STRANDING OF THE HYDERABAD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5382, 27 June 1878, Page 2

STRANDING OF THE HYDERABAD.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. (PER TRESS AGENCY.) Otaki, Wednesday. On Sunday night the Hyderabad was becalmed effi The Brothers, but soon afterwards a breeze sprang up, and tho vessel was making very good progress till about two o'clock on Monday afternoon, when a violent gale came on, and kept up with great fury until about eleven o’clock that night, when the ship struck bows on. The sails wero blown clean out of the bolt ropes, and disappeared in shreds. The anchors were let go ono after tho other, but quite in vain, one of them taking away nearly 100 fathoms of chain. The gale was terrific on Monday, the like not having been felt for years here ; every one expected the buildings would be blown away. At Foxton several chimneys were blown down, and further damage done. The captain of the Hyderabad was here this morning, but has gone back to the wreck. No particulars are to be obtained here beyond those already known. The vessel is insured in the New Zealand office for £2500, in the National for £ISOO, and in the South British for £IOOO. The other insurances are not yet ascertained. The wreck lies about thirteen miles north of this place. Tho captain’s wife remains here for the present. The captain has strong hopes of getting the vessel off if only any sort of wind come off the land. The vessel is uninjured as yet. When she came ashore tho crew remained on board all night and had hot coffee, feeling quite comfortable. They got ashore without difficulty. The captain thinks if tho ship was lightened a little she might easily be towed off by a steamer and a good gang of - men. Should the weather remain fine he might manage to save the vessel. Tho weather is fairly fine as yet. Foxton, Wednesday.

The wreck oE the Hyderabad lies about thirteen miles from Otaki, fourteen from Boxton, and about two miles from Horowhenua Creek. She lies stem on to the beach, standing almost upright, with boats and everything on deck in the usual order, nothing apparently being disturbed on deck. The fore and mizzen masts stand uninjured, with the tatters of the sails that were blown away still flapping about the yards. The maintopgallant mast hangs beside the topmast, having broken off with the concussion when the ship struck. Apparently the ship is as safe as if she were riding at anchor, and the boat which the sailors use in communicating between the shore and the vessel is the only thing belonging to the ship which can be seen on the beach.

Captain Holmwood gives the following account of the wreck:—Ho was coming into Cook Strait at the same time as the Craigmulleu was endeavoring to enter Wellington Heads. He was off The Brothers on Sunday night, when a moderate westerly wind was blowing, and he stood off and on a N.N.W. course. As the glass was rising, no change of weather seemed imminent. About 12 that night, however, it freshened up considerably, and by 4 in the morning it was blowing a furious gale. At that time the ship had an offing of about thirty-five miles. The gale increased gradually in strength, and blew away the lower maintopsail and mizzen staysail. This left the ship under bare poles. She then began to drift, and in the space of ten hours drifted about thirty-five miles. Binding he could do nothing with the vessel by means of sails, ho got both anchors ready, with about [one hundred fathoms of chain for each anchor. Bailing in another attempt to work off, ho lot go both anchors as soon as the ship was in eighteen fathoms of water, and paid out all the chain; but neither anchor held for a moment, and both were lost, with very nearly all the chain. On both chains parting he kept the ship away before the wind, and headed her direct for shore, so as to prevent her beaching broadside on. The vessel now lies stem on, not above fifty yards from the edge of the beach. The

captain says he thinks the cargo is not worth more than about £25,000. Her cargo mainly consists of railway engines, carriages, and wheels. At three o’clock this afternoon a strong W.S.W. wind was blowing, with a pretty heavy surf rolling in, the whole beach being white with the foam of the breakers, but apparently not injuring or distressing the vessel in any way. The captain says while the wind remains as it is now nothing whatever can be done, hnt as soon as there is a favorable change, or the wind comes off the land, he will put an anchor out astern, to prevent her being driven farther in. In the meantime the captain thinks the vessel cannot take any harm, unless some extraordinarily severe weather sets in, .as the vessel is an iron one, and strongly built, while she rests on a bed of fine soft sand.

The residents along the coast say the gale on Monday night was the severest experienced here for fifteen years. Several roofs were carried off, chimneys blown down, and fences and outhouses destroyed. Many people thought their houses would have been blown down.

The hull of the vessel is insured iu Lloyd's for £15,000, and the freight for £2500. The insurances already given, iu the New Zealand, the National, and the South British, were effected at Adelaide by the agents of these offices.

The Stella came up to-day, but was unable to get close enough to be of any assistance, and had to go back without communicating in any way.

The surveyors for the underwriters are expected at the wreck to-morrow. A strong westerly wind, about half a gale, is now blowing, and the night looks dark and threatening. The crew still remain aboard the ship. The captain remained beside the wreck all day, but iu the evening went back to Otaki, where his wife and children are staying.