THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1861.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 424, 15 November 1861, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1861.

The following letter upon an occurrence at the Port of Nelson a short time since, shows the eagerness with which the injudicious or hasty chroniclingofsuchmattersmaybeseized upon by the press of another colony to swell a list of disasters against Nevy Zealand. The

Auckland press, a short time since had to complain of one journal having distorted into large dimensions and false importance a maritime casualty there, in itself simple enough when divested of such exaggerated facts or false additions. The letter is taken from the Sydney Morning Herald, October 22nd. To the Editor of the Herald* Sir—ln the shipping news of your to-day's issue is an extract from the Nelson Examiner, describing a narrow escape of the Lord Ashley, in which it is insidiously implied that the danger was attributable to or aggravated by the vessel's defective machinery. The facts are these. The Lord Ashley arrived in Blind Bay on the Ist, and came to anchor (with the pilot on board) about eight a.m. Being too late to save the tide, the Pilot gave instructions that the engines would not be required till five p.m.; consequently the steam was blown off, and the fires all but quenched. About 9-30 the wind, which was blowing fresh when we Brought up, had increased to a violent gale,1 and seas were breaking over the vessel. At this period the Pilot ordered steam, and a quarter of an hour later the cable parted. * Full speed ahead!' ejaculated the Pilot. But the engines obeyed not. And why ? Because they were defective? No. Simply; because steam, was not up; because it had not been ordered early enough. This is the secret of the defective machinery. As soon as seven pounds of steam were obtained the engines started, and as thejpressure increased, behaved admirably j inasmuch as they saved the ship and the lives of those in her. About three minutes expired between the parting of the cable and the engines being set in motion; bo that steam was obtained in less than twenty minutes after being ordered. The punctuality with which the Lord Ashley performs her trips is a sufficient refutation "of the charge of defective machinery. By inserting the above you will oblige, Yours respectfully, Edward Wheeler, Master, I.R.M.S.S. Lord Ashley, 21st October. The following is the paragraph alluded to by Captain Wheeler :•— Narrow Escape of the Lord Ashley.—-On Tuesday, October 1, on the arrival of the steamer Lord Ashley with the mails from Sydney, the Pilot, Mr. Cross, found it necessary to anchor the vessel for a few hours without the bar, as the tide had too far ebbed to allow her to enter the harbor until the next flood. A strong wind was blowing at the time from the N.W., which rapidly increased to a gale, and, although the vessel was anchored beyond the usual anchoring place, and had sixty fathoms of chain given her, she pitched so heavily that the Pilot ordered steam to be got up to ease the strain upon her chain. From some cause her engines, which are said to bo rather defective, could not be got to work, and it was found impossible to blow off the water from the cylinder Meanwhile, the steamer parted her chain at abou fifteen fathoms from the anchor, and drifted broadside towards the bar, with the sea breaking over her fore and, aft. Considerable anxiety was now felt iby all on board for the safety of the vessel, but the engines were fortunately got in motion in sufficient time to prevent hergoingon thebar, though it was not without difficulty that she was steered clear out of danger, a 9 she had to drag with her forty-five fathoms of chain.— Nelson Examiner, October 12th. ;