AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 713, 2 June 1852, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

We- regret to state- that the fine barque William Hyde, Capt. Applewhaite, so long and favourably known in the New Zealand trade, and which arrived^ in harbour ,on .Friday afternoon,- encountered a disastrous accident -in crossing the Bar of the Hokianga River on^he Ist inst. We have been kindly;, favoured with

•?the' following authentic particulars : — On Satufrday; the. lstiMay,?the*day being' fine, and clear, itrith a light breeze frb r m the eastward; and the iship in charge of the pilot, Mr. W. Young,, at '4,iA.M.;.the ; -hands were turned but, and the , cable shortened- in' to twenty fathoms. All sail ■was then- set, and the ship-made ready for casting with the last quarter of the flood tide. At .7, a.m., it being then nearly high water, a fair wind blowing, and the bar,- as accurately as be calculated from the ship, sufficiently .smooth to cross, it was determined to proceed to sea. Accordingly, the anchor was weighed, the ship stood out towards the heads under ' r all sail. The pilot left the ship close under the South head. At 8 alm., she entered on the pinner edge of the bar, Martin's house just bearing clear of the South head, which according "to the sailing directions it should do. At this moment, the rollers proved very heavy, and the ship was plunging fearfully. When about half way over she took the ground abaft, and stuck fast. Every effort was made to keep her head fair with the sea, but without success. She came up to the wind with her head to the northwest, and fell over on her starboard side. The "positron of ship and ship's company then became truly frightful, for the sea , continued to ""beat completely over her, so that the crew and 'passengers had much difficulty in holding on. They remained in this state for nearly three--quarters of an hour, expecting the ship every "'moment to break up, when providentially she lifted over into deep water. Captain Applewhaite is of opinion that the accident would not have occurred, but for the heavy swell that pre-N-ailed on the bar, and which it was impossible to discover until the ship was in the middle of •it. Captain Applewhaite who has frequently and successfully loaded in the harbours of the ■ west coast of New Zealand, considers Hoki--anga to be the safest of them all, A survey .-was held yesterday on board the William Hyde, and we are told, as a preliminary step, it has been recommended that her cargo shall be dis•charged. — Southern Cross, May 18. Bible Societt ' Meeting. — On Monday • evening the Annual * Meeting of the Auckland Branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held in the Presbyterian Church, and was numerously attended. The Rev. Walter Lawry occupied the Chair. A report of the • leading- operations of the Society was read by the Rev. J. H. Fletcher, and a Financial Report ..by Mr. Rout. Resolutions were then moved .or seconded by the Rev. Messrs. Hamer, Reid, .M'Donald, Fletcher, Inglis, Buddie, and Ward. In the course of the proceedings, the Rev. A. .Reid presented- a sum of £10 os. 7d., being .the thoroughly free-will contribution of the Maorifs at the Three Kings Native School. — jView; Zealander, May 5.