TOTAL WRECK OF THE BARQUE ROBINA DUNLOP.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5115, 15 August 1877, Page 2

TOTAL WRECK OF THE BARQUE ROBINA DUNLOP.

A telegram was * received here yesterday afternoon by Captain Rose, agent for the New Zealand Shipping Company in this port, from Captain Graham, of the Robina Dunlop, stating that that vessel was ashore close to Turakina River, a total wreck, and that all hands were saved. Immediately on receipt of this telegram Captain Rose wired back to Captain Graham to know if a steamer would be of any use to him, and to send particulars of the wreck. The reply that Captain Rose received was to the effect that a steamer would be of no use, as the vessel was a complete wreck. The above intelligence was further confirmed by a telegram received last night from the Press Agency at Marton. It ran as follows :—“ The barque Robina Dunlop, bound to Batavia, from Wellington, is a total wreck off the mouth of the Turakina River. The crew are all saved.”

The Robina Dunlop left this port ou Saturday afternoon last, bound to Batavia, in ballast. The wind from then up to Monday night was blowing pretty hard from the northward and westward, when it took into the southward, and blew fresh. The barque would thus have a slant oh'Monday night to get through the Strait; but how it was possible for her to -go ashore at Turakina River seems to us a mystery, unless there was most culpable negligence on the part of some one. Turakina River is situated about twenty miles south of Wanganui, and, of course, is iu that bight extending from Cape Egmbnt to Cape Terawiti, and which is generally given a wide berth by sailing vessels. The . only surmise is that the Robina Dunlop, getting through the Strait with the southerly wind of Monday night, kept too close inshore, and encountering the very heavy westerly sea which was reported as prevailing on the . West Coast yesterday, was driven inshore, and seeing that she would be unable to keep off the coast, Captain Graham had to beach his vessel, which resulted in her total destruction. Of. course it is all conjecture as to how the barque got wrecked until fuller particulars are to hand ; but it is very strange indeed how a vessel bound to Batavia could possibly go ashore at Turakina River. The Robina Dunlop was a handsome little barque, of 493 tons register. She was constructed of wood, and was only three years’ old. She was. owned by Mr. Neil], of Glasgow, and was a regular trader to Auckland. She came here from London with a full general cargo, and arrived on the 16th July last. The barque came out under charter to the N.Z.S. Go. It is believed that she is well insured iu Home offices.