SHIPWRECKS ON THE NORTH ISLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 156, 31 December 1853, Page 8

SHIPWRECKS ON THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From the " New Zealander" of Oct. 8.) Wreck of the Barque Helena, ahd Loss op Life.—lt is with deep regret we have to state that the barque " Helena," belonging to Mr. Macnamara, of Sydney, was totally wrecked in Waitakave Bay, between Manukau and Kaipara, on the night of Friday, the 16th instant: on which disastrous occasion her commander, Captain John Brown, —well-known to many of our fellow-citizens whilst in command of the brig Nina —-his chief officer, Mr. James Hutton, of Aberdeen, and live of his ship's company, unfortunately perished. The names and occupations of the others who perished were, Mr. William Farthing, of Bristol, second officev ; Edward Davis, of Bristol; John Hutchins, of Torquay, Devon ; George Smith, of Tenby, seamen: and Thomas Harrold, of Bristol, a boy about 15 years of age. The names of the survivors (who of course have lost their all) are George Gordon, London ; John Coleman, Armagh, Jate of the Nina; Thomas Petitt Leven ; and Robert Williamson, Sunderland, seamen. These four were washed ashore on a part of the stern-frame, which split,, in two the moment it touched the groundi '*$ % They were discovered by the natives the next day about three o'clock, and we rejoice to state experienced the utmost kindness and humanity at their hands. Captain Brown's body having been cast ashore, the natives dug a grave and interred it, his late shipmates reading the funeral service over his remains. The seamen were conveyed to the dwellings of the natives, whence having been hospitably entertained for the next three days, they were conveyed to Mr. Henderson's Mill, at the head of the Waitemata. There was no other body but that of the Captain cast ashore. Two boats, some stores, together with several spars, rigging, sails, and a considerable portion of the vessel, have been saved. These have been taken charge of by the natives. The natives who so kindly assisted the survivors belong to the Kawerau tribe, some of whom are under instruction at the Three Kings' native School. Wreck of the Cuttek Auckland. —The cutter " Auckland," left our port on the 7th of September, bound to Matakana, with a crew of twp^men, and six passengers—viz., Mr. George Young, (who not long ago airived here from Melbourne, and was on his way toinspect a block of land he had just purchased) ; Mrs Scott, her daughter, and an infant child ; a discharged soldier; and Mr. Edward Griffiths, a

son of our townsman, Mr. W. Griffiths—in all eight souls On that night the wind arose to a violent gale, and the vessel was obliged to run towards Cape Colville, and lay to until next morning. She was then found to be amongst the breakers near the hay of Port Charles, into which she got, and there anchored. When the gale subsided, it was attempted to weigh anchor, but the anchor chain broke, and the little vessel was driven ashore on the island of Moahau. •fcvery effort was of course made to get her afloat again, but all proved unavailing, and the persons who had been on board had no alternative but to remain where they were, although (after the contents of one small tin ofbisciuts ha;d been exhausted) they could obtain no food f there except the wild cabbage they found on the island, and such shell-fish (which were very scanty) as they could occasionally gather from the rocks. In this condition of destitution and peril, they remained for no less than twenty-one days. On Monday last, however, relief came. The native schooner Eon Paia, commanded by Himiona, (Simon,) with a native crew, being on her passage from Tauranga to Auckland with a cargo of pigs, &c, hove in sight of the island; and observing a flag hoisted there by the shipwrecked party of the Auckland, and a dingy constructed by them on the beach, Himiona immediately put back, and willingly put tliem all on board his vessel which brought them safely to Auckland. We are informed by Mr. Young, and the mate of the Auckland, that the natives, about fifteen of whom were on board, showed them the greatest kindness, and did everything in their power to make them comfortable ; although it is not to be denied that, on their arrival here, Mr. Young, being a stranger to Maori character, thought they were exorbitant in their demands for their services. Wbeck op the Barque Posthumous. — The barque " Posthumous," Captain Bruce, sailed, in ballast, from Melbourne, on the 6th of the present month, bound for Kiipara, having on board Mr. William Williams, of the Tamaki, part owner and passenger. All went smoothly till the Bth, when it began to blow a hard gale from the W. and W.S.W., before which the ship "pursued her course for the next seven days. On the 15th, Captain . Bruce having found by observation that he was only 150 miles to ■westward of the Kiapara heads, and with every appearance of the gale continuing, hove the ship to ; well knowing, from practical experience of the [coast, that had he continued to run, it would have been utterly impossible to enter Kiapara; the ship was therefore hove to for the next four days, the gale continuing with unabated violence; fortunately it veered to about S.S.W., by which the ship headed off shore^ and drifted to the northward. On the 19th, about 4 p. m., the gale having somewhat abated, Captain Bruce made sail, and on the 20th, about 2 p.m., descried the land some fifteen miles to the southward of Kiapara. As it was too late to attempt the entrance that evening, he tacked the ship, and stood to the north-west. At daylight of the morning of the 21st, it still blowing hard from S.W., the land jgas seen ; but it being too hazy to determine locality, Captain Bruce kept off shore until he had ascertained by meridian altitude that he was eight miles to the northward of his port. All possible sail was then made for the entrance, the tide being first quarter ebb. At 2 p.m., the " Posthumous" entered the main channel, the black patch on the South Head bearing E. by N. half N,, and the centre patch on the north head, bearing N. half W. Allowing for the ebb tide, Captain Bruce kept the ship up N., half E-> the channel being quite visible; no break, but a very heavy swell. After rounding the elbow on the east side of the western reef, the Tory shoal and the outer reef were both plainly distinguishable, the sea breaking furiously on both. The soundings at this time were seven —six—and not less than five fathoms and a half. But almost immediately after, the seaman stationed in the port chains sung out —"half two." At this moment the chief and second officers were on the look-out on the fore-topsail yard (Captain Bruce himself, being on the top-gallant forecastle), and could discover no break near the ship. The instant the leadsman sang out-half two, the helm was flapped hard-a-port, and the ship in falling-off, struck the ground very heavily abaft, carrying away'Eer rudcler. Instantly both anchors were let go, in order to keep the ship (which was . then unmanageable) from driving on to the outer bank with the tide, that was running very

strong. The ship continuing to strike very heavily, broke right in two amidship, the sea making a clean breach over her. The boats were now cleared away; but the launch, was no sooner over the side than she filled and broke adrift. The quarter-boats were then lowered, Mr. Williams in the lee one, and with much difficulty were kept clear of the ship, and at some distance under her lee. A lead line having been hove from the ship to the boats, those who were left on board attached the line to their persons, and plunging into the breakers, were dragged successively through them to the boats. Captain Bruce and his chief officer were the last to leave. The Captain was sorely bruised in his limbs, having been washed to leeward, with the hencoops dashing about him. The mate, likewise, received severe injuries on the head and face. All hands having gained the boats, they pulled in for the land, which they reached at midnight. So rapid was the destruction of the ship, that nothing whatever could be saved ; and, after reaching the shore, eight and forty miserable hours were spent without food or fire. The following morning, Captain Bruce proceeded round the North Head, and found the beach strewed with the fragments of the wreck. Finding there was nothing to be saved, the shipwrecked mariners proceeded up to Kaipara, and from thence to Auckland, where they arrived on Monday morning.