WRECK OF THE CUTTER PAUA IN FLEA BAY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 5, 16 September 1881, Page 2

WRECK OF THE CUTTER PAUA IN FLEA BAY.

Intelligence reached us on Wednesday of the total loss of the cuiier Paua in Flea Bay. Captain Westlake and his two sons composed tho crew, and it, was with grc.-.i difficulty tbey managed to save their lives. Unfortunately the vessel, which was ihe property of' Captain Westlako, was not insured, and tho loss is a very heavy one. Captain Wesilako reportsleaviugLytlehon on Monday at 8 a.m., with a miscellaneous cargo for this port, particulars of which aro appended. The wind was fresh from the N.E.. but chopped round to W.W. about 10.30 a.m., and blew hard. At 9 p.m. the cutler was off Flea Bay. and there being too much wind, Captain Wesilake put in there and anchored. At 11 p.m. a gale sprang up suddenly from the S.E.; it hlew furiously, tearing Ihe bout off the deck aud wrenching off the ban stanchions with her. The cuher l-.iy w>i>> both anchors out u'll S a.m on when tho gale blew so furiously ihat ii ■was impossible) to stand on deck, and tha spoondiiftflew so thick and fast that it w>is impossible io see the entrance lo Ihe bnv. Afier dragging across to be sotiih siJo of the bay, she biougbt up clone to Ihe rocks (not more than twenty ymds away). Captain Westlake then got up a heavy ■ piece of pig iron from below, and bent it on to a three-inch rope and threw it over for an additional anchor. Finding tha big anchor foul, it was weighed and the jib set to keep her off, but the srdl went lo rpieces the moment it was hoisted. The . anchor was then again let go, and she held •on till 6 p.m., when she again dragged ; and the small anchor parted, and also the bar of iron. The big anchor brought her up, and she lay there till 9 p.m., when, the tide ebbing, she commenced bumping, and soon afterwards began to fill. Oa tain Westlake, seeing there was no further hope of saving the vessel, then determined to abandon her. The c.»plain's two sons ■ managed to get ashore on the rocks, and hauled their father on shore through the snrf with a line on to the cliffs. The shipwrecked crew went lo the house occupied iby the Messrs Rhodes, where they were ; most kindly treated, for which they desire • to return their most sincere thanks. On Wednesday morning they proceeded to the wreck, but found the culler completely battered' to pieces and the cargo destroyed. They then walked over lo Akaroa and reported the loss. The cargo of the Paua consisted of 92 drain pipes, 6 sacks of oats, 6 do wheat, 1 bundle of shafts, 2 bundles of rims, 3 case of turpentine, 9 bars of iron, 2 bundles ditto, 1 drum of oil, and 2 kegs of nails The Paua, which, like the Reward, was built by Captain Westlake and bis sons, • was a pretty cutter of 12 tons, and only three months launched. She was built on the bridle-path at Lyttelton, nnd brought down to the sea on a sledge. Her sailingpowers were not d, and her loss is a great blow to her master and owner and his sons, all of whom have only saved what they stood upright in.