H. M. S. ORPHEUS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 477, 4 June 1890, Page 3

H. M. S. ORPHEUS.

VISIT TO THE WRECK. AGAIN COVERED BV SAND. LYING ON THE BEACH FOR MONIES. IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE ORPHEUS. Auckland, May 29. The popular topic of conversation in town since Tuesday has been the wreckage found at Manukau Heads, and which is believed to be that of H. M.s. Orpheus. Opinions differ naturally concerning the identity of the wreck, and there are many who profess to doubt the fact that ibis the remains of the ill-fated man-of-war. It now transpires that the wreck has been lying exposed for some months past, and it also appears that it has been visited again and again by not only settlers in the vicinity, but also by a few tourists from Auckland. Indeed, several of the former have employed their time profitably in cutting out the copper bolts, which are of good quality and have a considerable marketable value. The shifting sand has, however, again covered the wreck, which is once more almost buried out of sight, a few bolts and timbers alone sticking out of the sand to mark the spot. That this is a portion of the hull of the Orpheus there can be little doubt. VISIT TO THE WRECK.

It was stated in our account of the discovery on Monday that the wreck was purchased twenty-seven years ago by the firm of Messrs Coombes and Daldy for £IOO, and that Captain Daldy, the surviving partner, intended to take measures to conserve his rights. With this object in view Messrs W. C. Daldy (junior) and Lee left for Ocean Beach early yesterday morning, and were accompanied by a Star reporter. They journeyed to Avondale by brain and then took horses, riding in the direction of Waikomiti. Our reporter, writing of his journey, says:—

In passing, I may mention that the money voted for relief work in this district has been well spent, the road being greatly improved. Our first aim was to reach the mills at Earikari, about twenty miles distant. Quick progress could not be made along the roads ascending the ranges, but we reached our destination all right about one o’clock. The Mill Valley presents

A PRETTY PICTURE to anyone approaching it from the Auckland side. After a long ride through the bush it is quite a pleasant change to see the residence of Mr Murdoch, and the surrounding cultivations nestling in a valley close to the sea beach, The descent is, however, a somewhat tedious affair, as the road deviates in a tortuous maimer around the side of the hill, Upon reaching the flat, we found that the mill had ceased operations. Crossing Karikari Creek, we arrived upon the beach, and there before our eye 3 was the Pacific Ocean. Although there was little or no breeze, still the ocean rolle'vs, six to twelve feet high, were breaking upon the sandy strand with a dull monotonous roar, which was an earnest of what it might do when lashed to fury by the wind. In front of Karikari Valley are huge banks of sand which seem to threaten the existence of the place. Mr Murdoch, is however, waging a successful war with the pitiless invader by means of sand-binding plants, foremost among which I noticed that the buffalo grass was doing well. ON THE OCEAN BEACH.

Leaving our horses at Mr Murdoch’s, who kindly fed them, we proceeded on foot across the sand towards Ocean Beach. After going a little distance a couple of drays, appeared. Accosting the driver I was informed that the wreckage was about five miles along the beach. Pointing to some large pieces of sawn timber in’the drays he remarked, “This is part of it.’ He further informed me that about last Christmas a bed of sand shifted and dieclosed a portion of the broadside of the Orpheus, which he said was about COft in length, and 25ft in depth. Further inquiry ellicited the information that the settlers had nob unnaturally looked upon it as flotsam, and had made free with the timber. One man was said bo have obtained several hundredweight of copper bolts. Recently, however, the sandbank had put an end to these operations by again , .

COVERING UP THE/ REMNANTS of the ill-fated corvette. Thanking our informant, we started for a five mile tramp along Ocean Beach. This was by no means a picnic, as we soon discovered. If we walked close to the sea the sand was firmer, bub every now and then some big roller would cause us to run for it. Then if wo went higher up the sand was so loose that progress was verv slow After tramping what I considered ’ was close upon six miles wo discovered portion? of the wrepk. The teak seemed as spund as ever, notwithstanding that it has been imbedded all these years. I noticed that all the copper bolts had been chopped put, and no doubt in a yery shoyb time the whole of this wreckage will H removed, as the settlers prize the timber very much, A careful examination of the beach for another mile or so did not disclose any sign of the REMAINDER OF THE HULL.

It is therefore most probable that what I saw was the remnant of the wreck reported to the Commissioner. Perhaps the bottom of the Orpheus still lies near to the spot where the vessel went down, and this portion has been broken off from the side and washed ashore. At present all that remains to bo seen are several tons of square sawn timber. An examination showed that most of this evidently formed part of the hull. It is, however, just as likely that this is part of the section of the Orpheus that was washe ashore

twenty years ago. The astonishing manner in which those sandbanke shift about renders it quite feasible that the wreck should be covered for a number of years, then uncovered for a short time, and again buried out of sight. Already the tramway that was laid down along the beach from the Karikari Mills to the Manukau Heads is partially buried by the sand, which has broken down all the barriers erected to stay its progress, and is now banked up in hills over the spot where a short time ago an engine dragged trucks of timber. RETURNING HOME.

As Mr Daldy was soon satisfied thab whatever portion of the wreck had come ashore was of little use to the purchasers of the hull, we soon started back for our horses. It was necessary not to wait too long, as the bide was then coming in and there were one or two bays where it would be almost a matter of impossibility to ascend the cliffs, which are either perpendicular or overhanging, and rise to a height of from five to six hundred feet. Altogether the scenery around the resting place of the Orpheus is of a wildly grand character. For some distance out the surf from the breakers makes the water present the appearance of A SEETHING CAULDRON,

whilst in the far distance may be seen the curling crests of the ocean rollers, as they break on the outer bar near the Manukau Heads. As we reached the bay in front of the Karikari Mills we were just in time to witness the sun setting like a ball of fire away as far as eye could stretch across the ocean. We did nob, however, wait to soliloquise, but hurried up to Mr Murdoch’s house, where tea was kindly provided. A walk of twelve miles across shifting sand, with a strong, salt breeze, enabled me to do full justice to the good things provided, and at a quarter to six o’clock at night the three of us started for home. There was just sufficient moonlight to enable us to find our way, and the return journey was safely performed. Wo arrived in town at one o’clock this morning, having ridden close on 50 miles, and walked twelve more whilst the horses were feeding and resting. VALUE OF TEAK. As some people have expressed as to whether timber would last for 27 years in the water, itmay interesbour readers to learn that the wreck of the Endeavour still remains lying under water close to the shore in Dusky Bay. This vessel was scuttled in 1795, and the beak timbers in her are still quite sound after the lapse of nearly a century. Captain Fairchild, of the Hinemoa, visited this wreck in 1878. He states thab the outside planks of the Endeavour are of Indian teak, and about five inches in thickness. The Orpheus likewise was built of teak, and as it is onty 27 years since she was wrecked, no doubt her timbers will remain sound for many years to come. The schooner Halcione was built by Captain Wing, late Har-bour-master at Onehunga, out of timber recovered from the Orpheus.