AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 780, 22 January 1853, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

Hazardous Passage of the LieutenantGovernor. — His Excellency Lieut- Governor Wynyard arrived in Auckland from Coromandel, in the schooner '• Bon Accord," after a somewhat perilous passage, late on Wednesday night. In passing Taylor's Island, the schooner was kept too close to the land, and in consequence took the ground about the middle [of a long reef which runs out from the island. The spot where she struck was, fortunately, shingly. Had she gone a little further on she would have struck the rock, when the total loss of the schooner, probably of her passengets, would in all likelihood have resulted. Whilst thus hard and fast, Mr. Blackett, with Captain Travere, R A., passed in his yacht. The "Bon Accord" endeavoured by every possible signal of distress, such as firing guns, hoisting his Excellency's half mast, and displaying the British Ensign- -with the Union down> to attract attention and obtain assistance; but all in vain. No doubt, Mr. Blackett, as the weather was thick, was in ignorance of what the vessel, and who the persons in distress were ; but that he must have known that she was a vessel in distress seems to be clear, as we have been distinctly informed that he reported a schooner on shord, to Mr. Rough, the Harbour Master, on his arrival in Auckland. The schooner Undine, too, we learn, anchored near the stranded vessel, and she too, no doubt in equal ignorance of her character, made no tender of assistance. Abandoned to their own exertions, his Excellency and his crew set to work to lighten their vessel. The ballast was got out ; an anchor and chain left behind ; and as the shingle became dry at low- water, and a couple of ,spades, having been fortunately found on board, a shelving canal towards the deep water was cut, and the schooner hove off by sheer strength, his Excellency being the first to show an active example. We believe the Bon Acord sustained no damage. However, but for contingent and favourable circumstances, and the presence of a powerful crew, the stranding of the vessel mighty not have terminated so happily as, we^ejoicf to say it has. — Southeiat~CrosB,^bv. 26.