A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 174, 6 June 1862, Page 4

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.

A short time since we noticed the arrival at Wellington- of a little vessel of only tea tons (thg Qukling Star,) after a most disastrous voyage from Melbourne. We were at that time able to give only a very brief accxiat of the voyaga, but by the kindness of the owner, Mr. Float ot this city, we are now enabled to publish a, more detailel account of their singular voyage, as narrated in a letter from tho skipper of the little craft. ■ Wellington, May 29, 1862. Respected Friend, —I received your letter, dated 13th May, and was very glad to hear from you. I've had a great difficulty to keep your little vessel afloat. On leaving Melbourne she was making a little water, -which Martindale took no notice of; he was also informed the rudder was goue Dy the parties who had the vessel. I was not aware of this until I had sailed, and found out that it was gone. There was nothing particular occurred, concerning tho rudder, any further than while ■working through the Straits I had to carry an easy mainsail. I attributed it to tlie vessel leijg out of1 trim, and altered it as much as possiblo tj no eft'ect. I took my departure from Kent's Group on the 10th of March, with a snoring westei ly wind, increasing io an extreme gale, which ran ma some 500 miles. My intention was to make as quick a passage as possible to get the little vessel's name up. She steered very wild with us, aud had to set canvas accordingly. Pumping increased from every two hours to being kept constantly going, aud continued so until I beached in Queen" Charlotte Sound. The latter part of the g.de was an extreme gale, more fitting for lieaving-to, but as her pump was constantly! going I thought I might as-well go down scudding as layin;r-to. Dear Fkct, just fancy nothing on her but the fourth jib, rigged as a squave sail buiukined Out to starboard, on account of starboard liehn being useless. Although I was not aware of theTtulder being gone until after the gale, looking over the stern, tiller u-starboard, rudder a-midship, I thought we were in a fine fix, with neither nail nor gimlet on board; 1 particularly requested him to let me have a few assorted nails, a spike, and smaller gimlets; there I was without a remedy. Believe me I sent Mm and his generation here andhereafter far be-

yond purgatory, iiWearingr had anything1 to do with it. During the gale, frequently our decks were a solid body of water. When she would rise her bows the weight of water, square with her rabin trunk, would give you a notion she was guiug to settle down, stern first. I was frequently pooped rlurimrthcgnle; my gaiis gave way on me afterwards; the maiusaii is entirely done up, without, a thorough repair. T'e canvas you take in the reefs <is.tho best of the sail; ■what is feft to contend with the weather is as thin as paper. The whole of the rope is of no service, stoppers of no use, as it is all gone. It was a nice treat, jib about the mast, instead of mainsail, on account of rudder being gune. I made the laud of New Zealand, lewardly of Cook's Straits, on the 24th of March, after a passage of 13 days. I was on the coast, in this crippled state, pumping for dear life, until I landed on the beach in Queen Charlotte Sound, Sunday 30th March. Our watches were :—4 hours to the pump ; 4 hours to the tiller ; 4 hours below, which was 8 hours on deck; 4 below ; very often 10 to 20 on the deck. Believe m:, dear Fleet, I had neither boot, shoe, or stocking oil for the whole passage-rfro-quently no trousers, on. account of so much wet at the pumps. Sometimes wet up to the transom. Boots of no service. The leaks were in both garb>ard streaks, with very little oakum in either seam's. How we floated f doii't know. I was obliged to _ discharge every tiling on account of neap tides; had main pieco in rudder; vessel caulked ; sails repaired ; everything-all a-tauto, tight as a bottle, aud was under weigh sth April. I forwarded a statement of the passage to the Mulbery (query Marlborough) Press, thinking you might have an opportunity of seeing it. I got as far north as Bank's Peninsula. Pell in with heavy south gale of wind, veering from B.W. W. to S.E. E. Took a few days of that in company with the Lucy James, of Lyttelion. She laid-to like a little duck, under the second jib for a trysail. I sprung my bowsprit in this breeze. No signs of a shiftjof wind. Bore up under the above ,- canvas and storm jib. The I.ucy, for Wellington, in a sinking state. The pilot's crew took charge of her I at the Heads; her crew fagged out. She has been under repnirs this five weeks. There has been nothing but southern winds blowing since I have been on the coast. While laying wind-bound, my provisions getting short, I found my crew was sick of the lay, and were trying every means for employment, and to leave the vessel, so I was induced to go up the plearus after oysters, to make a rise for provisions, which proved a iailure. One of my hands joined the Peter Laing, the little vessel that induced me to go oystering." Previous to this, on the 21st April, I was out in the heaviest south gale that has been for years. Carried away the main gnu" with the sail. Lowered down on deck. A large American ship and Tyra brig both wrecked in Wellington. A vessel, supposed to be tlia Avenger, lost at" the Heads. A few of the bodies have been picked up. Dear Fleet, I often feel annoyed about the passage, but, taking all things into consideration, I cannot expect the little thing to do impossibilities. Considering the heavy south gales, and heavy losses that have been since I have been on ' the coast, I must be satisfied that I ci»n in the land of the living.