WRECK OF THE TIME AND TRUTH.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 17, 6 January 1863, Page 2

WRECK OF THE TIME AND TRUTH.

"We have received from an authentic source the following particulars of the wreck of the Time and Truth:— She left Williams. town with a cargo of 2613 sheep, and two passengers, on the morning of December 25. and had a remarkably quick run of 9 days from Port Phillip heads to the entrance of the Bluff, off which she arrived ou the morning of the 4th inst., at 2. 30. a.m. The ship was rounded to in the usual manner to wait for tide, the wind about "W. by S., which gradually increased to a heavy gale. The position of the ship S.W. by W. At 5.40, Captain Slater wore ship and stood in for pilot, ns it was slack water at 6. The ship was then well within sight of the signal station, the weather, though stormy, being perfectly clear ; up to 6 a.m. no answer was made from the station, where it was supposed a look-out man would boon the alert at daybreak, neither was their any sign of the pilot coming off. At last, n.t a quarter past six, the ship being now off Starling Point, the Pilot Station, that functionary was seen approaching. About 10 minutes elapsed between his departure and arrival on boardBefore, however, the anchor was let go, the ship touched a detached rock off the Point, the Pilot then being hi the act of boarding. She was soon off again, and it was hoped the mischief done was trifling, but half an hour had hardly elapsed when it was found she was making water rapidly. The ship being now at anchor, (7 a.m.) Captain Slater hastened on shore for assistance. Every hour that went by showed the position of the ship to be getting rapidly worse. Captain Thompson, the harbor master, -was quickly on board with upwards of twenty men to assist, and the Aphrasia steamer afterwards came alongside, when strenuous exertions were made to save as much as possible. It was also attempted to tow the ship into another position, where she could be safely grounded. It was all this time blowing in terrific squalls, making the Time and Truth heel over very much, and greatly impeding the exertions of all. At 10 a.m., the sheep in the lower hold were past saving, and by 12, it was evident to those ou board the Time

and Truth that if they wished to save themselves they must be quick about it. All got safely on -board, except one person who was afterwards taken off. By this time the Ava er had covered the decks, and by 1 p.m., she had flunk in a little less than 5 fathoms. At present (Sunday) it is anticipated she will speedily bieak up. 450 sheep were saved, which were landed from the Aphrasia during the night, when the weather had moderated. We have since heard that the main and mizen masts had gone over, and that the ship was rapidly breaking up.