LOSS OF THE BARQUE MARY CATHERINE.

New Zealander, Volume I, Issue 51, 23 May 1846, Page 2

LOSS OF THE BARQUE MARY CATHERINE.

On the 25tli April, the fine barque Mary Catherine, Capt. Howlett, 400 tons, left Auckland, for the Port of Kaipara, on the western coast, to take in a valuable cargo of spars for England. It is with regret, we have to announce that advices were received last Sunday, overland, with account of the Mary Catherine having been driven on a sand-bank in the harbour of Kaipara, after parting from the chain and warps, in that most tremendous gale which occurred during the night of Saturday, the 9th May. Jt is most satisfactory to state, that no lives were lost, and that what cargo there was on board of copper, oil, flax, and kauri gum, will be saved. The Mary Catherine arrived off the harbour of Kaipara, on the afternoon of the sth May, when she lay to until the following morning, Wednesday, the 6th ; — when she entered the heads, with a north-east breeze, and worked in, beautifully, between the shoals. The Tory shoal was weathered at 5 p. m., and she anchored at 7 p. m., in nine fathoms water, off Point Dawson ; she remained at this anchorage until Saturday, the 9th, when, at 3 p. m., as

the barometer was rapidly falling and the weather bore a very threatening aspect, the barque got underweigh, blowing hard at southwest, under double-reefed topsails ; but at the first cast of the lead the water shoaled from six to two fathoms, and she immediately struck. However, the stream-anchor was immediately got out ahead, with 140 fathoms of good warps, and she was hove off into six fathoms water ; but the breeze increasing to a perfect gale, it was found impossible to get her into deep water, and the larboard chain was veered out, until her heel was in three fathoms water, and still holding on the warps. The gale during the night increased to a perfect hurricane, and continued until the following Wednesday, with increasing violence. On Monday, the 11th, the ship parted from both warps and chain, and was driven high on the sand-bank. It being then the full moon, the spring tides, added to the force of the gale, forced the vessel higher on the bank. A survey has been held on board the vessel by the captains of the other ships in the harbour of Kaipara, and it has been found that the expense of getting her off and subsequent repairs, in Kaipara, where there are so few facilities as well as inhabitants, will be so great, that it will be mor eto the interest of the underwriters and all parties concerned, that the vessel should be publicly sold as she now lies. This unfortunate circumstance is certainly much to be lamented, inasmuch as it may, for a time, obstruct the numerous shipments now in course of progress, at Kaipara, of spars for England and elsewhere. But, as regards the harbour of Kaipara itself, — or of the facility of ingress or egress, — this accident is no disparagement ; — for, in such an awful night as that, between the 9th and 10th of this month, such casualty might be anticipated, especially, in a harbour with its entrance directly open to the tremendous hurricane that blew for five successive days, without intermission. It will be remembered, that about two years since, Lord Ingestrie moved an address, which was carried, in the House of Commons, to Her Majesty, praying that she would be pleased to command the Lords of the Admiralty to survey the coasts and harbours of New Zealand, and Her Majesty was graciously pleased to reply that it should be done, but no further notice was taken of the matter. The loss of H. M. S. Osprey, may awaken the Board of Admiralty, and convince them of the expediency and importance of such service, for if it liad been performed some three years since, that beautiful man-of-war brig would have still graced Her Majesty's navy. If the western harbours were properly surveyed, and official authenticated charts published of them, these casualties would not occur, and the maritime commerce of the colony would be greatly benefltted and much increased.

Value of Property near Auckland. — We understand that the beautiful estate of Mr. Mason, at Eden Grove, within three miles of the capital, and comprising, only, Fifty acres, without dwelling-house, that having been recently destroyed by fire, has been disposed of, by him, for the large sum of Four Hundred Pounds. This transfer to an intended resident settler, well acquainted with the adjacent colonies, as well as the Southern districts, is evidence of the opinion and estimation, of persons competent to decide, of the comparative advantages of the Northern and Southern Division of this IslandAs our Southern cotemporaries are so zealous, in their vituperation and depreciation of the lands, on the Waitemata, in the neighbourhood of the capital, we should very much wish to know what Fifty acres of Land, without any house, would realize, at the present time, within three miles of the blockaded town of Wellington ? Signal of Distress. — Yesterday soon after mid-clay there was hoisted at the flagstaff station on the northern shore, a signal signifying avessel in distress outside the harbour. Immediately Captain Rough, with his usual alacrity, started in the Albert Government schooner, whilst blowing a gale from the westward, and on rounding the North Head it was found to be a small cutter/rom the Wade with Timber, which had capsized, with two men, who contrived to get into the dingy hanging astern, and held on until picked up by the Albert much exhausted- The cutter drifted over to Hokao Bay where she will be safely lodged on the flats. In consequence of the gale, the whale boat of the Albert was swamped in being towed aud parted , from her: fortunately, the men were not in. v Wesleyan Missionaries.— The Rev. Thos. West \and Rev. J. Bate, who arrived from England some weeks back, via Sydney, proceed in the "Triton" to the Friendly Islands, the field of their futui c labours. Mr. West, who, since his arrival heie, has been much admired as an ardent, zealous minister of the Gospel, preached on Sunday night last in the Wesleyan Chapel to a very crowded and attentive congregation. His subject was well chosen to suit the eventful times in which we live, — and with great faithfulness did he enforce the necessity of united effort on the part of the various sections of the Christian Church, in order to withstand the imoads of error now so alarmingly prevalent in the world. It should be gratifying and encouiaging to the friends of missions, as well as to the missionaries themselves, to observe such disposition on the pait of the inhabitants of this settlement to attend the public places of worship ; and the presence of so many of the military, who regularly and voluntarily attend the evening services in this chapel, speaks highly in praise of many well disposed and well conducted men belonging to the troops at present stationed in our garrison.