©.—No. 30.

RETURN of WRECKS on which INQUIRIES have been held under "The Inquiry into Wrecks Act," or for which Casualty Returns have been received, between 1st July, 1871, and 30th June, 1872.

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EEPOET OF MARINE DEPARTMENT.

Date of Casualty. Name of Vessel; also, Age and Class when known. Big. U 0 Number of Crew. Number of Passengers. Nature of Cargo. Nature of Casualty. Number of Lives lost. Place where Casualty took place. Wind. Finding of tlie Court of Inquiry. Name of Master of Vessel, Direction. Force. 1871. June 11 Brothers and Sister, 20 years. Ketch 21 3 Ballast Stranded ; total loss. N.E. Moderate Mooring lines chafed by rocks, a heavy sea coming into the bay. Edward Perkins. July 20 Waterman, 4 years. Brigantine 113| 8 General a About three miles North of Hokitika River. W. Fresh breeze Error of judgment on part of master, in running in too close to the land in bad weather, with glass very low. John Le Brun. „ 31 Premier, 9 years. Barque 11 Coal jj Oamaru Bay, South side. N.N.W. Fresh and unsteady. No blame whatever attributed to the master or his officers ; and that all "was done that possibly could be done to save the ship. H. J. Bowan. 296 Aug. 9 Canterbury, 8 years. Schooner Greneral Stranded ; partial loss. Bar of Buller River. Moderate Master exonerated from blame. J. Ruxton. w 6 ;n.n.e. „ 13 Dunedin » 66 5 Produce Loss of life. 2 Fifty miles East of Flat Point. s.s.w. Strong gale James Stuart. „ 30 Peter Craeroft, 9 years. Cutter 19 2 Firewood Stranded ; total loss. Four miles South of East Cape of Great Barrier Island. s.s.w. Whole gale Stress of weather. Samuel Bolt. „ 30 Rifleman, 9 years. Schooner (3-masted.) 81 6 2 Greneral Stranded ; partial loss. Okapu Bay, Great Barrier Island. s.s.w. 3) Miscalculation of the vessel's position when laid-to. Joseph Hobbs. Sept. 9 Murray, s.s., 8 years, and Charles Edward, p.s., 7 years. Schooner 57 12 2 » 1 Collision ; partial loss of Murray. Light ■{ Master of Charles Edward blamed for causing collision by want of care, and for going to sea without inquiring whether Murray wanted assistance. Abraham Palmer. a 90 .. h }" Bar of Buller River. N.E. Thomas Holmes, J „ 13 Tell Barque 302 9 Ballast Stranded; partial loss. Steeple Rook, Wellington Harbour. S.S.E. Fresli to moderate & squally. Neglect of master in not having shortened sail in time. William Davidson. ., 14 Lyttelton, p.s., 13 years. Schooner 86. General )> South of entrance of Buller River. S.E. Strong breeze Vessel was accidentally caught on a sunken anchor. William Scott. „ 21 Lady Bird, 20 years. Schooner (3-masted.) 303 10 5 Ballast >> South end, Barrett's Reef, Wellington Harbour. Variable. Light Accident caused by change of wind whilst vessel in stays. Ferdinand Holm. „ 30 Zephyr Brigantine 8 General )i North Spit of the entrance to the Hokitika River. s.w. Fresh breeze Accidental. No blame attributed to master. Thomas Hughes. 135