ARRIVAL OF THE GRATITUDE

Western Star, Issue 1546, 21 March 1891, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE GRATITUDE

i Mr Hatch's kol cli arrived at Invercargill on Thursday morning from tho Macquarie Islands, bringing Mr Mellish and his wife, who declined to leave tho island by the Kakanni. The ketch had head winds and heavy gales to tho islands, tho passage occupying three weeks. On getting to work at floating off the oil they had the misfortune to lose one of the boats, and the whole of the work was done with a dingey. During her stay at the islands she lost an anchor chain, and was blown to sea for thirteen days. Although the work of shipping the oil was not completed, the wind being fair, a week ago, it was decided to start for How Zealand ; tho passage from land to land being made in 72 hours. The crow and passengers return in excellent health uf ter an eight weeks’ trip. A visit was paid to the graves of 11 seamen lost in a wrack on tho island G 6 years ago, and an immense anchor with a built stock was found high up an the beach. The ring was 2ft Gin in diameter, and from point to point the flakes wore 10ft Gin. Ho recent wreckage was soon, bat a considerable quantity of coal minded by the action of the sea was found on the beach. Ho one was .loft on the island this trip. Five me arbors of tho Gratitude’s crew belonging to Oolao Bay passed through Riverton on Thursday by the evening train, namely Charles Pratt, Tommy Pat, Hickless, Winyctt, and J. Dallas. They looked in good condition, but expressed themselves as having had a pretty rough time on the islands, and that they were glad to got back to the mainland.