Saturday afternoon, where boats had already ai rived from Taranaki to meet us. The ladies and all the passengers save those few who were provided with horses, were taken by these boats to Taranki, to which place I rode, and arrived there at about nine o'clock, p. m. In conclusion, I would say that we were remarkably well treated by all with whom we came iv contact at Taranaki.

We give the names of the passengers on board the Lord Woisley when she went on shore, as, in our Summary yesterday, the list was incomplete :—

A French Sister of Charity, Captain and Mrs. Campbell and two childien, one male and one female servant, Mrs. Wilkiu and daughter, Miss Briggs, Mrs. Trail!, Mrs. White, Captains Butler, Hall, and Muirhead, Messrs. Blake, King 1 , Gaylard, Gibson, Smith, Hoyle (2), J. It. Peebles, R. Graham, and C. J. Taylor: — Nelson Examiner.