WRECK OF THE BRIG PAKEHA.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2245, 13 June 1881, Page 3

WRECK OF THE BRIG PAKEHA.

I Further particular* are to hand regarding the loss of the brig Pakeha, which went ashore on Saturday morning on the Ninotymile Beach, about two miles from the mouth of Lake Ellesmere. Ou? telegram on Saturday stated that six out of a crew of seven were drowned, but, aocording to an extra issued from tho "Ellesmere Guardian office this morning, and from whioh we glean the following items, it has since transpired that there were eight on board, ell of whom wore washed over just before the brig came ashore. It appears that the Pakeha, a brig about 174 tons, CaDt. Bower, left Kaipara on Wednesday laßt, bound for Dunedin, having on board a ca'go of timber. All appears to have gone well till Friday morning, when a heavy gale, veering from S. to 8.W., was experienced. As the day advanced, the gale inoreased in violence, causing a very heavy sea. When the vessel was within about twelve m'l.es dead reckoning of Dunedin Heads, she sprang a leak and became almost unmanageable. Captain Bowor then put the vessel before the wind, with the intention of seeking shelter under Bank's Peninsula. She was kept running before a furious gale all Friday night and a portion of Saturday morning. During some fearful gutfs, about half an hour before the wreck toofr place, which was about 630 a.m., the two lower topmast staysails, foresail, and foretopmast staysail wero blown clean out of the sheet bolts, and the vessel became entirely unmanageable. Captain Bower then decided to let the craft drift ashore, and with this view one of the braces were cut, causing the masts to go oyer the side. All this time tho seu was making clean breaches over the vessel, and all hands were swept off into tho raging foam, and out of the eight hands on boßrd seven were drowned. The only sur?ivor, a seaman named Christian Petersen, got hold of a floating spar, and to this he managed to cling until it drifted on to the beach. Petersen, however, was in such an exhausted condition, and so much bruised, that ho was unable to walk, and lay on the beach in a semiunconscious state until picked up shortly afterwards by ono of the fishermen who had gone from Lake Ellesmere to the scene of the wreck. The unfortunate man was conveyed to one of the fishermen's huts, and Dr. Malono, having heard of the wreck, kindly volunteered his services, and quiokly proceeded to the Lake, and did all he could for the rolief of the unfortunate castaway, who is now favorably progressing towards recovery. The following is a list of the names of the men who wore lost:— Captain Bower, John Walker (first mate), the second mate (name not yet known), Christopher Smith (cook), Charles Carleson, O. Anderson, and another seaman, whose name has not yet been ascertained. Up to last night none of the bodies had been recovered.

|Bt Tblbgbaph,] DUNEDIN, June 13. At the time of the acoident to the Pakeha she was bound from Kaipara to Dunedin with a oargo of bulk timber for the owners. She is insured in the Victoria Office for £IOOO, half of which is covered by re-insurance in the National. The National likewise cover half their loss by a re-insurance for £250 in the New Zealand. The vessel waa valued at £I3OO, and formerly belonged to Captain Patenon, of Dunedin. She was of 174 tons register. Captain Bower is married, and leaves a wife, but no ohildren. The first mate was unmarried. Before leaving port on her last trip Messrs Findlay and Co. spent nearly £7OO in putting the vessel in repair. They estimate their loss above insurance at £3OO.