Shipwreck at Kaipara.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 310, 20 October 1855, Page 5

Shipwreck at Kaipara.

lt is with deep regret we have to communicate the wreck of the barque Resolution, attended, we fear, with the loss of the lives of seven of the crew, whilst endeavouring to put to sea on the morning of Friday, the 14th inst. The Resolution, if we are correctly informed, was a North American built vessel of 383 tons register, and was owned, and loaded with a cargo of timber unci kauri gum, by Francis Atkins, Esq. . Shehad been waiting for some weeks at Kaipara Heads, for tbe first favourable opportunity to clear the river. On Friday morning, she weighed with a fine fair wind, and had fetched well out between the Tory Channel and the Main, when between ten and eleven a.m. the rain began to fall and the wind flew round to about N.W. This sudden shift threw the ship flat aback and caused her to make stern way. In this emergency, one of the anchors was let go and the vessel was brought up. Haying filled upon her, the anchor was slipped, and the ship again made headway. The wind, however, again headed her ; once more she was taken aback, and in that helpless position was driven on tbe inner bank of the Tory, over which she bumped into deep water where she let go her remaining anchor. Unfortunately the cable parted, and the ill fated barque drove amidst the breakers of the outer shoal. The boats were then lowered, and in doing so the long boat was stove, and ii took three hands to keep her free ; every possible preparation was thus made for therescne of the officers asid ship's company who stuck by the ship, until she had

five feet of "water iv her hold and had given evident indications of quickly going to pieces. The boats then made for the land, Captain Robertson with six of the crew taking their places in the life boat, and the chief officer "with the remaining six of the crew occupying the long boat in tow, hut in struggling with the breakers it was found that to persevere in such a course might be to endanger the safety of both ; the tow was therefore cast'off,'.and about midnight, the weather being very thick, the captain with ihe boats crew landed in safety at Kaipara Head. A fire was quickly lighted, and the poor fellows made themselves as comfortable as circumstances would permit. There was no appearance, however, of the long boat; and next morning, it then blowing hard, an anxious but fruitless search was instituted after their missing comrades. The wreck was rapidly breaking up, and but a few necessaries were saved. It was hoped that the chief officer's boat might have fetched Manukau, but this is reported not to have been the case by the crew of the captain's boat, who arrived in Auckland, on Thursday night. The chief officer with his crew are still missing, but, although strong apprehensions are naturally entertained for their safety, we would fain hope that they may yet turn up. The Resolution, we believe, was bound for England. She was, we understand, partially, if not fully, insured. It is much "to be regretted that the trade of Kaipara is not sufficient to maintain a steam tug. In casting a retrospective glance at the shipwrecks that have occurred at Kaipara we are led to conclude that they have . not resulted from any want of due precaution or because of stress of weather, but in consequence of ships getting becalmed or baffled in mid channel, and then been driven in utter helplessness amidst the shoals and breakers.— New Zealander. 5