A NARRATIVE OF THE VOYAGE AND SUBSEQUENT LANDING AT AKAROA, OF THE FIRST DIRECT ENGLISH SETTLERS IN CANTERBURY, FROM 1849 TO 1850.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 117, 31 August 1877, Page 2

A NARRATIVE OF THE VOYAGE AND SUBSEQUENT LANDING AT AKAROA, OF THE FIRST DIRECT ENGLISH SETTLERS IN CANTERBURY, FROM 1849 TO 1850.

(Continued from onr last.) Many and loud were the expressions of annoyance and discontent, when this discovery was made known to us, so much so that the owners decided upon running for Hobart Town. The wind, however, proved dead against the carrying out of their decision, and being a fair one for our proper course; the idea, was abandoned, after four days of beating about, and we once more resumed our voyage to Auckland. Tho same evening that we bade farewell to the distantly seen shores of Tasmania, a fearful squall struck'our vessel, forcing her though the water at such a speed, that the rudder was broken* away, before sail could be shortened.' In addition, to this'serious 'mishap, the stem windows were dashed in, and the saloon flooded with abrvit throe feet of watery. With great presence of mind, two of our passengers, an elderly gentleman (Mr Wray) and ln>, daughter. 1 seized featherbeds, and managed r.o h.jkl theui over the broken windows until the sailors succeeded in battening them deny , !!. In this, rudderless, and. therefore helplsus state, we were driven before a gale ot wind do-.vn the west coast of New Zealand, fortunately, the weather abating, we wore .enabled to fix a temporary rudder, and, in about a fortnight from the time of our severe handling by the elements, found ourselves sailing past the " Snares." ' All went well with us until nearing "Capo Satmders," when our temporary rudder fell from its bearings, leaving us once again at the mercy of wind and tide, and our escape from" shipwreck and destruction on that bold rocky promontory, was little short of a miracle. Soundings were taken at once, only twelve fathom of water 'being , discovered beneath us, while a light breeze, dead on shore, whs slowly, but surely, drifting us on to the rocks. prevailed, but, despite the confusion, the boats were got ready for lowering, and the anchor waslet go with the hope of arresting further ingress. " The best laid plans of mice and men gang oft agee,% and never was the quotation more aptly verified than in our care, for. no sooner was the anchor dropped,'than it was discovered that it had not been shackled to the chain, the whole of which, however, was paid out, and served in some degree to check our drifting. It was nigbt, and only here and there could a star be seen to cheer us. The looming headland looked down dark and threatening from above. Around us, the surging, seething, billows rushed madly on, to clash themselves to foam against the rocks beyond ; while, through the-rigging, the breeze seemed to sigh and moan a funereal dirga to our illfated ship. (To be Continued.)