PARTICULARS OF THE LOSS OF THE OCEAN MAIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 119, 22 May 1877, Page 2

PARTICULARS OF THE LOSS OF THE OCEAN MAIL.

m . Wellington, Tuesday. The schooner Omaha, captain Burr, arrived this morning from the Chatham Islands which she left on the 18th insfc. She brings the captain, officers, and crew of the ship Ocean Mail. It appears frora the accounts given by the officers of the Ocean Mail that after passing Pencarrow Heads on the 16th of March, the weather was very thick for several days until the morning of the 21st when, during the second mate's watch, sail was shortened. About 4 a.m. the third mate called the captain saying the ship was nearly ashore. Every endeavor was made. to work her, off but it was unavailing, and she struck ou a bed of solid rock known as the French Reef between Matarauaka and T.uapeka points. As the pumps sounded five feet of water in the hold the boats were got out and the passengers landed, and stores and other things taken into the bush until the surf became too heavy. The reef is about half a mile from the shore. Ou the followiug Monday a survey was held and the wreck sold to Mr Richie. An enquiry into the disaster was subsequently held at Matarakau before Mr Deighton, R.M., and the Collector of Customs, the result of which wa3 thafc the captain's certificate was suspended for nine months, and the officers' for six. Two of the officers have been committed for trial for perjury for stating that the log was overboard when the vessel struck, and both have been lodged in gaol. A private letter from the Chathams savs that the weather was very thick and dark when the vessel went ashore, and had been so for several days. Mr Ricbie has recovered between four and five hundred bales of wool, and about one hundred casks of. tallow were washed ashore in one nighfc. The letter says that ifc was fortunate the night was quiet, or all hands would have beeu drowned. The tidal wave was felfc there on the llth but nothing like so severely as on the former occasion in 1868. • Later. It was stated this morning by the representative of the New Zealand Shipping Company in the presence of Captain Watson, and uncontradicted, that the greatest possible indiscretion had been shown as to the disposal of the wreck and cargo; that no publicity whatever was given of the day of sale; that the wreck with the boats and gear were sold five days after the vessel went ashore for £600, and on the following day the cargo valued afc £100,000, was sold for £345. A protest signed by all the principal residents at Waitangi has been sent tc the Insurance offices interested urging that the sale was illegal, and thafc ifc should be held again. It is considered probable thafc other questions may arise to test the legality of the sale, as even the £945 has nofc yet been paid over. Besides the four hundred bales of wool saved! the whole coast for miles is strewn with wool, which is being collected. The vessel broke in two ten days ago.