STRANDING OF THE HYDERABAD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5401, 19 July 1878, Page 2

STRANDING OF THE HYDERABAD.

(PER PRESS AGENOT.! On Sunday night, June 23, the Hyderabad, from Xyitelton to Adelaide with a cargo o£ railway plant, value £25,000, recently purchased by the South Australian Government from the New Zealand Government, was becalmed cff The Brothers, but soon afterwards a breeze sprang up, and the vessel was making very good progress till about two o’clock on Monday afternoon, when a violent gale cam© on, and kept up with' great fury until about eleven o’clock that night, when the ship struck bows on. The fails were blown clean out of the bolt ropes, and disappeared iu shreds. The anchors were let go one after the 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. Foxton, June 26. The wreck of the Hyderabad lies about thirteen miles from Otaki, fourteen from Foxton, 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 $n 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:—He was coming into Cook Strait at the same time as the Craigmullen 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 maiatopsaij, 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. Finding he could do nothing with the vessel by means of sails, he got both anchors ready, with about one hundred fathoms of chain for each anchor. Failing in another attempt to work off, he let 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, aud 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 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 pays while the wind remains as it is now nothing whatever can be done, but 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 hull of the vessel is injured in Lloyd’s for £15,000, and the freight for £2500. A survey has since been held, and tender* are invited until to-morrow for the salvage of the hull, gear, fittings, and cargo. It is expected that the cargo will all be saved.