PORT OF WELLINGTON.

Southland Times, Issue 625, 30 January 1867, Page 2

PORT OF WELLINGTON.

SAILED. Jan 29, 2 p.m. — Ruahine, ss, for Sydney. Jan 29, 3.30 p.m. — Lady Bird, ss, for Wanganui. ♦■ The WUliam Miskin left Dunedin on the 22nd inst. j- encountered strong S.W. winds, which compelled her to anchor under the Nuggets. A.rived at the Bluff at 2 p.m. on the 24th inst. Shipped 15 tons cargo for Hokitika. and sailed with a strong easterly wind at 6 p.m. same day. Wreck oe the Government Steameh Pioneer, at Manuka-". — The Southern Cross, of the 26th ult., gives the following account of the wreck of the Colonial Government steamer Pioneer : — " The Pioneer, it appears, was moored at Port Waikato, on the 3rd of November, by Captain Fernandez, for the purpose of having her stern wheel displaced, and being fitted with the side wheels and engines of the Sturt. On the night of the 23rd inst., her moorings were examined by Mr Lodder, engineer and manager of the Waikato Steam Transport Service, at two a.m. and four a.m., and both anchors were found safeShortly afterwards, one of the workmen informed him that the Pioneer had drifted away, and was on the bar. Mr Lodder, finding this to be the case, at once called upon Captain Breton to assist him, as he had not a boat which was capable of taking the bar. The request was immediately compHed with ; but owing to the bar being too heavy, the party in the boat could not leave until about seven o'clock a.m., and by that hour the Pioneer had drifted seven miles out to sea. Two boats were manned; Captain Breton tiki-'g charge of one, and Mr Todder of the other. The Pioneer was overtaken at about ten a.m., when she was found to have made a good deal of water. An attempt was ttien made to work her, and steam was got up with the view of returning to Port Waikato, but it began to blow from the south-west and a heavy sea was met with. As the anchors could not be cleared, it was found necessary to slip both, and, left thus to the mercy o<* the waves, she graduaUy drifted towards the Manakau Heads. The heavy seas, which appeared to increase in power, carried away the stern whfel and almost fined her with water, when the order was given to desert her, and it was with the greatest difficulty the crew and officers saved their Uves. A landing was happily effected near Awhitu. and an attempt was to be made to reach Port Waikato via Waiku. The desertion of the vessel had to be offected so suddenly that the party only landed in their trousers and shirts. Shortly after the party reached the shore, and whilst resting from their laborious exertions, the Pioneer appeared suddenly to spUt in the middle, and sank out of sight. Her stern post could afterwards be seen at low water as she lay on the middle bank, opposite the pUot station, Paratutai. Weeck oe the barque Cambodia, on the MANTTKtTA Bar. — We are enabled to state the circumstances attending the loss of the British barque Cambodia on the Manukau, briefly alluded to in our last issue. The vessel's name was then unknown, and she was beUeved to be cattle laden from New South Wales. We now find, however, that, she was from Bombay, bound to the islands for guano, and was a large Sunder-land-buUt barque of 811 tons register, hailing from Topsbam, Devonshire. Her last trip was from Cardiff to Bombay, laden with patent fuel ; after discharging which she left for the Guano Islands to load for Cork or Falmouth, intending to caU at Plymouth for orders. She had some 400 tons of baUast on board, and left Bombay in October last. FalUng short of provisions, owing to the protracted passage, caused by Ught winds and calms, Captain Cratt proposed putting into Auckland for provisions." Having only a general chart on a smaU scale, he experienced some difficulty in making out the route, and on sighting land, at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, was some forty or fifty miles off the Manukau Heads, bearing N.E. The vessel. was then scudding before the wind, which was from the southward and eastward, and had all sail set, with a moderate breeze. The captain gave orders for the vessel to

be steered east-half-north, and shortened sail. When about ten miles off the land a signal was observed from the pUot station, but was perfectly unintelligible to the captain of the vessel; and after every effort to ascertain its meaning Captain Croft continued its course until the vessel reached ten fathoms of water This was about eight a.m. on Tuesday. The vessel was then put about with a view of waiting tor a pilot to come off to her, Captain Crott very naturally feeling a'raid to run into a port with , which ho was unacquainted, and respecting whi-h liis chart afforded only very meagre informat ion. It was Ids intention to *tand off and on until assistance came, but when an attempt, was made to stay the vessel she missed stays and would not tomo round. The captain then rd.-red her to bo wore round and braced sharp up. The vessel then lay to the westward, and breakers on her lee, aud finding she would int weather them the order was given to tack, ihe vessel failed to answer, and would not- come to the wind, when it was discovered that there was not room to wear her again. A few minutes afterw.rJs she struck on the sand bank, and the anchor was at once let go. When fought round by the anchor, the stern struck on the bank, and the vessel bumped heavily Had the captain been able to read the signals, he would have taken the south channel earlier, and so have avoided the disastrous consequences which ensued. During this time the signals intimated that the vessel was steering too much a-star-given to cut away the- : mamm&-tf rd s.~l™ s view of Ughtening the ship, and to prevent her bumping and straining so heavily with the rough sea on the bar. The mizentop and top-gallant yards went over the side with the mainmast. Everything was started, and the decks were lifted as the vessel bumped on the bar. She then dragged her anchor over the shoal and drifted in, the sea making a clean breach over her. The water in her hold was rising above the baUast, when the order was given to launch the the pinnace and long-boat, and the ship's dapers and a few other valuables having been secured, tne crew, numbering twentyone, deserted the vessel in company with the captain and officers about mid-day on Tuesday Alter proceeding some distance the boats were met by the Uttle s.s. Halcyon, which had put off with Captain Wing, the pttot, to the assistance of the vessel. Captain Crolt was taken on board and the crew camejpp to Onehunga. In the evening the Aalcyon went down to the vessel, and succeeded in towing her out of her perttous position to a place of safety inside the Huia She vas towed aground, full of water, and when left the tide was flowing over her. Captain Wing, and Mr Brewer, of H.M. Customs, went down to visit the wreck yesterday, but had not returned up to a late hour last evening. It is not expected she wttl float again. The Cambodia is a 13-year ship off the letter, and re-classed for nine years. Her owners are John - Holman and Sons, of Topsham. She is insured in the Western Clubs for £7000. — Southern Cross, Dec. 27.