WRECK OF THE OCEAN MAIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 337, 23 May 1877, Page 4

WRECK OF THE OCEAN MAIL.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. (By Telegraph, from Press Agexcy.) Wellington, May 22. illegality of sale of wreck. It was stated this morning by the representative of the New Zealand Shipping Company, in presence of Captain Watson, and uncontradicted, that the greatest possible indiscretion has been shown as to the disposal of the wreck and cargo ; that no publicity whatever was given of the day of sale; that the wreck, with the _Jboats and gear, was sold five days after the vessel went ashore for LGOO ; and on the following day the cargo, valued at LIOO,OOO, was sold for L 345. A protest, signed by all the principal residents at Waitangi, has been sent to the insurance offices interested, urging that the sale was entirely illegal, and that it should be held again. It is considered probable that other questions may arise to test the legality of the sale. Even the L 945 has noi yet been paid over. Besides the 400 bales of wool saved, the whole beach is strewn with wool, -which is being collected. The vessel broke in two ten days ago. a passenger's story. The following are extracts from a pasBenger's diary :—After getting clear of Wellington Heads the Ocean Mail overtook the Avalanche, both steering the same course. Captain Watson invited the captain of the Avalanche on board. He declined, but invited Captain Watson, who went on board, remaining several hours. The Ocean Mail boat got stove in under the stern of the Avalanche, and a seaman narrowly escaped losing Ins life. In consequence of the weather being cloudy, only one observation was taken from the 16 th to the 20th. A passenger remarked to the chief mate about the log not being hove for doad reckoning, and he said it was the captain's orders not to do so, as he did not believe it was any use. The patent log was never mentioned or. put over the stern once during the voyage. On the afternoon of Tuesday, the 20fch March, the „ captain said the barometer had fallen five- " tenths, and that they were not far from the Chatham Islands, but he did not expect to sight them. The wind rose, and sail had to be shortened. Shortly before four next morning, he saw some one rush into the cabin saying that the ship was close on the land. The captain rushed on deck partly dressed, very excited, and giving contradictory orders rapidly. The ship was then about three quarters of a mile from the shore. She struck lightly aft, and continued striking with more or less violence at intervals. When morning broke, the narrator says, how they reached the place where they lay was almost marvellous, for a short distance astern were other rocks with the sea breaking over them, and which they must have actually grazed. After getting a boat lowered, the chief officer ordered the saloon passengers into it, but the third officer, who was in charge, peremptorily refused to allow any luggage to be put into the boat, alleging that he had received orders not permit anything but the captain's effects. The people on shore showed them where to land to avoid the surf. The wreck is on the north part of the Chathams, 15 miles eastward of Caps Young. On the 24th ■fe? Nautical Assessor surveyed the ship, when the water was up to the saloon fluor, and the vessel was adjudged direlict and lost, and sold as she lay, with the cargo, on the 26th, for the benefit of all concerned, for £945. The Court of Enquiry held afterwards commenced on the 27th, and concluded on the 3rd April. In his evidence, the captain said he gave orders for the log to be hove, but admitted that he had not seen it done, but that he had seen the patent log, which was put in the water at 7 p.m. on the night previous to the wreck, through his cabin windows. The chief officer swore that the log had not been hove at all, and that he had been told by the second officer that the captain ■would not permit it to be hove, as he did not believe in it. The second and third officers, who were in the same watch, deposed on oath that the log was hove every two hours in their watch, and on the night before the wreck they hove it themselves, assisted by a boy. The boy corroborated these statements ; but later in the day, when summoned to give further evidence, he confessed that his former evidence was false, and that he said it to confirm the testimony of the second officer. All the ; hands in the second officer's watch swore that the log was not hove from the time the ship left Wellington. The Court passed the following sentence :— '*' That the master's certificate of competency be suspended for nine months ; the first and second mates', for six months ; the third mate had no certificate ; and that the disjunct constable be instructed to prosecute file second and third officers, with the boy, for perjury." A second Court was held on the 16th and 17th April, at Mattarakau, and the mates and boy were arrainged, and on the evidence of the crew, ■were committed to take their trial at the next practicable sitting of the Supreme Court. a resident's view of the matter. A letter from a resident on the island says no one had notice of the sale of the wreck but those who extended hospitality to the captain, and consequently only a few people were present at the auction. The writer asserts that had the people of the island only known of the sale, the wreck would have realised at least LISOO or L2OOO, at the lowest estimate. Prom the time the vessel came ashore she remained in that position, with most of her sanvas spread until the day of sale. Tiie whole of the day she struck nothing was lone, though thd weather was very fine, 3ie*captain lying in his cabin the whole

day. Though, it was not at all working weather between the day of striking and the day of sale, there was enough fine weather to allow of the crew saving a great deal of the gear ; in fact very little was brought from the ship besides what was washed ashore. For two or three miles each side of the wreck, the ship's cargo is strewn about, some at high water, some at the edge of the water, but no one looking after it. It was the intention of a few of the settlers to form a company to buy the vessel and cargo, but the vessel and. all pertaining to it in the shape of gear was put up in one lot, and knocked clown to Mr. A. Ackerley. When the cargo was put up, Mr. Ackerley, who had been" surveyor of the vessel, said, " Recollect I am owner of this ship, and nobody puts his foot on board without my permission." The auctioneer had been warned of such a contingency when allowing all the boats to go with the ship. The cargo was then knocked down to Mr. Ackerley. A few days after the sale a protest against it was got up in Waitangi, and signed by a number of Europeans and natives. The Resident Magistrate is blamed for not giving notice of the sale. The constable who acted as auctioneer was asked why he did not do so, but he said it was not his place to. The local agents of the insurance offices here have telegraphed to their respective head offices, and are awaiting instructions previously to lodging a protest against the sale, and taking legal action.