CRUISE OF H.M.S CLIO.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3146, 13 March 1871, Page 2

CRUISE OF H.M.S CLIO.

We are indebted to Commander Sandys, of H.M.S. Virago, for the following account of the voyage of the Clio, from her departure from thie port until she parted company with the Virago and sailed for Sydney to get repaired :— ,_,-,, The Clio left Wellington on the 4th February. On the 17th sho entered Bligh Sound, having previously called in at Milford Sound, where she remained six days. It was not the Commodore's intention to anchor in Bligh Sound, so the Clio merely steamed to fche head of Bounty Haven, then turned and proceeded for sea. In passing down tho second reach, and when about half way down, being to all appearance in mid channel, the ship struck heavily with the port bow on a sunken rock ; she did nofc stop, but went on into deep water. Ib was then discovered thafc the wator was rushing into the ship with great; rapidity ; the pumps were at once set to work and the ship Bteered back to the head of Bounty Haven, where alone shallow water was obtainable. On arriving there the ship was placed so that in the event of sinking she would be in shoal water. The launch was then hoisted out to take Dr Hector to Martin's Bay, he having volunteered to proceed overland to Queenstown, and thence to telegraph to the Virago, and also to Dunedin. For several hours after fche departure of the launch it was 1 doubtful whether the Clio could be kept afloat (the water at one time running in at the rato of five feet an hour) ; but eventually the water was got under, and the damage temporarily repaired ; then, with the assistance of the divers and ship's artificers, the leak was almost entirely stopped, the fine timber (rimu) growing on the mountains boing mainly used in fche repairs. Afc noon of the lsfc March fche Virago arrived, fche Governor being then on the point of starting for Dunedin in the Storm Bird, fchafc vessel having been chartered for the purpose. His Excellency sailed at 1 p.m. on that day. The Clio was at once surveyed by the officers of tho Olio and Virago, who pronounced fchafc with some further securings, the ship was quite fit to proceed to see. On the morning of the 4th the Clio and Virago proceeded out of the Sound. On clearing the land a strong N.W. gale sprung up with a heavy sea, giving a very fair trial to the Clio', jopairs j this test they stood very well, and on the day following, there being no further need of the Virago's convoy, the ships parted company, tho Clio for Sydney, to be docked and repaired, and the Virago to resume her duties as senior officer's ship in New Zealand. The rock on which the Clio struck is nofc laid down on any chart ; ifc is Bituated about half way down the second reach, the Sound being at this part a thousand yards broad, and the rock three hundred and twenty yards from the north shore. The depth of water on fche rock at low water is about nine feet j a black cask buoy now marks Clio Rock.