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New Zealander, Volume XXII, Issue 2393, 3 April 1865, Page 2

WRECK OF THE CUTTER * PETREL.’ The cutter * Petrel,* Captain Beck, which left Onebunga for Raglan about three weeks ago has gone ashore about 25 miles north of the Manukau Heads. It appears that the ‘ Petrel ’ made her passage to Raglan in safety, and after discharging her cargo, left that port for Onehunga on Monday, the 20th March, at 9 a.m. Was 10 miles off the south of Manukan Heads at 6 p.m. the same day, with a moderate breeze to the N.E. The vessel was hove to for the night, and the following morning she was to the north west of the Manukau Heads. The wind this time was blowing a perfect hurricane with a very heavy sea. At 6 p.m. the vessel was about 10 miles to the South of the Manukau Heads, when she was again hove-to, with her head to the south-east. The wind shifted during the night to the north-west, and the next morning she was about 15 miles.to the south of Albatross Point, not far from Kawhia. j Hove-to daring the whole of Wednesday and Thursday under a close reefed topsail, the sea' rolling very high throughout. On Friday morning, the 24th, she experienced a light breeze from the south-east, with a heavy swell from the opposite course. At noon she had more siil put on, and at midnight was off Woody Head. After experiencing light winds she arrived off Waikato on the following day at 6 p.m., the wind and sea both increasing from the south-east. On Monday, the 27th, Paratuta to N.N.E. when she stood in to the land. On Tuesday morning she was to the north-west oi the Manukau, and at noon experienced a very heavy sea running from the southeast being under close reefed topsail all the time. About this period she was stauck by a very heavy sea and immediately' sprung a leak. . The ballast shifted, and the captain in order to save the vessel and the lives of those on board found it necessary to run her ashore at the place above mentioned, where she now lies. The captain and crew landed in safety, and on the following day the captain left the scene on the disaster for Onehunga overland. The captain, after experiencing the greatest difficulty and fatigue on his journey, arrived at Onehunga late on Saturday night. The captain expressed his belief that the vessel can be got off again, with but little diffi-, culty. The * Petrel ’ was the property of Mr. Millett of Muddy Creek, who died a few weeks ago.