WRECK OF THE STEAMER CONSIDE. (From the "Melbourne Augus." Sept. 18.)

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 676, 6 October 1852, Page 1 (Supplement)

WRECK OF THE STEAMER CONSIDE. (From the " Melbourne Augus." Sept. 18.)

SWe have been favoured by Mr. D. 11. Young, H> of the firm to whom the screw-steamer Conwas consigned, with the following particulars Hative to the wreck of that vessel. On Thursday Burning, Mr. Young proceeded with Captain Berguson, the Ilaibcmr Master, and Captain Brown, of the Chowringhee, in the steamer MaitRind to the Heads, for the purpose of rendering Assistance to the crew and passengers, and pro■ding them with provisions. On leaching the Bene of the disaster, they found them encamped En Point Lonsdale, immediately below the FlagKtafF. Captain Appleby reports that on the night if Wednesday, loth instant, at about 11 o'clock, wL saw the light-house, bearing by compass N. E. BdflSr., for which he was then steering direct; Bat shortly afterwards he saw a light ahead, which We knew to be that of a vessel. It may be rebnarked here, that from the fog and the darkness fef the night, he was very much deceived in the he imagined the light to be from him ; he Ren saw broken water close on the larboard bow. fchen he immediately ordered the helm to be put Bird to port : the vessel ahead at this moment Bred a gun, and almost at the same instant the Beamer struck, and' in five minutes was full of Kater forward. She was going at the time about Pine knots, with a fresh breeze, and the wind W. byN. Immediately after the vessel struck, the passengers rushed aft to the boats, and filled them, but the Captain managed by persuasion to get them to remain in the ship. Shortly afterwards, some of them again took possession of the boat on the larboard side, and filled her, when one of hem cut the boat tackle fall, which precipitated he whole into the sea, and only five of them suceeded in regaining the deck of the steamer, the imainder, supposed to amount to ten, being lost, t this time, amidst a most fearful sc&ne of esporation and uproar, a number of ruffians ! iread themselves ovor the vessel, and commenced 'undcring the cabin and the passengers luggag-c ; tit the captain, with the assistance of his officers id some of the passengers, succeeded in staving id destroying all the spirits and wines that could c got at, so as to prevent as much as possible any irthor outrage. About one o'clock he despatched he second officer in a boat to the pilot station, ml at daylight they returned alongside, and anded the passengers and crew from the wreck, Jong with a considerable portion of the luggage, also the specie that was on board, of the value of five thousand one hundred pounds. The following are the names of the missing passengers :—: — John Frost, Alfred Williams, and Dennis Barry, of Sydney ; Joseph Harris, Joseph Senior, David (Jordan, and William Crey, of Wollongong ; and John Bcrrighan, of Campbelltown ; besides two "other persons, names unknown, who embarked at i Twofold Bay. The number of passengers were Uhirteen in the cabin, one hundred, and fortyfclirce in the steerage, from Sydney, and three in Rhe steerage from Twofold Bay. The crew comLprised twenty-one souls. The passengers were "brought up by Mr. Young, in the steamer Maitland, with the exception of a few who thad started overland to Geelong, prior [to his arrival at the Heads. The surveytors who accompanied Mr. Young have re■ported the position of the vessel as she now lies to Be on the extreme S.W. point of the reef. She is Exposed to the violence of the sea and a strong Impetuous tide. The situation is one of such ■danger that they consider she should be imrac■liately sold, with her cargo, for the benefit of rwhom it may concern, which course the ► agents have adopted. Captain Appleby still remains at the wreck with his officers and crew, I and the greatest praise is due to him and his men for the manner in which they 'have acted in so critical a situation. Captain Ferguson also deserves great credit for the prompt manner in despatched the Government schooner Empire, , with provisions, to the wreck, immediately after fhe heard of the accident. The Conbidc is im iron

steamer, was built at South Shields in 1848, for the Hamburg trade, and fortunately was fully insured in England.

The Expedition to tub Soutii Seas. — The Herald, 28, Captain Homy Mangles Dcnham, F.U.S., and her tender, the Toich, stcam-sessel, Lieutenant-Commander Chimmo, left Plymouth Sound on the ]Oth of June, for Maderia, Rio Janeiro, and Sydney. The gallant commander of the expedition to the South Seas has received instructions to make a series of magnetic observations, and a systematic course of sounding 1 to certain depths, and to pass over or near to all the reported " vigias" which lie in the outward course of the expedition. The interest attached to this expedition continues unabated, and it has left England with the good wishes of all for its ssuccesful termination.