H.—4

20

RETURN of Wrecks and Casualties to Shipping reported to the Marine Department, &c.— continued.

Nm iber of iture of Number 'ind. Date of Casualty. Name of Vessel, also Age and Class. Place where Casualty occurred. Decision of Court of Inquiry, &c. Name of Master. •i s •assengers. Casualty. Lives Lost. Direction. Cargo. Force. 1886. :ay 21 Star of the Mersey, 23 years Brig .. 255 Timber Stranded; total loss About half-way between town and breakwater, New Plymouth Wave Point, Haulashore Island, Nelson Harbour entrance w. Strong gale Vessel sprung a leak, and ran to New Plymouth for shelter, and there went ashore John Christian. 28 Elsie, s.s., 2 years Cutter .. 15 6 General Stranded; no damage S.W. Light .. Casualty caused by incapacity of master owing to effects of drink. Certificate suspended for three months ; and he was ordered to pay costs of inquiry Loss of vessel mainly attributable to master of " Graf ton " while towing " Lyttelton." He was never able to get either his own vessel or the "Lyttelton" under proper control. Pilot committed grave error in judgment in not having starboard anchor shackled on to cable before lifting port anchor, and in not ascertaining with some degree of certainty whether the " Lyttelton " was forging ahead when he let go the port anchor when the steamer east the vessel adrift. The harbour authorities should not have permitted the harbour tug and harbourmaster to be absent from the port when a large vessel like the " Lyttelton" was ready for sea. Master of "Grafton," H. E. Hill, ordered to pay costs of inquiry The second mate, Wilbert D. Nicoll, was washed overboard by a heavy sea, and never seen again John Johnston. Lyttelton, 8yrs., 100 Al Lloyd's Ship .. Frozen meat & wool Foundered; total loss Three-quarters of a mile N. by W. from end of breakwater, Timara Harbour N.W. Light air Herbert Wild Boorman. June 12 1111 30 * 13 Isabel, G years Waiapu, 2 years Barque.. Schooner 350 General I Colonial produce Loss of life only Loss of life only South Atlantic Ocean, on voyage from New York to Dunedin, sixty days out Off White Island, on voyage from Gisborne to Auckland S.W. Gale .. Gale .. . 24 supposed 16 Pelican, 12 years Schooner Gl 69 Timber Capsized; total loss 1 Supposed 5; all hands Supposed Cook Strait, on voyage from Kaipara to Lyttelton S.E. Gale .. Weather becoming bad it was found necessary to reduce sail, and while stowing outer-jib a seaman, William Barr, was washed overboard and drowned Vessel supposed to have capsized during violent squalls on night of 24th June. She was found bottom up on beach about a mile west of mouth of Waitotara River on 28th June Vessel went ashore through cables parting .. John Nicolas. John Devitt. „ 25 Ruby, 17 years Schooner Maize and wood Coal .. Stranded; total loss Stranded; vessel strained ; trifling loss Stranded; partial loss Awanui, near Opotiki, N.-E. Coast of N.Z. North Beach, Buller River W. Heavy gale Squally W r illiam Davies. 36 3 „ 28 Wareatea, s.s., 2 years Schooner 288 18 I S.W. Heavy sea struck vessel, and drove her on to the north beach A. S. Ewan. July 3 Wallabi, s.s., 23 years Schooner 101 12 1 Coal .. About half-mile north of mouth of Grey River, west coast of N.Z. Point Poponga, Manukau Harbour E. Fresh breeze Succession of heavy seas rendered vessel unmanageable, and drove her on to the beach James Leys. 5 Herald, s.s., 2 years, 100 Al Lloyd's Schooner 356 9 Coal .. Stranded; partial loss S.W. Vessel was coming up harbour with flood- tide, and when off Poponga she was taken apparently by an eddy, and driven on to point Samuel Richard Savory. 21