WRECK OF THE IMMIGRANT SHIP CITY OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5497, 8 November 1878, Page 7

WRECK OF THE IMMIGRANT SHIP CITY OF AUCKLAND.

When the information was published in our extra on October 23, at midday, of the wreck of the City of Auckland, it was received with much surprise throughout the town. An effort was made by us to furnish a list of passengers, but no such list was’ furnished either iu the Borne Nods or in the Eui'opeaa Mail. The only information wo obtained was that the vessel left London on July 13, and passed Deal on thellfch. Weuuderstand that she called atPlymouth, and was detained there until the 25th. Wo draw attention to the fact that the bulk of her passengers must have boon on board for about 112 days or more, because it may throw some light upon the disaster. A ship containing a large number of immigrants grows rapidly lighter on the voyage. , The water in the tallies is also generally allowed to run low when a ship nears her destination, and the consumption of provisions by nearly 300 people soon makes a groat difference in the draught of a ship. Tho lighter a vessel is the more leeway she makes iu beating against a foul wind, and the less sail she can carry when trying to beat off a lee shore. We believe that this fact may have had a good deal to do with tho loss of the City of Auckland, A great many hypotheses have been mooted to account for the series of wrecks that have recently occurred near Otakl, among others it has been suggested that some occult .influence may be exercised by iron-sand or other causes upon the compasses, or some lights of a house inland may have been mistaken for a lighthouse, &c. The real reason seems probably to bo that tho land is low and flat, and therefore not readily observable, and that the heavv gales have caught several ships at a disadvantage. As soon as the news of the wreck of the City of Auckland reached Wellington, Captain Fairchild, upon his own responsibility, ordered steam to be got up on board the Hinemoa, and waited upon Captain Johnston for instructions. The latter gentleman obtained tho necessary authority from the Commissioner of Customs, and it was arranged for the Hinemoa to leave at noon. Meanwhile Captain Rose, the Wellington manager for the New Zealand Shipping Company (by which firm the City of Auckland is chartered) made active preparations for rendering all possible assistance, obtaining a gang of men from the Rakaia, and also an additional life-boat- for the purpose of aiding in rescuing the passengers and crew if necessary. The City of Auckland was built at Sunderland, in 1869, and is therefore nine years old. She is composite-built, 780 tons register, and owned by Mr. George S. Simpson, of 9, Ciement’s-lane, London, We hear that the Hinemoa met with such a heavy sea outride the Heads that she was unable to proceed towards her destination, and therefore hovo-to under Kapiti. .A large portion of the cargo is said to have been for Auckland, and the insurance, so far as yet known, will fall heavily upon the New Zealand Insurance office, the cargo being insured for £3BOO iu it. Captain Bendall left, on Thursday morning on behalf of the associated insurance companies. Immigrants may elect to remain at Wellington or to proceed to Napier after their arrival here. ' Many of them will probably be put to considerable inconvenience through tho loss of their clothing. A subscription list will, no dpubt, soon bo circulated for the relief of the sufferers, bub at present the extent of their loss is not known. '

Otaki, October 23,12.15 p.m.

The ship City of Auckland, from London, bound for Napier, with railway material and 240 adult immigrants, is stranded near the mouth of the Otaki River. The vessel came ashore about nine o’clock last night in a heavy north west gale. Great excitement appears to prevail amongst the passengers, who are throwing boxes, &c., overboard. The lifeboat came ashore in charge of the second mate, and every endeavor to land the passengers is being made. The residents of Otaki are making every arrangement for their reception, and traps and Cobb’s coach are on the beach wait* ing to drive them to the township. The beach is lined with natives hauling up the wreckage. 3.10 p.ra.

The City of Auckland lies about 20 chains north of the Otaki River, aud about 40 chains from the wreck of the Felixstowe. About half the passengers are now ashore, and at present there is no danger to life, Jenkins, the pilot, and crew, arc busy getting passeu* gers ashore. The ships’ boats and crew are also busy in the same way. All the immigrants are going to be lodged in the College, at Otaki.

J. Rolls, captain of the City of Auckland, telegraphs to the New Zealand Shipping Co.: w City Auckland ashore here. Everybody landed. All safe. Waiting instructions.” The City'of Auckland is stem on. It is a good beach. All the cargo can b.o saved, and the vessel floated.

Otaki, October 24,10 a.m.

The Maoris havo made a present to the immigrants of potatoes and sheep. All the Europeans and natives are acting very kindly towards the immigrants aud crew. 3 p.m.

The Undev-Secretary for Immigration (Mr. Elliott) and Captain Rose have succeeded iu landing near Otaki, and have made arrangements for the embarkation of immigrants on board the Hinemoa off Waikanae, whither they are now being conveyed in drays. The Hinemoa will take them direct to Wellington. The following are the insurances so far as known New Zealand, £3800; Snath British, £3300; Union, £550; National, £SOO. The immigrants left for the Waikanae in bullock drays, traps, and all sorts of conveyances, so as to catch the Hinemoa. The lauding of the passengers' has been effected with considerable expedition, considering the circumstances, and without the slightest accident or disturbance,

One 6f the gentlemen who went up to the ecoue of the wreck of the City of Auckland by the Hlnemoa on Wednesday, Oct. 25, has kindly favored us with a short account of what happened on the journey. The steamer left here on Wednesday at noon, and arrived at the scene of the disaster at 6 p m. that evening. When she arrived near the wreck it was evident that all the passengers had left the ship, as there was no sign of any living being on board, and both the boats were on shore. Owing to the high wind and the rough sea no communication with the wreck could bo established, and the Hinemoa therefore returned to Kapiti and lay there till daylight next morning. She then again wont up to the wreck, but found the state of the wind and sea rendoreditstill nnadvisabletoatterapta landing, and she-therefore put back into the Waikanno Iliver, and there landed the Wellington party, consisting of seven persons. The place where they landed proved to bo IS miles from tho scene of tho wreck, but tho gentlemen landed set off for a rough walk to the scene of the wreck at onoo. After proceeding about seven miles they obtained a buggy and pair of horses frptn tho Maoris, and soon reached the encampment of immigrants. Mr. Elliott, the Sub-Commissioner of Immigration, at once set to work about making arrangements for: the,conveyance of tho immigrants to the Hinemoa. Every available vehicle was enlisted and the women and children sent in by them; the men proceeded oh foot. At AVaikanno Captain Fairchild had throe boats plying between the shore and tho steamer, a distance of about half a mile, until 9 p.m., after which communication was impossible, owing to tho strong flow of tide. The last of the immigrants did not reach Waikauae until

midnight, and fully half the number, including many women and children, had to remain on the open beach until nextmorning. They suffered from cold and exposure, the sand hills affording no protection from the wind and heavy rain, which helped to add to their discomfort. The fonats commenced to ply again at daylight, but owing to a strong nor’-wester springing up, and to an adverse tide, the Hinemoa was compelled to run for Wellington, leaving about twenty immigrants behind, with two boats and their crews. The steamer on her-return-encountered'a heavy tide rip off Terawiti, which caused her to ship many sens and roll heavily. On her arrival here, instructions were given to her to proceed forthwith to Napier, and, having takqn in the necessary provisions, she started on her voyage to Napier about six o'clock. Six special coache-* arrived at three o’clock on Sunday morning, October 27th, from Otaki with tho remainder of the City of Auckland's immigrants. Mr. Elliott, Under-Secretary for Immigration, gave one of the passengers named Peter Colfield in charge for disorderly conduct. Napier, October 27.

The City of Auckland immigrants appear to be a quiet, well-behaved lot of people. When landed from the Hinemoa on Saturday they looked in sad condition, but they spoke in high terms of the treatment they had received in Otakl,' both from the settlers and tho natives. Tho latter in particular seemed as if they could not do enough for the immigrants. The voyage up to the unfortunate disaster had been exceedingly favorable; there was little or no sickness. There was one birth and one death. They speak in high terms of the doctor, the captain, and officers. A committee of ladies and gentlemen has been formed to see to the want* of the-poor people, most of whom have only the clothes they stand in. The single men and gir-ls are not qnite so badly off; but the married people, having to lookafter their children could nob get to save anything. It is hoped their baggage has not been lost. ‘ Subscription lists have been opened for their relief.