THE WRECK OF THE BRIGANTINE ELIZABETH.

West Coast Times, Issue 664, 9 November 1867, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE BRIGANTINE ELIZABETH.

OrFiciAi. Enquiry. An inquiry instituted at the instigation of the Collector of Customs, into the -wreck of the briguntino Elizabeth, which went on slice on the North Spit, on Nov. 2nd 18G7, was held csterday, at 2 p.m., at ths Court House, before tho itesideub Magistrate, Gr. Or. FitzG A rald, F!sq , and Cipiain Quanto, who i-t aNautical Assessor. Mr Harvey attended on behalf of tho Collector of Customs. David Hughes, deposed — I am a master .nariner. xdo not hold a certificate of compeieni;y, but, I hold a (.v/f.iG'-ate of exemption from pilot dues [certificate put in and found to be v certificate of competency to act as a pilot in tho port of dydneyj. I hold no other certificate. I was master of the brigantine Elizabeth, her port of registry is Sydney, and her tonnage, 113 tons. I think sho was insured for about L6OO, but I am not certain, I do not know in what office, 235 bags of oats, a portion of the cargo were also insured. Tho owner of the vessel told me about the insurance, he said that he thought ho could get about L6OO on her. I believe there is another insurance of LIOOO on tho vessel, independent of this, under it she was not to go within five miles of Hokitika. Richard Pilo, a shipbuilder, of Sydney, is the owner of the Elizabeth. I do not know the age of the vessel without referring to the register. She came from Sydney, last voyage, with a general cargo of produce and coal. I was master of her on that voyage. I remember the 2nd November. I was at my duty on board the vessel on that 1 day, between tho Grey and Hokitika. Between 1 and 2 o'clock p.m. the steamer Favorite came alongside, and her captain — Adams — asked me where I was bound. I told him Hokitila. I asked him how the bar was, and what water was upon it. He replied 12 feet and a good bar. I then asked him if he could tow me in, and he said " Yes." We then took his hawser on board, made it fast, and the steamer then towed ahead. Wo kept all sail set and proceeded towards the bar. I took up my glass to see if the tidal tiguals were flying or nofc. I saw the red flag at the masthead. I then took up my position for crossing the bar — standing on the top of tho galley to enable me to see tho beacon or shore, and also the man at the helm. We went in with tho beacons as near in line as possible. This was between 2 and 3 o'clock. The wind was from the westward. There was a pretty good surf on the bar. I do not know j what time it was high water, but I think ■ it was as near high water as posssible when we were crossing the bar. We were drawing about 9ft 2in, as near as I can tell. The Elizabeth was not a very good steering vessel, nor a very bad one. I' thiuk we had crossed the outer part of the bar when the vessel struck, the beacons then being as nearly in a line as possible. The steamer still kept towing ahead, and the vessel kept striking. I then found, by looking at tlib beacons, that she was settling over on the Worth Spit. The steamer kept towing at her from her first striking for about fifteen minutes, at the end of which time some one s>mg out to let go the tow-rope ; it was then let go. I then omc down from the top of tho galley. I took a look round the deck, and found tho water washing on board. I went on the inshore side of the vessel- to sco if we could get tho boat off. I considered it was not safe to do so, and I had to remain until the tide ebbed before I could make any arrangement to get warps off to the shore to heave her off. I had no anchors, and only ono small kedge, which would have been of no uso. I had to come ashore at low water, to arrange- to get an anchor and wurp placed on the South Spit, which arrangement I made with one of tho men working about the wrecks for LlO. The anchor and warp wero placed, but we failed to get the end on board tho vessel, as the flood tide had made, and there was rather more surf coming in. About six o clock wo pumped tho ship out dry. At eight o'clock the anchor watch wa3 set with orders to look out for tho boat bringing the rope, or for any one hailing from shore. Between twelve and ono o'clock on the 3rd November I was on deck. It was blowing a fresh breeze from the westward. I called all hands to get sail on tho vessel. She wag then

laboring very much. Whilst the men were getting up the man on the watch told mo that he thought he heard somo person cooeying from the shore. I lib the rod signal up on the port side. When the men came on deck we set all the square sails, and kept them set until about four o'clock, when wo furled I sails, the tide having made. At about six ! a.m. a gaug of rneu came on board and commenced discharging the cargo.' I asked them who sent them, and they told me W. S. Lockhart. I had spoken to him about landing the cargo when I was on shore on Saturday evening.- I then let the men go to work, and they got the cargo out with all possible speed, with the exception of the coal, and some few casks of butter, beef, and provisions. I went on shove myself to look after the goods which were landed. I had been to the Collector of Customs the eveuing previous, and he told me that I could cuter my vessel on Sunday morning. It was necessary to do so before we could deliver any of the goods off the beach. On my returning to the beach the goods were all on "shore. I asked one of the draymen if he would put me on board, as. I wished to go on board. He said he could not do so, as it was not sale. I then had to wait until the harbor boas came across from the south side. I asked them to put me on board, and thoy said ifc was not safe to take the boat to the vessel. I thon walked down on the beach, and signed to the mate to take the warp to the windlass and heave it tight, and then to pump ship out. He did so. I saw the mate kept the strain of the windlass all the time. In the course of the afternoon it commenced to rain vei'y hard, and there was every appearance of a heavy fresh in tho river. Before I landed, I found that the vessel had made water during the night. When it comnieuced raining, I wont up to my agents to get an anchor and wavp, to securo it to tho North Spit. I got one, and about eight o'clock that night I went down to the spit, and took four laborers with mo to sink a hole, and to 1 get the warp on board tho ship. I was thon ablo to .go on board tho vessel myself, and I found that there was water in the hold ; the mate told mo from four to five feet. I also found that tho rudder was unshipped, and part of tho rudder casing knocked away. It was then blowing very hard, therefore •! did not consider it safe for tho men to remain on board that night. I told tho crew to leave the ship and tako some provisions on shore. I then secured tho vessel to tho North spit by warp. I set a watch for tho night, and after wo got to the Gratitude I found wo could do nothing for tho vessel, a3 the sea was breaking over the ship. In tho morning I sent a gang of men on board to dismantle the veesel, and I also caused a survey to be made on the ship. Tho surveyors condemned her. The surveyors wevo the Harbor Master, Captain Quancc, and a carpenter. On there report I abaudoued the ship. Sho has not yet gone to pieces. Cross-examined by Mr Harvey — I know nothing about the insurance except what tho owner told me. I do know that 235 bags of oats were insured, because they wero consigned to me. Thoy were insured for about L 165. The rest of tho cargo belonged to different people in tho Town — seventy tons of coal, several cases of provisions, cases of fruit, and the residue of the sheep shippod in Sydney, belonged to the owner, also eighteen bags of bran, seven bales of hay, and a cask of banauas. Ido not think those were insured because the owner did not say anything (o me about them. This is my first voyage in this vessel. The vessel was overhauled in Sydney after I took charge of her. Shfi got a ne*v foremast and new fore-rigging. About tliree years ago she got a thorough j overhaul on the slip, which cost about LI2OO. i I was never in Mr Pile's service before. I have I been sailing out of Sydney as master for the last ten yc.ii'3. Tho last veasol I had was the Activs, brigantine. I have been in this porttwice before. I have givon you tho whole of the conversation I had with the Captain of the Favorire a3 near as possible. T was drawing nine feefc tro inches of water. I think I told the Captain of tho Favorite thr ' I -\ "t drawing nine feet of water. Tho next day I went on bojtrc l the st«amboul (Favorite) to soo if we could puss a warp on board the Elizabeth. I lost three anchors in the roadstea .1. On October 16, at midnight, I lost oiip anchor by thb parting of the chain in a stiff breeze. On 11th October, at 3.30 p.m. I 10-t another through the chain parting in a stiff breeze, with heavy squalls and rain. On 22nd Oct., at 2 p.m., the chain again parted, and the anchor I then lost I had purchased frim a vessel in the roadstead some time before. There was then a strong breeze and heavy 6ea. By the orders of I lie captain or mate of the steamer Favorite I cast off her rope. I lo not know whether it was the captain or mate. Some on board the Favorite told us to "let go," and I did so. On the afternoon of Sunday I looked for the Harbor Master and could not find him. I saw the Deputy Harbor Master busy in securing all the vessels at tho wharf with ropes. I did not ask him anything about my vessel. I could nofc get the warp on board in time for Sunday morning's tide. I began to dismantle her before I had held the survey. We pumped her out that afternoon, as soon as she was quiet. I did not put the cargo out tho first tide, because ib was night time, and I had no reason to think but what the vessel would como off. . On tho second tide tho vessol bumbped considerably. When I wont on board tho vessel I saw the water nearly up to the cabin floor. If the cargo had been ont of her I thiuk she would have- bumped more heavily. The enquiry was then adjourned to noon on Monday.