THE WRECK OF THE OCEAN MAIL AT CHATHAM ISLANDS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 90, 29 May 1877, Page 3

THE WRECK OF THE OCEAN MAIL AT CHATHAM ISLANDS.

ARRIVAL OF PASSENGERS AND CREW AT WELLINGTON.

THE CAPTAIN'S AND OFFICERS' CERTIFICATES. SUSPENDED.

COMMITTAL OP OFFICERS FOR PERJURY. .

LEGALITY OF THE SALE DISPUTED

[By Telegrams.]

[from Press own correspondent!]

Wellington, May 18.

The brigantine Omaha arrived this morning from theChathams. with the passengers and crew of the Ocean Mail. The"second mate Alex. Coleman third mate, Wm. Morrison, and • Edwin Charles Tregellus, apprentice, came in custody in charge of Mr. E. Wright, special constable, under committal of the offical enquiry, in swearing that the log-was hove, which statement was afterwards proved to be false, and admitteds to be so by Tregellus. The prisoner are in Wellington goal. The report of the chief officer, G.A. Johnston, is as follows:—Passed Pencarrow lighthouse on the 16th March at noon, the ship Avalanche having passed-at 6 a.m. The wind was N.W. and light with fine calm weather. Overhauled the Avalanche at 8 a.m. the following morning. Captain Watson went on board at 10 a.m. and remained till 4 p.m. When trying to haul the boat alongside to get in it was stove, and both ships had to heave-to till the Avalanche sent her boat with our crew and boat in tow. Next morning the wind veered in to S.E. and continued until the night of the 21st (nautical time) when after being caught aback twice, the wind veered suddenly to S.W., accompanied with heavy rain and blowing .very hard. At 11 p.m. G.A. Pounson (first mate's watch) called all hands and furled the top-gallant sails crossjack, and mainsail, and hauled the outer jibboom, the wind still increasing. At about 2 a.m. (second mate's watch), M,r, Coleman called the mate and all hands and furled the three upper top sails, and hauled the foresail up in the gear, the inner jib being carried away. At about 4 a.m. the third mate called the captiari, the mate saying, that the ship was nearly ashore. Braced the head yards aback, and finding the ship would riot go astern, tried to past between the reef on our lee and the shore. When forging ahead about a couple of ship's lengths she became engaged in a bed of solid rock, known as part of the French reef, between Matarakau and Taupeka points. After sounding the pumps some time the carpenter reported sft. of water in the hold. Proceeded to get out the boats, and commenced landing passengers and stores all day till the surf became so heavy that we could not get off. We carried most of the moveables a short distance iii the bush. Built tents and all hands remained there, excepting the passengers and the captain, who went to the house of a Maori about two miles from the wreck. For two or three days succeeding, trial was made to get off to the ship, but could not owing to the surf, nearly losing one man in the attempt. On the following Monday a survey was held by Messrs Occeley and Jacobs, accompained by Captain Watson, G. A. Johnston, mate; Coleman, second mate; and four hands.The vessel and cargo were sold to Mr. Bitehie, a runholder, for £945. N.N.W. wind carried away the main and mizzen masts close to the deck, the poop, bulwarks, and everything on deck, except the house and forecastle. An inquiry was held at Matauka. before Mr. Leighton, R.M., aiid the Collector of Customs, Messrs Chudleigh and Patterson, J.P.s, and Captain Morgan, of the schooner Agnes, ending in the captain's certificate being suspended for nine months, and those of the mate and second mate for six months for not heaving the log. The ship's position at noon preceding the wreck on our chart (one of Imray's) was about 25 miles west of the island, and heading, till about 10.30, E. half N. to E; N.E., when we should have been to the northward and eastward of it, but on ■comparing our chart with the surveys of the Transit of Venus expedition and of the man-of-war Sapphire, the position was 14 miles W. and 1 mile S. of the true position. The passengers were Mr. Cotten, Miss '. Harrison, and Mr. Nathan, left, the Chatham Islands on Friday, the 18thof May, by the schooner Omaha.