WRECKS AND CASUALTIES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 663, 11 March 1869, Page 3

WRECKS AND CASUALTIES.

THE RECENT GALES AT KAIPARA. —STRANDING OF THE SCHOONER LITTLE FRED.. The New Zealand Herald, March 3, says :-~A fearful gale from the S.W. was experienced at Kaipara during Saturday and Sunday last, doing considerable dannige to the shipping in port. The Little Fred, Captain Davis, which had just arrived from Auckland, was driven ashore on Sunday afternoon, about ten miles south of Kaipara, and, it is feared; will become a total wreck ; all hands we-re saved. The cutter Telegraph also went ashore at the South Spit, after parting her cable. The Auckland cutter Clyde also parted her cable during the gale, but succeeded in reaching Otamatea without loss of life. On her way to Helensville, she drove ashore, but fortuuately got off again, and proceeded up the river without sustaining any damage. Messrs. Plumraer and Masefield have suffered considerably by the gale and heavy floods which followed. WRECK AND TOTAL LOSS OF THE P.S. WOODPECKER. The Wangauui Times, March 2, says:—The Government p.s. Sturt, which arrived yesterday afternoon from Patea, brings intelligence of the total loss of the p.s. Woodpecker, on Sunday morning last. It appears that the heavy fresh in the Patea river, occasioned by the late rains, caused her to drag her anchor, carried her over the bar, and threw her up under the Cliffs, about ihalf-a-mile to the north of the Patea river. We | publish the following letter from Captain Morris to the owners: — Patea, Feb. 28, 1869. Dear Sirs,—lt is with regret I have to acquaint you of the total loss of the p.s. Woodpecker. We started discharging cargo on Saturday morning, but owing to heavy rain we had to leave off. It continued all Saturday, and throughout the night, which caused a very heavy fresh in the river. At 5.30 a.m. I went on deck and found the vessel riding to her anchor all safe, but shortly afterwards she commenced dragging, and within sev e n minutes she was close to the breakers. When I found she had started I let go the second anchor, paid out all cable, but of no avail to check her. I ordered steam to be at once got up, and set sail for the purpose of sheering her on to the bank, to keep her from going over the bar, but without effect, so for the safety of life I ordered all hands to leave the vessel, being taken on shore by the p.s. Sturt's boat, our own having gone to sea before this. As soon as possible after getting on shore, with the assistance of some civilians and the Patea Field Force, we got to her and carried out the remainder of the cargo, stores, &c, to safety above high-water mark. Mr Lewis being present I thought it advisable to ask him to take an inventory of all stores, &c, belonging to the ship, there being no possible chance of saving her. She was dashed to pieces against the Cliffs about half-a-mile north of the Patea river.—l am, &c, Peter Morris, Master. Messrs. Taylor and Watt, Wanganui.