THE SCHOONER STANLEY DISMASTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 769, 2 May 1866, Page 4

THE SCHOONER STANLEY DISMASTED.

At an early hour yesterday morning the attention of the shipping community "was directed to a strange lookiug craft, whieh was making its way up tho harbour at Onehunga, and with the aid of a telescope, several ' 'old nautie.ils'' discovered it to be a vessel dismasted. Various conjectures wero soon afloat as to what the unfortunate vessel might turn out to be, and as sho gradually lieared tho wharf, we regret to say, it was clearly discerned to he Mr. Kirkwood's fiuenew schooner Stanley, which had only quilted llio port a few days since on her maiden trip, bound to Taranaki with a cargo of timber. Immediately she anchored boats put off to the wrecked vessel, when it was found that she had encountered seme verv sevoro weather, during which hor foremast, maintopmast, and all the sails had gono overboard, and the only wonder was that she had managed to get back again to port under such trying circumstances. Most, of our readers are, no doubt, aware that the Stanloy was ouc of the longest topsail schooners that has been launched from our shores. She was built by Mr. Hutchinson, of Onehunga, and owned by Mr. Kirkwood of the same place. On the day o'f her launch a3 sho glided into the ocean's arm 3, she was acknowlcd by nil competent judges to be one of the strongest and noblest crafts afloat on our coast, and such sho has proved to be. Captain Marks, her commander, says that during the short time she wan at sea, notwithstanding the heavy weather sho had to baffle with, eh a behaved admirably, and is a splendid, sea boat. IVo believo the .' -tanlcy was partially insured iu the Koyal li<piranco Company for total loss only to fhe amount of £ 1600, cjn»equently tho loss by this unfortunate occurrence will fall upon her owners.

Tho Stanley left Onohunga on Tuesday, tho 2-lth ultimo, with a Bouth-west breezo, nnd aftor taking in a cargo of 22.000 feet timberfrom the Cornwall's Saw Mills, at Coeomatua, ah* got under weigh and cleared the Manukau heads at 9 o'clock Ia :; t Satui'daymorning, \?ith a strong N. K. wind, which veered round to the west. At night the wind increased, and sail wa* shortened. At 11 p in, the fore,-t«psail sheet carried a way, and about noon on the following dav (Sunday), she carried away fore-gaff and top-gallant back staj's. A double-reefed foresail was immediately she with tho head into the jaws of tho gall'. In tho afternoon it was iu,t:ced that the foro-risgiug was surging down. This was reset twico, a.-uf the dead eyes then met. At about ten o'clock got a swifter on, with the intention of setting up tho rigging, which, however, proved of no avail. There °tjein<» no apparent change m tho weather, and it boiiu* utterly impossible to mako Taranaki, Captain Marks determined, if possible, to run hack to Onohunga. With the fall of tho vessel, tho mainmast was continually swaying to and fro, and at about twenty-live minutes to three on Monday morning, when about 30 miles N.W. of Taranaki, tho foremast went- by the board, close down to tho dec.lc carrviiig with it the main-top mast, foro-top -rallaut sail, fore-top sail and main-topmast stay sail. Having cleared away the wreck, the jib boom was set for ;i jury foremast; the gaff-topsail" set for a head sail, and the jib set with the main peak purchase ; the staysail being sot with tho main throat halsords- Durin"the wi::<! was still blowing heavy from the S.W, and >■•,.. noble vessel proceeded in her crippled condition, hlie succeeded in in ilcing tho Manukau about half-past 10 o clock on Monday night, and at G. 30 a.m, yesterday stood in for tho bar, and after shipping tho top of a sea, sailed up harbour, and came to an anchor about ten o'clock. Captain Marks atites that the crew of tho Stanlev behaved remarkably well throughout, and although they never had a single watch in from tho time she left tho Mnnukau, uo£ a murmur was hoard from any of them. J The cargo of tho Stanley will ho transhippod, without delay, and the vessel repaired by Mr. Hutchinson. Captain Marks reports that two barques which wore discharging at Taranaki, had to loave their anchorage, and wore laying off tho Sugar Loaves. One of them h-d closo-reefed topsails.