THE SCHOONER JOHN BULLOCK.

West Coast Times, Issue 53, 5 October 1865, Page 2

THE SCHOONER JOHN BULLOCK.

A considerable amount of interest having been displayed by the publio in tho fato of vessels whoso arrival had been long delayotl, induced us in a former issuo, on the arrival of tho Lloyds' Herald, to givo a brief epitomo of the events which caused her passage to be so protracted ; and as during tho past week another of the lost sheep arrived, only, wo are sorry to say, to meet an untimely end on tho spit, wo believe that a short account of her wanderings may not be tin acceptable to our rendors. By tho courtesy of Captain Tongo wo havo been pormitted to make extracts from hor log-book, whioh we shall endeavour to rendor ns readablo as possible. Tho John Bullock, a fino three-masted pohoonor, was built at Stewart's Island and launched only somo twelve months ago, and lias ir.ndo two voyages to Hokitika, tho first of which was' a profitable ono to her ownors, sho being just twenty-nine days from tho timo she left Port Chalmers until sho returned there again. Her second voyage commenced on May 19th, on which day sho left Port Chalmers and cleared tho Heads with a fine south-west wind that carried hor by noon the next day to the northern part of Bank's Peninsula; but on tho morning of the 22nd, sho being thon off Queen Charlotte's Island, it coming on to blow from tho west, sho . boro up and camo to an anchor under Long Island. Sho laid thero two days waiting for a ohange, and on tho 24th weighed and stood to sea. From this date Up to tho 30th, W. and S.W. winds prevailing, sho found herself under Capo Farewell, which thon boro S.E., distant 30 miles. Tho next day she experienced a heavy blow from tho north, which compelled her to heave to ; but it moderating the samo afternoon, she stood to tho south until Mount Cook boro S.S.E., distant 20 miles. On June 3rd, Hokitika boro E.N.E., 15 miles off, and light easterly winds prevailing sli9 could not work up, and until tho 11th was beating about, standing off and on the shore, sometimes experiencing fino weather, at others the reverse. On that day, however, sho managed to reach the roadstead, but the schooner Mount Alexander reporting thoro was only seven feet water on the bar, sho woul.l not attempt it, but remained at anchor until tho next day, when, it coming on to blow from the westward, sho stood out to sea, returning tho day after to find nine feet water on tho bar ; she, however, stood oloso in, and had tho satisfaction of seeing a ketch go on shore, which induced her to rathor try tho open sea instead. Until tlio 15th sho was standing off nnd on, experiencing fino weather in tho interim ; sho then came to anchor some distance, from tho shore, the day after whioh sho weighed and stood in, but not boing ablo to fetch the entrance iv timo for lido, she ngain stood to Boa, returning to tho anchorage on tho 18th, when she boarded tho steamer Ruby, and got a small cask of water from her, and as thero seemed a ohanco of getting into tho rivor, she obtained the services of a pilot. Tho Ruby attempted the entrance first and came to grief on the spit, and this deterred Captain Tongo from following her, as he -bad heard there was only nine feet water, which he considered too littlo for tho John Bullock. He remained at his anchor until tho 22nd, and no ohanco in tho mean time presenting itself by which ho might have got insido, and tbo weather suddenly changiug, he deemed it advisablo to once moro stand out to sea. During tho ensuing sixteen days tho John Bullock was beating about tho coast and encountered a succession of westerly gales and light variablo winds ; hor crew during this period had to twice break into hor cargo for provisions, and on July Oth, being then off Capo Faiowll, Fome of tho deck fillings had to or; broken up for fuel. Up to tlio 17th li;h(. !>afiling winds prcvailod, when sho ngain found hut self off llokiMkii, and nnmo (o an anchor six inilo.s fiom tho bhoroj but hearing frmi tho >ohooner Jcanio JXno there was only ton fob water (( Iho bar b!h\ n/min Mood lo tsaa, but liimo in i;giin on tlio 21st to fee if ihovc win a f'hnwjo for tho het'o. 1 , mid ano'.orwl. The ntnlo of nubtord now waa wor.o thai* boforo, thon

being only eight feet instead of twelve, which depth her captain considered necessary for h vessel of hor burthen and di might. Preferring open water to our uncomfortable roadstead, sho again made sail and remained outside until the 29th, and on returning sho found nil tho vessels that wore thero on hor last visit still at anchor, and feeling inclined for a littlo rest sho brought up amongst them. Ones moro, contributions had to bo levied on the cargo for food and light, their koroseno having given out, the Lady Darling supplying them with a bag of coal for fuel. July 31st, saw the wholo fleet stand in for the bar, but two out of their number coming to grief in their attempt to cross, the rest hauled off and anchored again. The heavy galo of July 31st and August Ist now broke upon them, which the John Bullock rodo out all night, but a heavy sen, breaking on board, and starting tho dook cargo, sho slipped and stood out to sea, loaving behind hor sixty fathoms of chain and an anchor. Up to the 10th the weathor continued most inoloment, and, on that day she shipped a heavy sea which stovo in boats and bulwarks, and again shifted her deck load ; this obourronco induced Cap'ain Tonge to bear up for Kelson, which port he safely reached August 19th. Of tho events of tho succeeding month we havo no record, save that the John Bullook was oradled and her bottom cleaned, and suflioient timo taken to repair damages, and render her once moro fit for another attempt. Wo know she was off Hokitika, a considerable time before sho made her last/thd fatal attempt to enter on tho 29th ultiip6, for wo had several days previously noticcd^her at anchor outbido, and no one regrets more than ourselves tho disastrous termination to her long and wearying passage. Quito sure aro we that no means wore left untried to bring her safely in and preserve her cargo, for frequent entries in her log show what care vas taken to keep it in good condition, by opening hatches for tho admission of air, &o. ; and tlio excellent condition in which that cargo was landed must bo a convincing proof of tho good qualities of tho John Bullock as a sea boat, and tho skill of her commander. We trust that these instances of tho loss occurring to owners and consignees, through tho fearful obstruction offered by this bar to the ontrance of vessels, will not be disregarded by our paternal friends at Christchurch. Hero wo havo any number of conches without wheels monthly lost and detained through the want of a highway into our river, and yet hod tho slightest inclination is shown by tho authorities to improvo such a disgraceful state of things. Thoy, however, with no inducement to do so savo their own inordinate selfishness and unjust rapacity, do not hesitato to expend immense sums (which they themselves possess not) in constructing a road (for which' coaches will havo to be provided) one-half of tho amount of time and money which is necessary for its completion, being moro than sufficient to so improve our bar as to render tho entiauco of vessels for tho futuro comparatively easy. We have sung tho song of tho bar many three, and our Canterbury friends (?) may be sure that wo shall nevor miss an opportunity of repeating it until our just demands are complied with.