WRECK OF THE SCHOONER MARIA, AND ENTRANCE OF THIRTEEN VESSELS.

West Coast Times, Issue 54, 7 October 1865, Page 2

WRECK OF THE SCHOONER MARIA, AND ENTRANCE OF THIRTEEN VESSELS.

It is seldom wo have so favorable a bar for the entrance or exit of vessels as the one of yesterday,. and the weather also- was everything thut could bo desired by shipmasters who had due regard for their professional repution and tho safety of their respective charges. The channel, from its appearance, warranted tho belief that there was any^ amount of water, and being now at right angles with tho shore, instead of running in its former tortuous course, wo could perceive at a glance that now was the time for the large fleet, to be seen anchored in tho roadstead, to enter, if they did not wish to miss an opportunity that seldom presents itself. The morning, which up to eight o'clock had been rainy and inclement, towards tide time cleared up beautifully fine, which induced a very considerable number of " sensation" seekers to assemble on the spit, to witness the entrance, or wreck, as tho caso might be, of the many craft to bo seen under weigh, and who were evidently preparing themselves for tho struggle before them. Amongst this crowd a very largo number of new arrivals wore to be seen: they wero easily distinguishable by tho intense interest they displayed in everything- around them, and the extraordinary manner in which they disported themselves upon every available object for sitting or* climbing. The movcablo beacons had their load to bear, and the shrouds of the flagstaff were fairly covered with these gentlemen, who stoutly resisted any attempt of the signal-man to displace them. A scampering match occasionally took place amongst the dense crowd standing on the point of tho spit, for every now and then the sea, as if to forbid encroachment on its b'muds, sent up an unusually heavy roller, that washed right over tho spit, splushing and dashing amongst thoir legs, filling boots, and playing antics amusing to witness, and many a gravelooking gentleman might have been seen vigorously doing a " pas seul " to keep the salt water out of his Wellingtons, and in most instances without the desired result. In fact, a spectator at somo littlo distance might several times that morning have imagined the spit to be covered with a crowd of dancing dervishes. About half-past nine the schooners Wild Wave, Julia, and Quiver dashed into tho break and safely entered, none of thorn, so far as we could see, touching ; and this was considered as a good omen of success for tho others, and every eye was strained seawards with looks of intense interest, as vessel after vessel made sail and steered landwards. • Tho schooner Mary Van Every was the next to try her luck, closely followed by tho Star and Caledonia ; she had safely crossed, and was heading for tho river, when tho breeze fell uway and the freshet catching her forced her over towards tho south spit ; she rocovered herself, however,, and made for the south channel, but being a little too far to the F.outh sho stuck, and for a fow minutes blocked up tho passage. Tho position of the Star now became critical in the extreme, for she was so close that a collision seemed inevitable, and her captain evidently fearing there was no room to pass, dropped the peak of his mainsail, and kept away as if to go out again. This would havo been a fatal mistake, and in all probability havo resulted in her Avreck v ; and so, apparently, thought all on shoro, for they immediately begun to shout and gesticulate for her to keep on and pass tho other to the northward, This had tho desired effect, for he hauled to tho wind and got into the river without mishap. In tho mean timo tho Mary Van IS very had moved considerably, every B.!a Bonding her in the desired direction, and wo had the gratification of sooiii"- her safely enter; the Caledonia also getting in unscathod. Tho Isabella atul'tho Sanglior were tho next in turn, and both made a good entranoo; tho latter, howover; hung onco or twico when in tho fair way that runs through tho worth spit. Now occurred one of tho most, narrow escapes and extraordinary pieces of good luck that wo evorwitiu'Hjivl. Tho JOxot'lsior, a dandy-

looking schooner, had, like the rest got safely ovor tho bar, lut on getting abreast uf tho Titania tho wind almost entirely died away, and she beci»me unmanageable ; and tins current from the river catching her on tho port bow slued her completely round with her head to seaward, threatening to send her on the south spit close to the wreck of the steamer. All was confusion on board, down came her head sails, and it was very evident that she had taken complete charge of herself, and every instant we expected to see her take the ground, and add one more name to tho already long list of vessels who have departed this life on our treacherous sands. But the very cause of so many shipping disasters — the sea itself — came to her aid, for roller after roller swept by her, carrying hor with thorn towards the river ; and tho captain discovering consumate seamanship in handling his craft, she fairly wont stern first from the south spit through tho channel safely into tho river. Groat was tho gratification at her wonderful deliverance, which was strange as it was unexpected. A smart looking brigantine, under every stitch 'of canvas, was now seen to head for the dreaded entrance, aud on hor nearer approach we had no difficulty in recognising tho Susannah Booth of Sydney, and. she being by far tho largest vessel that had made the attempt, some anxiety was felt for her on that account. Sho, however, was moro favoured than her predecessors, for tho wind- which had beon for somo timo very light now freshened up and blow steadily right across the spit. ' On sho came beautifully, ovory stitch of canvas drawing like a cart horse, and under tho skilful pilotage of Captain Clulow, whoso voice wo could distinctly hear on shore, directing the man at tho wheel, sho sailed into tho river in splendid stylo Pat tho Rover, a clipper schooner, and tho Dispatch, followed tho brigantine, and, like her, got in without let or hindrance. Wo now ventured to indulge in the hope that as all the fleet, save one, liad managed to escape, tho last would surely be attended by fcho like goxl fortune, but in this wo were sadly disappointed, and again it is our painful duty to make known to tho world another disaster to shipping on the Hokitika spit. Tho Maria, a largo three masted schooner, who has been for many days lying in the offing waiting for a chanco to get inside, had been seen under sail for nearly an hour, evidently waiting for some of the vest to take the channel, and thus pilot her in. She should have entered immediately after the Caledonia, but seeing the position of tho Star, and that there seemed a probability that the channel would be blocked, hauled her wind and stood out to sea again. She, however, seeming to take fresh heart on seeing tho success" of the Susannah Booth, once more bore up, and ,this timo seemed determined to go through with tho undertaking. She, (however, was. fated not to succeed ; sho never even fairly crossed the bar, for the current catching her just as she arrived at the point of the south spit slued her head to tho north, and in spite of her head sails being hauled over and every effort of her crew, she refused to face it, and very soon showed her whole broadside to tho bar and headed across for the beach. Her captain now did that which we think was the only course left open for him : he tried to bring his vessel to the wind and get outsido again, but here tho break opposed him, offering as great an impediment to his exit as the " freshet" had to his entrance, and tho result was that tho unfortunate Maria was cast ashore, just about tho spot where the Sampson came to grief; and after turning round upon her heel, finally laid broadside on to the bench, a helpless wreck. Many were tho remarks made on tho cause of this disaster. Somo blamed the signal-man, which individual wo certainly think was attentive to his duty, and did not deserve such censure. However, tho usual official enquiry will doubtless bo made, and then tho blame, if anybody deserve it, will fall on tho right shoulders. Thus ended disastrously what might othorwiso havo beon an auspicious morning for Hokitika. Our stocks wero not too heavy, and of lato tho bar has beon in a wretched state, certainly not fit for sailing vessels to attempt, and tho utmost anxiety was felt for the many ships that wore lying outsido with heavy freights on board for this port. Twclvo vessels had, boforo tho Maria, succeeded in passing the Rubicon ; but sho, tho unlucky thirteenth, was mado scape-goat for tho rost, and paid the penalty with hor lifo. As usual on such occasions, tho large concourse of pnoplo wero not sparing in their comments on what was taking placo around them, and so long as they wero contented to speak to each other only and not intcrfero with tho duties of tho signalman, no harm would havo been dono, freedom of speech being one of our dearest privileges. Wo are, howovor, sorry to say such was not tho case; and in direct violation of a standing rule that especially forbids tho uninitiated from giving advice in matters which they do not understand, romarks wore directly addressed to tho men on duty, and on whom tho safety of tho vessels entering in a groat ck-greo depended. Such conduct is reprehensible in the highest degree, for nothing is so liable to cont'uso a signal-man/ and bo tho very causo of his doing that which would bo a great mistako, than tho presence of a largo crowd of busy-bodies closo to his feet, pertinaciously interfering with hia business instead of minding thoir own. ' Wo trust that Mr Sulo will tako immediate steps to provo.it. <V 'ropitiium ,bl' tli-s, and

thus givo a poor fellow, whose bread depends \ipou the skill ho displays, a chance for his life, and be tho means, in all probability, of preventing tho loss of many a fine craft which, under ordinary circumstances, would have no difficulty in crossing tre bai\ A good strong fence should enclose the flagstaff, and, if necessary, a constublo might attend on special occasions and enforce order. In fact, one of those gentlemen might bo much better employed preventing men climbing on the beacons, and rigging of the " staff," than in doing nothing particular at the Camp.