THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 93, 17 September 1874, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

What a tale of anxiety, writes a correspondent of the Daily Times, could the logs of merchantmen from Fort Jackson and Port Philip, en route for Old England, disclose, when in proximity to these islands—driving under lower topsails for three or four consecutive days, the wind blowing as if ißolus bad stationed a permanent deputy in these latitudes —dirty, hazy weather, precluding the faintest attempt to determine by observation—position depending exclusively on dead reckoning—and what with currents and other influences not dreamt of in our philosophy, probably shaving, though unknown," the Scylla and Charybdis of the modern navigator between Australia and Cape Horn. Such is the probability of danger that the Australian Government, in conjunction with our own, have formed caches for the purpose of leaving supplies of necessaries for the benefit of ship*

wrecked crews. Two very disastrous and painful catastrophes have occurred within the last decide. A gallant ship, hailing from the Land o’ Cakes, the Tnvercauld, commanded by a stout old Scotchman, Captain Dalgarno. sailed from Port Phillip. en route for London. Weeks passed, and no report of the noble clipper. It was difficult to realise that a splendidly built and well appointed iron ship, unde' - an able commander, officers, and crew, could possibly have come to grief ; but as months rolled on no underwriter would have ventured, at the most extortionate rate of premium, to take a risk upon one of the best models that ever sailed. “ Hope deferred maketh the heart sick,” and reluctantly those to whom he was most near and dear had to abandon the hope of ever seeing the jolly imund figure again. Imagine the frequent enquiries day by day made by the relatives of the missing one at. Lloyd's and the ship’s agents—the same response and the heart-breaking feelings with which the enquirers would return to others equally anxious to the result. A considerable time had elapsed, I think nearly two long years, when Captain Dalgarno’s family received the unexpected intelligence that he had returned, but with only a small residue of his companions who had left with him, in such gay spirits, to the port of Melbourne. The ship' had struck on the iron-bound coast of the Auckland Islands. The General Grant—named after the then victorious General of the Federals in the American War, and now-for a second time occupying the prominent position of President of the United States —a well-found North American built ship, cleared from the Saudridge Town Pier with every advantage in her favor to make a speedy and safe passage that the forethought of man could devise. She, with her valuable freight of passengers, general cargo, and specie, was another victim. The circumstances were peculiar and romantic. The ship entered a cave, the masts were broken, and in the opinion of the survivors, were driven through the ship’s bottom, and but few escaped to tell the tale. What hidest thou in thy treasure caves and cells, Thou ever-sounding and mysterious

main I can be answered ; but in spite of a number of expeditions being fitted out for the purpose of recovering the gold that had been shipped in the usual way in strong boxes, the place has never been discovered, The islands were first seen by Captain Bristow in the ship Ocean, a vessel owned by the Enderby’s, of London, while, prosecuting a whaling voyage on 16th August, 1806, in lat 50deg 48min S, and long 166 deg. 42rain E. [According to Norrie, the group consists of six, lying between the parallels of 50deg 31min to 52deg 32min south latitude and 166 deg to 169 deg 30min east longitude.] During the following year, Captain Bristow took formal possession of them on account of the British Crown, leaving some pigs to ruralise. Ships of war belonging to England, France, and America visited them during the interval between Captain Bristow’s last visit and the year 1850, when Mr Charles Enderby on behalf of the Messrs Enderby, took possession under a grant from the British Crown, with the intention of forming a whaling depot—the venture was unsuccessful and soon abandoned. Subsequent to the year 1840, about seventy New Zealanders were landed from the Chatham Islands, where they indulged in their warlike propensities by dividing into parties and potting each other. The British Government one time erected an observatory on one of the islands, and now an acclimatised New Zealander, Dr Monckton, has obtained a grant of this group from the Home Government. I sympathise with the Doctor in his adventurous enterprise, and trust that bis second attempt to take possession of his territory will be crowned with the success he so richly merits.