WRECK OF THE MELANESIAN MISSION SCHOONER SOUTHERN CROSS.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 284, 10 July 1860, Page 2

WRECK OF THE MELANESIAN MISSION SCHOONER SOUTHERN CROSS.

[From the New Zealande-, June 27.) The Rev. B. Y. Ashwell. whose name is so well known in connexion with the mission on the Waikato, and Mr. Kerr (formerly sailing master ofher Majesty's brigantine Pandora,) called at our office Jast night, and left with ua the following account of her melancholy wreck; happily, as will be seen, unaccompanied with any loss of life, and with come of the moveable property saved. The vessel lies bedded in soft sand. Captain Grange remains at Ngungum. Sir, —The following particulars respecting the wreck of the Melanesian Mission Schooner Southern Cross, may be interesting. On April 28th wo left Auckland for the Melanesian Islands, and after a most prosperous and interesting voyage, we made the: Three Kings on June 13th. After an easterly gale of four days duration, we again made the land, Sunday, June 17, with a northerly wind and passed Cape Brett. At 4-50 p.m. we sighted the Poor Knights: having passed close to leeward of them, hauled up to S.E., in order to pass eastward of the Hen and Chickens. About this time the wind backed to the N.E, and increased to a gale, with very thick weather and rain. At 10 p.m. we were surprised by the report of land on the lee bow. By press of sail we were providentially enabled to weather a small islet, which from the course we made, we supposed to be the eastern Chicken. We now stood on S.E. by S., intending, when half way to Cape Rodney, to wear, and stand to the northward, having the harbour of Wangarei under our lee, the wind now blowing a violent gale. At 1, a.m., land was seen on the lee bow, about Patawa river. We wore to the northward, the wind shifting S.E., blowing with redoubled violence soon after we were round. In about half an hour we again saw land on the lee bow —the south head of Ngunguru Bay. Standing on, we made the islet we had seen at 10 p.m. The weather being so thick the hills were not visible. Finding we could not weather that, islet, the helm was put up to pass to leeward; having again lost sight of the land, thinking we had accomplished our purpose, the ship's head was brought up to North ; we then took the round on what appeared happily to be a spot somewhat sheltered from the full voilence of the sea, the range of our vision being the end of the breakers. Imagining deep water to be beyond them, and with the rising tide, the ship being gradually brought nearer, we were alarmed lest we should be carried right over, and founder in the deep waters beyond; for in less than half-an hour, the- surf had completely filled the ship and we were all obliged to tuke to the rigging—the masts,, most Providentially, not having been cut away-, although repeated attempts had been made to do so. The boats were soon washed away, and with them our last hopes of getting to the shore—and from 2 a.m. till daylight, we remained at the mast heads in the most dreadful suspeuce; as clay dawned we discovered we were in a bay,, and neav the high water of its low sandy shore, which the darknes of the gale prevented our seeing. We were also gladdened by the sight of European's houses. By nine o'clock the tide had, so far left us, that we were enabled to get a line to the shore, and, through the mercy of God, (after seven hours in the rigging), we were All drawn through the surf safely to land. We received a hearty welcome—every kindness and assistance ftoin Captain Stewart, and his guests, and the Europeans at Ngunguru. The gale had now somewhat moderated. We would beg to call attention to the following remarkable chain of Providences, in answer to prayer; any one link being wanting, all must have perished. Whilstall was being done on deck that msn could do to keep us from a lee shore I called my Native teacher Taniora into the cabin and we engaged in My prayer'was that" as our blessed Saviour had manifesed His power in saving his disciples from Bhipwreck in the Sea of Galilee, His hand waa not shortened that it could not save, or His ear deaf that He would not ear; that it would now please Him to appear in our behalf, and save the lives of all in the

vessel.Now mark the answer. Ist if the wind had noj shifted to the S.E. we should all have been on the rocky beach to the N. of l^atawa. 2nd, when the seas were making a clean breach over the deck, had. the masts not been standing to fly to, nothing could have saved us. The reason why the masts were not cut away was, that the captain, having for some cause laid down the axe, it was not again to be found. Further, when the captain and mate, with knives in their hands, were about to cut the lanyards, some unaccountable feeling prevented them, which no doubt was the finger of God in answer to prayer. 3rdly, If we had grounded a quarter of a mile further northward, we should have been on the rocks of the Ngunguru Biver. In conclusion, we would earnestly beg the attention of your readers to the fact that our gracious God manifests a special providence in answer to prayer. It is not in vain to trust in Hin. We also trust that the great loss to the Melanesian mission of this splendid little vessel, will be speedily made up by the liberal contributions of the friends of Missions, which we now solicit through your columns, the vessel not being insured. By this trip we have had the privilege of witnessing the great work of evangelization in the Islands, and the formation of a new station at Amouta, one of the Banks Islands, by Rev. J. C. Patteson. We also know the dangers iucurred by our truly missionary Bishop in his great work —not only in stormy seas,- but from exposing his life to the fierce passions of savage cannibals. We remain, yours, &&. B. Y. Ashweli, Thos. Kerb. Auckland, June 22,1860, The barque Constantine, Captain Wrangles, from London, arrived in harbour last night after a protracted voyage of 133 days. She left London on the Bfch February, and made the Line in the short space of 26 days. She rounded the Cape on the 4th April, was off Van Diemen's Land on the 27th Msy,.aud sighted New Zealand on the 6th June, after which she encountered a succession of gales from S.E., amounting at times to a perfect hurricane, carrying away bulwarks and stanchions, smashing skylights and boats, and splitting all the sails. Sighted land again on tho 20th June at 7 a.m., and passed Kapiti yesterday at daylight. A good breeze springing up she rounded Cape Terawiti, got pilot on board at two, p.m., and dropped anchor at 930 p.m. She brings 11 saloon passengers, 1 second cabin, and 11 steerage: of these 11 are for Wellington, 7 for Nelson, and 5 for Hawke's Bay The Constantine brings a large general cargo, of which wines and beer form a large proportion, bhe also brings the boiler for the little Wonga Wonga. The voyage was extremely pleasant as far as the Cape. No sickness has occurred, no deaths and one birth. The passengers speak in high terms of the urbanity and kindness of the captain and officers, and the comfort of the ship generally.— Wellington Spectator, June 23.