THE OSPREY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 305, 9 December 1884, Page 2

THE OSPREY.

Since the Defence Department in Wellington about three weeks ago, came across some ammunition boxes with the name “ Osprey ” on them and bearing the dates 1844, 1846, 1854, and 1856, much speculation has arisen as to whether or not this might be the identical vessel referred to by the Tichborne claimant, he alleging at the time of the trial that a ship of that name had picked him up as a castaway off the South American Coast. Throughout the trial it was said no such ship had ever visited Australia, and all efforts of the friends of the claimant to discover a ship of that name had proved abortive. This to a considerable extent, damaged the claimant’s case. The late discovery at Cook Barracks has brought to light the fact that several ships called Oxprey cruised in Australian waters in the early days. We are indebted to Captain Andrews, the Harbor master, for his courtesy in permitting us to refer to his diary of 1845, containing many interesting records, which to the future historian of New Zealand would be of much value. There are several entries in reference to H.M. Brig Osprey. Her arrival from Singapore is noted on September 13th, 1845, at the Bay of Islands, departing the following day for Auckland, having a large quantity of specie on board for the officer in command of the military forces at the time. The Osprey relumed to the Buy of Islands on the 21st of the same month. War at this time was going on, and on the 11th of October following, the Osprey left for Auckland, and was supposed to carry despatches relating to terms of peace which the Natives had refused to accept. There are various other entries relating to this vessel, which was eventually wrecked in bad weather about April 1846. On the 24t,h of that month Captain Andrews noted having heard of the loss of H.M. Brig Osprey at Haere Kino (False Hokianga). “It appears,” wroie Captain Andrews, ” that they in the first place mistook the entrance for Hokianga, and were further strengthened in that idea by seeing a red flag hoisted (the signal at Hokianga for high water). This flag was hoisted for the same reason by a Native chief, not as a signal to the Osprey, hut to any small craft that might be knocki g about. The Osprey was not aware of this, and indeed did not find out their mistake until too late to rectify the error. When she lirst struck they still thought that they were going into Hokianga, and that she would c oon slip over it.” Like a true son of Nepture, Captain Andrews deploring the )o>=b concludes his entry in these words, “It certainly is a pity (hat she is lost, for she was undoubtedly the sweetest craft I ever Raw, and, as our boatswain says, was better fitted for a glass case, than to knock about at sea.” We hope to have Captain Andrews’ permission to make other extracts from his diary, in reference to the exciting times witnessed in the Bay of Islands district in the early days of the Colony.