WRECK OF THE STEAMSHIP "LORD WORSLEY."

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1723, 13 September 1862, Page 3

WRECK OF THE STEAMSHIP "LORD WORSLEY."

We deeply regret to have to record the loss of another and useful steam-ship. The Lord Worslcy, which we imagined had failed in her machinery and put back to Nelson, lias he-en wrecked about forty-live miles to the southward of New Plymouth,—crew and passengers saved, hut ship in the hands of the Natives. We append the fullest particulars we have been .able to glean from the Taranaki journals, and private letters placed at our disposal.

[from tMo "Taranaki Heral I," Sept. (!.]

Sine, the cessation of hostilities, the inhabitants of Taranaki have not been so ex :itcil and concerned as they were on Wednesday morniii; last, when it became generally known that Mr, Parris had received intelligence from the natives at the Poutoko pa that a threemasted steamer, with a large number of passengers on hoard, was wrecked on the coast at the Naniu, about 4a miles to the south of New Plymouth. This was all the information the letter contained; and, as Mr. Parris had started early in the morning to endeavour to gather further lidings.thccxcitcmcntand suspense were intense among 1 the people, who were to be seen in knots in the streets, discussing what vessel it. could be, and how it fared with the crew and passengers. The excitement was only increased when it was known that Mr. Parris had returned on finding that he would not be allowed to pass the gate at Pukctchc, the southern boundary of Tataraimaka. It soon got spread about that an expedition was preparing to proceed to the succour of the shipwrecked people; carts and bullocks were warned for immediate service, as in days of old, and ordered to l>e in readiness, &c, when a horseman arrived in town to say that a boat was to be seen pulling up from the South. This proved to be the case; and, shortly after a boat was seen coming between the Sugar Loaves. When it drew near a cargo boat was launched and pulled out to meet it and brought its crew to land, when it became known that the ill-fated steamer was the Lord Worslcy, wrecked on Monday last at I*3o a.m. The boat (the ship's dingy) brought Captain Bowden, his second mate, and three of the crew, who with much difficulty and some danger had come round Capo Egmont in an open hoar, in order to report the loss of the steamer. A light S.E. wind was fortunately blowing, and thus enabled thedingy to reach this place easily after doubling the Cape safely. Capt. Bowden's account of the wreck ol his vessel will be found in our correspondence column. The information gleaned by us is that the Lord Worslcy lies in Nainu Hay, in about 2 feet of water when the tide is out, and that although lying with rocks through her bottom is not likely to break up. There were in all sixty people on board, principally passengers for Auckland and Sydney—two only for this port Messrs. A. King and Gaylard. The Lord Worslcy was on her way to Sydney via this port and Manukau with the homeward English mails from the South, all of which are in the wreck, together with the mails from hence on tho2sth ultimo. Captain Vine Hall is a passenger, and also two Auckland Members©! the General Assembly who, curiously enough, were shipwrecked in the While Swan ingoing down to the Assembly, and now anain in the Lord Worslcy in corning up from it. The Lord Worslcy had but little cargo on board, principally chronic ore, but besides the mails she was taking specie and gold dust, The passengers, among whom arc seven ladies and sonic children, are safely housed by William King Matakatea and his hapti, who have lately coma over to the Government, in a small village near the wreck; the crew live on board. Among the circumstances connected with this unfortunate occurrence several are singularly opportune and should be noted. Ist. The steamer has gone ashore on almost the only part of the coast where she would not have been dashed to pieces and every soul lost on the extensive reefs which surround the coast, ami lies in a comparatively safe spot. 2ndly. She has hit upon the only spot on the coast between here and Wanganui inhabited by friendly natives, who from all accounts have behaved in a kindly and hospitable manner to the shipwrecked people. 3rdly. The weather has been unusually line, if it had not been so, Captain Bowden could never have got up here, and we should have been without any reliable information to the present moment; and if it had not unfortunately happened that there was no vessel to send to their aid, the crew and passengers ere this would have been here, or on their way to Manukau.

The arrival of ihe captain was simultaneous with tiiat of a letter from some " King" natives at Kapoaiaia, that the iioi woidd assemble to bring up the shipwrecked people—-that, as they considered it was a mate moana, disaster on, the sen, they wonWftssist to (honest o( their

P°wer. The expedition under orders was, however, co untermanded, it was considered judicious to endeavour to force a way to the scene of the wreck. On Thursday morning, Colonel Warre, his Honor the Superintendent, Mr. Parris, Mi*. Gledbill, acting Lloyd's agent, and Captain Bowden started overland hoping, no doubt, from the tenor ot the letter from Kapoaiaia that no opposition would be offered to their journey down to our unfortunate countrymen who must be in painful suspense and are looking anxiously no doubt for succour; but they returned after a fruitless attempt to pass the gate. No inducement would make the gatekeepers allow the party to pass. They told. Captain Bowden to return to the wreck as he left it, viz., by sea, and were very insolent because the party refused to pay for going up to the gate. A large board is stuck uj) at this place with a scale of charges ranging from Is. to £SOO. The latter sum is to be paid by an European policeman should he wish to pass by that way. £2OO is the toll fixCd to be paid by a magistrate, and £5 by a Maori policeman. There arc several of these gates between this and the scene of the wreck, and it is estimated that it would cost £ISOO to reach it! The Kev. Mr. Whitelcy endeavoured to pass this gate on Wednesday on his way to the Namu, but was sent back therefrom.

Great anxiety is now felt for the shipwrecked people, who have been "thus completely cut off from any communication with the town for five days, and who are entirely at the mercy of the natives, in a British colonyfifty miles from a garrison town.

A letter was received this morning by Mr. W. Harrington from Ropata, who started tor the Namu on Wednesday, that he succeeded in passing the gates, and that the shipwrecked people arc on their way to town, and would sleep iast night at Kapoaiaia, 30 rjiles distant. We may therefore expect to sec them to-mor-row or Mom lay. They are coming up in twenty carts, with baggage, mails, he. The wreck is left in charge of the chiefs, Wi Kingi Matakatca, and Araraa Karaka. Tltc surf boats left this morning early for the Namu, as it has been found impossible to communicate by land. We hear that the toll fixed by the natives at the gates to be imposed upon the party is ss. a head for each person, and Is. each for the carts. We arc glad to hear that, through the exertions of one or two of the most kindly and energetic, of out-fellow-citizens, provision has been made for the accommodation of our shipwrecked countrymen. Our coast has the character of inhospitality, hut we think the same will not be said of our people. We hear that the following are some of the passengers—A French Sister of Charity, Captain and Mrs. Campbell, and 2 children, 1 male and 1 female servant, Mrs. Wilkin and daughter, Miss Briggs, Mrs. Traill, Mrs. White, C. J. Taylor, R. Graham, Captain Butler, Capt. Hall, Doyle, Blake, Ampthill, King, Gaylard. To the Editor of the Turunaki Herald. New Plymouth, Sept. 5, 18(52. Sin, —Would you be kind enough to publish the enclosed letter in your issue of to-morrow with the correction marked therein. Please write " leeward" instead of " seaward," and oblige, Yours truly, James Bowdex. To the Editor of the Taranalii News, ,Snt, —It is my painful duty to inform you of the wreck of the s.s. Lord Worsley in Namu Bay, 11 miles south of Cape Egmont, on Monday, Ist September, at I*3o a.m. The Lord Worsley left Nelson on Sunday, at 1 p.m., with a fresh breeze from S.W.; set all sail and shaped course N. by W. for 70 miles, then N. i W., which course should have taken the ship 10 miles clear of Cape Egmont, and I particularly cautioned both helmsman and officer of the watch not to go to leeward of her course, and when the officer called me at midnight he told me she had j. r one to windward of her course all the time; I went on deck at. midnight, and was keeping a sharp look out, and could sec nothing of the land until half-past 1, when a smart shower was passing, I suddenly saw the land ahead and close to; put the helm hard a starboard, and reversed the engine to full speed astern; a heavy sea struck her on the port how and she fell off, when she struck; kept the engine going full speed astern until the propeller broke; she then grounded fore and aft on a rocky bottom, and immediately commenced to fill with water; prepared boats and constructed rafts ready to land passengers and crew at daylight, which, 1 am happy to say, was done without accident. I remain, &c., James Bowdex.

Extract oe Letters from TaraNAKI, New Plymouth, Bth September, 18G2. Mv dear , We have been in some excitemen on account of the wreck of the Lord Worsley on the Taranaki coast, on her way to this place on Monday last, the Ist. We heard nothing until the 2nd ; a native had reached the Omata Stockade with information that a three-masted steamer was ashore at the Namu, a few miles from the Cape, and that upwards of sixty persons had landed, The Worsley was not expected, and this led to much speculation as to the name of the vessel. No one knew when the accident happened, or under what circumstances. The native added, that W. Kingi Matakatea, in whose care the passengers were, had applied to Gray, of the Poutoko, and other natives for assistance in protecting them. Parris, as usual, was oil" at an early hour on the following day to get past the uate, but failed; and others followed, and offered to come down liberally, but with no better success. The Colonel then determined on holding troops in readiness for an expedition South, to be preceded by an interpreter, to make known the object, hut this very questionable step was rendered unnecessary by the arrival, on the following afternoon, of the captain of the steamer, who reached New Plymouth after a seven hours' pull in the gig. Parris, likewise, got a letter from the Warea natives stating that they were going to fetch the passengers in carts and to protect the wreck. The offer was vague, still it obliged us to remain illactive, beyond dispatching of cargo boats to the scene,— a very hazardous experiment considering they are built for cargo, and quite unfit for a long pull along a lee shore, with the risk of changes of wind, —and for three days we were in suspense as to the course events might take. The weather was extremely line, yet no vessel appeared: never before did we realise our complete isolation from the outer world. At length,on Saturday afternoon, we received information, through W. Carrington, that the party was actually on the road ; our people flocked down Ilauranga way in carts and horses to render assistance, and the boats which had been signalled to the shore by Parris, embarked at Tatara the ladies and children, and the whole were housed in town during the evening. The cabin passengers, indeed most of the passengers are distributed amongst us.* * The natives behaved far from well, but better than might have been expected. There was jealousy between W. Matakatca and the King natives on account of their interference. The truth probably was, that the natives of the former desired to have the credit of sheltering the shipwrecked people, and the spoils to themselves; but this did not suit the outsiders, so they made virtue of necessity, and did all kinds of things in the King's name, even to bringing the people up. At one time the lives of the passengers were in danger. The rumour of troops being on the march had reached them, and a proposal to make prisoners of the people and kill them, was discussed. The natives were very exacting for house accommodation and services rendered, and eventually, notwitstnuding their fair promises, took possession of the wreck, broke into the strong room, and have been pillaging her ever since. They seized Capt Campbell's rifle (an Indian officer), and another passenger's, in the Kind's name, but were baulked of twenty kegs of shot which the passengers had the wit to empty overboard, though unlcckily they allowed the kegs to'float, which ?ed to the discovery by the natives. There was a lot of gold on board which Mr. K. Graham (who was wrecked in the White Swan on the passage to Wellington) recovered, and has brought into town. I should state that Mr. Graham rendered the most essential aid throughout. To his judgment and tact the passengers owe much of their safety. I fancy, from the account I have heard of his doings, that he is a man not unlike poor Richard Brown in his good points. Ho arranged everything with the natives, and just heard what was pleasant from them, lie resembles him likewise in his courage; for instance, he took a box of gold from a thief of a native as he was sneaking off with the prize, but finding it uncommonly heavy, he planted it up a creek unseen, and has returned to-day with the box, the natives all the while under the idea that he brought it 111> last Saturday in the cart. I should state that the shipwrecked people, except the captain, " who stole up in a boat," are allowed to pass the gate. The rumour of troops, which I have alluded to, caused a corresponding movement on the part of the natives,a body collected under that real ruffian Parenga Kingi at the gate, and so excited were they, that Parris and a native of Hauranga intercepted people on their way to Tatara, to meet the passengers, lest they should be fallen upon.

I have just been told by , who rode out to meet Mr. Graham, that Komeno and Matakatca have had a row. Komeno resides in town, and is under the Colonial Surgeon's treatment for some disease of the faee. He went down, and in a difference with Kingi about " rent," struek him in the lace, whereupon the blow was returned, and Komeno lies severely injured. People wlm live in houses. &c, and people with bad noses should not slap people in the face. The natives are in a frightfully lawless state; the- wreck. h;;3 evoked their bad, passions, and may bring about bloodshed

amongst themselves. The wonder is that our people escaped with whole skins. There were some Hindoo servants with Captain and Mrs. C , who are on their return to India. They present, as you are aware, a gratifying: instance of fidelity and ohedience to their masters. The elder Hindoo, shocked at the sight of the lawless vagabonds about, cried out, " I'd rather be a slave to the British than a King among these." These people will go back to their country and relate the humiliation the British have put up with in places out of India. 9th September. I have ascertained from I'arris that Kouicne mentioned is not " our" Komene of the bad nose, but an Umuroa native. Mr. Graham returned last evening with the gold he went for, but I'arris tells me he met a lot of Kapoaaia natives with tomahawks, who told Mr. Graham that nothing further should be removed. C. 15 tells me just the reverse, so I am embarrassed as to the truth. I find, however, that the latter hangs to the favourable side, saying as little as possible against the natives. The real truth is, I believe, that the natives will give up all that belongs to the passengers, but stick to the wreck and the ship's property.

" The Lord Worsley was to have called here for the English mail and have gone on to Manukau for the mail. She is on the rocks, and the tide washes in and out of her bottom—she is a total wreck.

" 8 a.m., 6th September.—A .Maori messenger has just arrived, stating the passengers would sleep at a place about thirty miles from here; that the Natives were bringing them up in twelve bullock carts: so we expect they will be in late this evening. Preparation has been made by the inhabitants to take in the

passengers. ***** "I accompanied the Superintendent to meet the passengers on the 6th, about twelve miles. Poor creatures, they were glad to see the face of a European once more. They all arrived in town by 10 p.m. When they left the wreck, the chief promised that the safe containing the gold should be kept secured; they had got about five miles when some natives overtook them, and told Robert Graham that the chief had broken opon the safe. He rode back immediately, and asked the chief where the gold was; he replied the King Natives had taken it. Graham told him it was false and asked where the key of his house was; he said he did not know. Graham up with a spade, and smashed the lock, and asked him what he called that, pointing to the gold, lie then took it and brought it about two miles and planted it. On Sunday he started back on horse-back, and found it. I went yesterday twelve miles to meet him, and glad he was to get relief, having ridden over 80 miles, and had only one hour's sleep; with a heavy back load. The Natives hud begun quarrelling about the property left behind, which is immense. They have stripped all the lead out of the vessel; and were very angry when they found the passengers had emptied the powder and about two tons of small shot into the sea. They searched every package, and took every gun and pistol they had in the ship. One gentleman put a valuable double-barrel gun in the coals, but the beggars got it, and a splendid rifle. About .'3O of them dragged the ship's gun up to the pah, shouting tremendously. The Storm liird lias been here, and gone back to Nelson with some of the passengers and crew. Mr. Vine Hall, the Manager, was onboard; he was quite done up. Captain Butler, of Mongonui, is one, he was wrecked in the Swan. The Airedale will be up in Auckland by the 16th instant, instead of the 19th. Mr. Vine Hall said he would get her coaled at Picton, and would save three days."