WRECKS ON THE EAST COAST.

West Coast Times, Issue 589, 14 August 1867, Page 2

WRECKS ON THE EAST COAST.

The following particulars* of the wrecks on the beach at Oamaru are furnished by the " Oamaru Times " of tho 2nd instant : —

"The weather, which during the last week was unusually fine, changed on Monday last, when a heavy gale set in from the S.E., with a very low temperature. The sea ran very, high, and early on Tuesday morning Captain Sewell, thinking the roadstead unsafe, hoisted the blue peter as a signal for the shipping to run to Bea. The Excelsior and the Coquette quickly took the hint, and stood out, hauling close to the wind. The other vessels taking no notice, Captain Sewell hoisted further signals, intimating that delay was dangerous, when the Mary Ann Christina, Vixen, Edward and Christopher, and Anne, lifted anchor and ran out. The Vistula, Midlothian, and Hope, remained at their anchors, in the hope of riding out the gale. About 7.30 on Wednesday morning, the Midlothian had drifted considerably to the westward, and her sails being split, it was considered advisable to run her ashore, which was done at a sandy part of tho beach without damage to the vessel, and her cargo was quickly removed in good condition by drays. She now lies high and dry, and, we believe, no difficulty is anticipated in lauchiug her again when the gale subsides. The Vistula, Captain Paton, a smart brignntine from Auckland, of about 130 tons register, parted her chain cables about half-past fire in the morning (she had two anchors down), and was allowed to drift ashore, the captain being below, and all hands except the ship's cook in their bunks. Captain Paton is greatly blamed for not having made sail und attempted to put to sea when the cables parted, No such effort was made, the vessel being allowed to come ashore without shaking out a sail. In justice to Captain Paton, it should, however, it should bo stated that ho thought he had not sufficient ballast aboard to weather tho gale ; but on the other hand those competent to give an opinion, say that having between fifty or sixty tons of cargo on board, the effort should have been made. The Vistula came ashore nearly opposite the Scotch Church, lying with her decks to seaward, and during Wednesday Captain Sewell was indefatigable in endeavoring to turn the vessel so as to present her keel to the breakers. In consequence of the rotten state of her cables, which parted several times under tho strain, this was not effected, and she was necessarily left to her fate. Later in the afternoon, however, fresh efforts were made, and were ultimately successful, the vessel being brought to an upright position, and her cargo discharged. About 7 on Thursday morning, tho Hope, which had hitherto ridden out the gale, brought her anchor home and was run ashore without damage, nearly opposite the Northern Hotel. Her cargo which consisted exclusively of timber, was discharged in good condition. The gale and sea'.soniewhat subsided during the day, and as we believe neither of the vessels has sustained any serious injury, we hope to ace them ero long afloat agaiu, little the worse for their mishap.

The same paper of a late date states that a letter from Mr John Kussell, master of the schooner Anne, dated " Little Akaroa Bay," is just received, requesting that the safe arrival of the Anne and Excelsior may be reported. They are completely out of provisions and water, having been driven from Oainaru during the late gale. Captain Russell can give no tidings of any of the seven vessels driven from Oainaru at the same time with the Anne. lie experienced the full forco of the gale, accompanied with snow and sleet, and the vessels were exposed for seveu days to great hardships. A survey was held on the Vistula on Friday. The captain was recommended to send down his top-hamper and to lighten the vessel as much as possible, with a view to launching her as soon as practicable. Wo believe that tenders will bo invited for launching her shortly. Tho vessel has sustained some considerable damage, the butts of her deck being started on tho starboard side, and she is somewhat bilged abreast of the mainhatch ; tho covering-board amidships is forced up about Hour or live inches, the strapknees started, and some of tho bolt-heads broken.

The. « Qtago. Daily Times " received the following pittttouton of ttio wreck of the M*

tain Eckhoff, who, with his crew, arrived at Dunedin in the s.s. Wainui : —

" When the gale of the 29th ultimo commenced, the Edward and Christopher Avas off Onmaru, at the usual anchorage, close to tho Government moorings ; and she had both her anchors down. At five o'clock on the Tuesdny morning her boat was taken in. At seven o'clock she carried away her port cable, and her sails were double-reefed, so that she should be all ready for proceeding to sea. At halfpast nine the starboard chain wont, and the vessel was driven foul of tho schooner Anne. She was got clear, however, with slight damage, and sail being set to the extent that was possible under the circumstances, she stood out to sea. For three hours she reached outwards E. by N. Towards one o'clock, it be^an to blow fearfully, dead from the southeast, with drizzling rain, and a bad cross sea. At one o'clock ske was hove-to, and, allowing for all circumstances, she was making about a N.N.E. course. From that time until three o'clock on Wodoesday afternoon, nothing particular happened. The double-reel's were then, however, beginning to carry away, and the canvas was close-reefed. The violence of the gale continued to increase, but Captain Eckhoff calculated that it would bo next day before he would approach the Peninsula. It was next clay, but early in tho morning, for at six o'clock, during a temporary clearing of the hazy atmosphere, land was seen abreast of the vessel, the recognisable pomt — Pompey's Pillar — being about a mile distant. The crew managed to set all the canvas that it was safe to carry, but it was impossible to weather the shore, and an opening in the cliffs having been noticed, she was run in there, and beached among boulders, at tho only available spot. The tide was ebbing at tho time, and, as the vessel was left temporarily high and dry, the crew managed to reach the shore. There was a house in the neighborhood, at which, although it was not at the time occupied, they managed to dry and change their clothing, and got some provisions cooked. They were also able, during the ebb tide, to save their effects, and some of the mast valuable of the cargo on board, consisting only of a few tons of iron and (lour, and they also saved tho boat. What they thus saved was carried up to a situation high and dry, about six feet above high water mark; but on the following morning, except a few spars, there was not a vestige seen of the vessel, cargo, or anything else that had been saved. Through the kindness of Mr De Molmanche, a French settler in the neighborhood, tho crew wei c directed to a track across the ranges to Akaroa, and the Wainui having called there, they were able to take their passage at once for Dunedin, Capt. Bain having kindly provided to Capt. EckhofT and his men a passage to their destination. The Edward and Christopher belonged to Capt. Eckhoff and Mr Simmers. She was not insured, and except two booms and two gaffs, which arc lying near the scene of the wreck, nothing whatever was saved. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. West Coast Times Office, Tuesday Evening. The amount of import duty collected at tho Custom House to-day was L 396 2s 2d. The following list of merchandise cleared shows its distribution : —

Brandy ; £130 12 Whisky 21 12 Geneva 17 16 Tea 28 10 Sugar 50 2 Tobacco 45 15 Cigai's ...•. 43 5 Oilmen's stores '. 24 5 Drapery 23 18 Furniture,.: 10 6 £396 2 2