WRECK OF THE "MARY."-17 LIVES LOST. From the Sydney Weekly Register.

New Zealander, Volume I, Issue 10, 9 August 1845, Page 2

WRECK OF THE "MARY."-17 LIVES LOST. From the Sydney Weekly Register.

The Many for London, with a valuable cargo, and a total crew and passengers of fifty-nine souls on board, left Sydney on May 19. It was the intention of the owners that the Mart/ should proceed by the ouhunry loule round Cape Horn, which is the only one that can be considered practicable at this season of the year, when westerly winds are so prevalent The Mary stood away to the southward, but when she got off Cane Howe, the wind being at east south-east, and " trie aspect easterly- wind like," Captain Newby determined to attempt the westerly passage, and accordingly stood into Bass's StraitsOn the morning of the 24th May. the Mary was off Wilson's Promontory, when the wind suddenly died away, and at 10 a.m., a strong breeze spiung up from the north-west, :uicl gradually increased to a gale with heavy rain. Thinking he had now got into a westerly wind, Captain Newhy determined to give up the westerly passage, and aecoidingly boie up and ran to the southward of Kent's Groups At a p.m , he estimated the ship's position to be five miles south of the body of Kent's Group, fixed her com se at eiut by north, and having been up the two previous nights, the captain went to bed, there being then a breeze from the north west which was sending the ship seven knots an hour. The chief mate had the watch from 8 to 12 ; about 1 1 he called the captain, saying he thought "land was li.ind\'i" but upon the captain coming on deck he could not see any land, and found that it \vas> almost a calm. Broken water, however, was soon discovered off the lee beam, and a strong current was rapidly driving the ship towards it. There sv as no wind to make the ship answer her helm, sha refused stays, and diove broadside on the rock. She first touched on the starboard bilge, then under the fore-chains, and immediately parted ab ift the fore mast, the bows slipping off the rock into deep water ; she tUeii struck abatt, unshipped her rudder, and the t&tf sides floated off the bottom, over the reef into smooth water. In seren minutes from the time she struck the ship was in pieces. Seventeen women and children were drowned. — Those were three of Captain Newby's duughteis ; six hildren of a Mrs. Evans; Augusta and Catherine, daughters of Captain Collins of Jllawarra; Mrs. Heather and two children, Mrs. Givv, Mrs. Turnbull, and Sarah Foulkes, servant to Mrs, Collins. After getting clear of the wreck, the long-boat bore off for the north-west point of Flinders Island, where itair'rml on the following morning. Captain Newby then set out to endeavour to find the settlement (whpre the natives of Van Du-'inen's Land reside), leaving the | persons in the boat nothing to subsist on but pumpkins and what shell -fish they might be able to catch. As soon as he arrived at the settlement— bread and other provisions were sent to the paity, who did not, however nnive there until thr Ist of June, where they were received with the greatest kindness by Dr. Milligan, the superintendent.

From the Sydney Morning Herald. We have received a letter from Captain Newby, from ■which we learn that an enquiry into the loss of the Mam had very properly been ordered by the Van Diemen's Land Government. We gather horn this letter that tue deaths were caused as follows — Mis. Evanb was getting her six children out of bed when the water rushed upthiongh the hold and forced her up the hatchway, the poor children being drowned where they were. Mrs. Turn bull fell between two tun buts of tallow, just as they floated irom the hold, and was crushed between them. Mrs. Sarah (Jrny was drowned in her bed, being infirm, she was unable to get upon deck. The remainder of those drowned were placed in the larboard quar-ter-boat, but the ship breaking up before the boat was lowered, it was swamped as tlie top sides floated from the bottom- At the request of Captain Newby we publish the following lettcr-~ Gentlemen,-On Saturday last, the 28th June, the Port officer at tl.is place received from the ( olouial Secretary, Hobart Town, instructions to adopt ths best method in his> power for the relief of the remainder of the crew and passengers left upon i-'linder's Island, and in accordance therewith lost no time in hiring a vessel for the purpose, and on Sunday morning last, with even thing necessary for the trip, we le t Launceston and "got down the river to this place yesterday. It is my duty to state that every facility which could be suggested to the Government here— lor the general benefit and relief of all the survivors from the wreck of the ilUtated A/«r#— has been most piomptly attended to, and the degree of tympathy manifested by not only those in authority, bui by all I have met with of every grade or sect alike h.is been s,uch that it would be in vain for me to attempt a description. No sooner was our loss made known (even by Telegraph) in Lannce c .t»n, than subscriptions were entered into, clothing collected, jatioi-s provided, and a house taken for the

accommodation of those who might arrive as opportunities offered, irom Binder's Island. A cutter was despatched with clothing, &c, before I could fret up to the town of Launceston, to relieve their immediate wants So Mineral has the good feeling of kindness and hospitality towaids us been spread over this island, that it would be indeed difficult to particularize any parries, save such as Messrs. Hemy, Raven, Dewhng, Bateman, Carter, Friend, and who, besides their own liberal contributions, form a kind of Committee ot Management The Ladies, lam proud to say, have taken a most active part, and proved a principal auxiliary for providing things necessary for the female part of the survivors and children. I remain, Gentlemen, your's &c, R. H. NEWBV. To the Editors of the " Sydney Morning Herald."