LOSS OF THE NOVELTY.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 573, 11 October 1851, Page 2

LOSS OF THE NOVELTY.

To the E'htors of tlic Sydney Mnrning Herald. Clarence Island, July 12, 1851. Lat. y-12 S, long. 171 30 per char. Gentlemen.—lt is my melancholy duty to inform you of the total loss of the barque Novelty, of Liverpool, on this island (the vessel that you may remember made the puss-ige, last December, to Auckland from San FraucibCo in twenty-vine d.iys). We bailed from San Francisco, for Sydney, on the -sth June, with fouileen male and two female passengers, and had light and variable winds to the Line which we crossed on the Ist instant, in longitude l-tiO'4s west. We had then strong south-east trades, with heavy equallfi, thick weather, and much rain. On Saturday, sth, we took sights, and at noon, l>y two chronometers laled at San Francisco, we made the ship in 10^30 west longitude, and 8-28 south latitude; Saturday night was squally, with thick ami clouJy weather; steering a *oulh west half west course. At two, a.m., of Sunday, 1 was on deck, and went below to work up the ship's reckoning since noon, and made her, by the course steered, forty miles from the island. At ten minutes to thice, A.M., the second mate came hastily into my cabin, anil stated that a thick haze had cleared away, midland was close to us, right a-head. Iran on duck, but 'immediately saw nothing could save the ship; the yards were^ however, braced round, lout without avail, the current swept her on to the leef, and she struck heavily and was. thrown on her beam-ends; the masts were immediately cut away, and we remained most anxiously waiting for day light, the ship striking heavily all the time. After some difficulty we got on shore by means of the masts; not knowing whether the island was inhabited, a party was despatched to explore it; they soon found traces, and shortly after a body of natives approached us. We made the usual signs of friendship, which were wai mly reciprocated by them, in shaking of hands, rubbing of noses, and then making a low kind of moaning noise and pointing to the ship. All the crew were immediately employed in saving such provisions, clothes, &c, as could be got at —we fortunately laid in a good supply of provisions at San Francisco, and have saved nearly two months supply, with care. The launch has been lengthened, and lam about proceeding- hi her to Upolo, Navigators' Islands, if 1 am only able to fetch them, in order to obtain a vessel to take the crew and passengers off the island. If due precautions are Uken there is no fear of any rupture with the natives they arc a fine race of people, domestic in their habits; we have seen no weapons amongst them; their sole dependence is upon cocoa nuts and a few cabbage palms, and fish is plentiful at times; there is no water on this island, but on an islet near by sinking casks in the sand we can obtain water, though brackisb.. Clarence Island, according to the chart, is laid down as a mere speck of land ; there are besides it twelve or fourteen islets, connected with it by a coral belt, from which there is no outlet except by watching a chance through the breakers. . The circumference of the whole is from thirty-five to forty mi.es. 1 deeply regret to state that in trying the launch in the still water inside the reef, the boat was suddenly capsised, and one ol the seamen, John Evans, about 22 years old, a native of North Wales, was drowned. The natives recovered the body, and if was interred in the usual manner. They were much struck with the cere^ mony. The Novelty waß very strongly built and fastened; had not this been the case, uohiog could have prevented her immediate breaking up, as a ttemendous sea was running, and makiug clean breaches over her. 1 send you a list of the passengers and crew at foot. According to sights taken since we h. »ye been here, the island is laid down SO miles out. The chronometers have not varied at all since leaving, and upon my arrival at a suitable place, the fact of the island being laid down wrong caa be more completely ascertained. We were fortunate enough to save the bag containing letters, but the parcels of newspapers have been destroyed ; what few have been picked up 1 have put with the letters addiessed to you. Under the circumstauci s, I trust that any letters addressed to other places than New South Wales will be duly forwarded to their dcs filiation.

Opaia, Navigator's Islands, 30th July, 1851. I am thankful to inform you of my safe arrival at this port, after being at sea nine days on my passage in the longboat, Twith very stormy weather. I am in hopes to leave this island in the morning, in Mr. Piitchaid's schooner, for Clarence Island. 1 am, gentlemen, Yours most respectfully, John Harrison, Master.

The following: is a list of the passengers and crew j— Passeugeis— Mr, George Murray supercargo, of Sydney; Mrs. Peters ami child, of lllawarra; Messis, Schofield, sen., near Parramatta; B. Hore, of Sydney, Ibaac Raphael, ditto, Aaron Benjamin, ditto, James i ampbell, ditto, J. Doyle, ditto, M'Albinney, ditto, John Wooller, ditto, Michael Carroll, Limerick, James Gough, Dublin, J. Miller, Sydney, Stephen Swain, ditto, D. Cain, Hobait Town, J Munro, Sydney. Crew— John Harrison, of Liverpool, master; J. Bud« peon, Isle of Wight, Ist mate; lhoinaq U.irrison, Liverpool, 2nd mate; William. Smith, New Zc.il.md,

carpenter ; James Wilson, Sydney, sailmakci ; 'J'lios. Wallace, Glasgow, cook ; John Ho Kid-, Adelaide, seaman; Stephen Sn> th, England, ditto; Tliom ts IAItW, jersey' ditto ; Edmund Speuce, Miiloul, ditto ; John Evans, North Wales, ditto.