WRECK OF THE BRIG OUR HOPE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 235, 1 August 1872, Page 5

WRECK OF THE BRIG OUR HOPE.

This brig has again been exposed to danger and disaster. For some time she has been lying in the Roads discharging her cargo of girders for the Waitaki Bridge. Early on the morning of yesterday, being exposed to a strong north-east wind, and having parted her chain at 9 a.m., she let go her second anchor with 90 fathoms of chain. Sh<j still kept dngging until balf-past 3, when the struck heavily twice, and nearly unshipped the rudder. The captain concluded to set the for^topsail and to go on shore. At ten o'clock the Harbor Master, Captain Sewell, signalled for her to proceed to sea, but this she was unable to do. At the same time there was a sehoonf r— the Janet Ramsay, laden with timber — lying in a critical position should Our Hope continue to drift. She observed the signal and put to sea. A large number of the citizens were gathered together at the signal staff in momentary expectatiaa of seeing her drift helplessly on shore. The danger seemed so imminent that the signal for .he Rocket Brigade was hoisted at 1 o'clock. Our Hope continued to hold on i however, till nearly three o'clock, making no attempt to go seawards — the swell being too great, aud the wind contrary. After this signals were hung out for her to run on shore ; but these also she disregarded, or the captain of the brig deemed it more prudent to continue by his anchor. Towards four o'clock the brig hoisted colors signifying her intention of coming on shore. The Rocket Brigade, having everything in readiness, proceeded to thi spot at which she was likely to come. Having made everything in working order, the Brig ide, Capt. Sewell commanding, arranged for the tiring of a rocket with a line attached. This was effected with precision and success at half past 4— when, after the usual process of fixing the ropes, etc. , those on board were safely landed on the rocks near to the tramway leadiug to the breakwater now in course of constructisn. The first wiio was conveyed along tne line was a boy, and his transit was effected c>mfortably and quickly. The next was a female, her passage was not so cleverly done ; but why it was so did not clearly appear. By this time it was getting dark, but one by one of the ere . were safely go' a-ihore, and the brig was left to her fate till morning — a fate all to certain of becoming a total wreck. It seemed to be the opinion of a few gathered to witness the exciting scene, that it would have been better had Captain Payne ran the brig ashore when there was high water, instead of waiting until ebb tide The crew consisted of the oaptain and mate, six able seamen, one ordinary, cook and steward and a boy. We understand that the brig is insured in the South Australian Insurance Compauy for LI2OO. The cargo is insured for L4OOO in the New Zealand Insurance Company. — Oaiuaru Times.

July 24. The s.s. Alhambra, from Melbourne via the Bluff, arrived at 1 p.m. to-day, towing the s.s. Tararua from the lower harbor to the Port. Strong easterly winds and heavy head seas were experienced from the Bluff. The barque Hydra, bound hence with coal from Newcastle, was spoken 25 miles west of West Cape, at 3 p.m. on the 20th. The s.s. T rarua, for Melbourne via the Bluff, sailed last evening, and passing down the harbor, whilst approaching Hobart Town Point, was struck with a heavy squall, and in order to avoid a collision with the s.s. Kangatira, that had anchored inside uutil the north-easterly gale had moderated, the Tararua had to turn astern. The channel being here narrow, her stern post came into contact with the bank, aud injury to the rudder resulted. The Tararua was then anchored, and at 1 p.m. to-day was towed back to Port Chalmers by the s.s. Alhambra for examination and repairs. This towing bick was, however, not accomplished -without some difficulty, and occupied a considerable time, as the head sails of the Tararua had to be used in steering, the steamer at times sheering from one side of the channel to the other, clearly shewing that however slight injury the rudder may have sustained, repairs were necessary before proceeding on her voyage.

July 25. The s.s. Tararua was last evening lightened aft so as to permit the rudder being unshipped. This done, it was found that the[rudder was slightly twiated|from the head to the upper piutal, and tbe lower pintal had been broken off. The straightening and repairs are expected to be completed to-mor-row, no other damage having beeu sustained. The s.g. Storm Bird sailed at 10 o'clock last night for Invercargill. 'Jhe s.s. Wellington sailed for Northern Ports at 1 a.m. to-day.

July 26. The screw steamer Waipara arrived from Greyraouth at 5 p.m. yesterday, and passed up to Dunedin. The p. s. Geelong arrived from Oamaru at 3 a.m. today. The windbound coasters Spec, Trusty, Cora, Dagmar, Defiance, and Janet Ramsay for Northern Ports, sailed to-day with a favorable breeze. The rudder of the s.s. Tararua having been repaired, was re-shipped this forenoon. The Tararua is expected to sail for Melbourne via the Bluff this evening. The s.s. Maori, for Lyttelton via intermediate ports, and the 5.3. Alhambra, for northern ports, sailed yesterday afternoon at 4.15. The s.B. Tararua, for Melbourne via .the Bluff, sailed at 1 this morning. The schooners Crest of the,, Wave and Pioneer, and the ketch Eliza M'Phee, arrived from the Coast this morning, and passed up to Dunedin. ,

July 27. • ' ' The s.s. Pretty Jane sailed for the Molyneux at p.m. yesterday. The s.s. Taranaki arrived from Northern Ports last evening. Thep.e, Geelongwent outside the Heads this morning in quest of the "barque Hydra, from Newcastle. No vessel being in sight, she returned to port. The Hydra is now hourly expected. 1 A correspondent of -the Evening Post, who proceeded to Auckland by the Nevada, gives us an insight into the cause of the mysterious delay that occurred upon the passage. He writes : — "On the Sunday night a severe gale was encountered, during which one of the steam-pipes of the vessel burst, and it was with the greatest difficulty that Bteam could be kept up to keep the vessel's nose to the sea. In this state she literally drifted about for three days, during one of the strongest gales, according 'to old seafaring men, that has been known for some years. One of her life boats was stove in ; the wood-

work' covering ' one of her paddle-wheels smashed, and a great amount of other damage done. When the gale abated, some temporary repairs to the steam-pipe were etfeeted, and the Captain and officers then cooly informed the passengers that if the pipe had broken off entirely there would have been vo hope for us. The Captain's ignorance of che coast added greatly to our danger, for he had no idea as to where we were, and when the gale was over, was all day looking for land. lam to : d by Captain Holmes and others that Captain Blethen might have founcl shelter if he had known anything of the coast." An inquiry into the late wreck of the brig Our Hope, was held in the Custom House, j Oamaru, on Monday, before Messrs J. Allan and A. 11. Maude, J.P.'s. The following witnesses were examined : — John Eaton Payne, master ; William Sewell, harbor master ; and Captain Gorm, supercargo. The following r ,-port was agreed to, and concurred in by Herman Jacobus Bouman, Nautical Assessor :—": — " The brig Our Hope was stranded on the 18th July, on the rocks near the lan ling place. That the loss or damage appears to have been caused 5 by stress of weather and heavy seas ; that the nature of the loss <r damage was total loss ; that the vessel was supposed to be insured for an unknown sum. That the Our Hope is brig rigged, hei port of registry Melbourne, registered 236.66*. That no lives were lost through the wreck, and we the undersigned J.P.s further state our opinion to be as follows : — That the loss of the brig Our Hope was occasioned by stress of weather and heavy seas, and that the captain and officers exerted themselves to the utmost to save the vessel, and when all hopes of saving became lost the vessel was beached in order to save life aud property, and in onr opinion no blame attaches to either captain or officers."