H.—22.

RETURN of Wrecks on which Inquiries have been held under the Inquiry into Wrecks Act, or for which Casualty Returns have been received, between 1st July, 1873, and 30th June, 1874.

14

Date of Casualty. Name of Vessel, also Age and Class, when known. Eig. Register Tonnage. Number of i Crew. Passengers Nature of Cargo. Nature of Casualty. Number of Lives Lost. Place where Casualty took place. Wind. Finding of the Court of Inquiry. Name of Master. Force. 1873. July 18 " Excelsior," 13 years Schooner 92 6 4 Timber, Salt, Slates General Stranded ; partial loss Eocks off Flat Point '. E.N.E. Moderate Vessel ran too near Flat Point; probably compass affected by quantity of chain cable stowed nine or ten feet from it Loss occasioned by vessel standing in too close before being sufficiently to windward to enter the channel Loss occasioned by stress of weather. Master should have provided himself with proper chart Master censured for not taking the vessel through the passage himself. Mate also censured, as he did not exercise the vigilance necessary for such intricate navigation Vessel sprung a leak, pump broke down, and she had to be beached. Care should have been taken to see that spare pump was in working order Vessel drew too much water, for bar William Joiner. July 22 "Meteor," 9 years Schooner 43 4 Stranded; total loss Wanganui Bar, South Spit w. Gale Peter Lang. July 28 " Union," 24 years Brig 158 8 1 Ballast Stranded ; total loss Wangaroa Bay ... N.E. Whole gale Alexander McCallum. July 30 " Rangitoto," s.s., 15 years Schooner 448 33 Not known General Stranded; total loss Jackson Head, Cook Strait S.E. Light Hugh Mackie. July [31 " Canterbury," 18 years Schooner 38 Produce Stranded ; partial loss Kaikoura Peninsula S.W. Strong breeze John Grubb. Aug. 1 " Tawera," 10 years "Jane," s.s., 5 years " Trade Wind," 15 months Schooner 55 General Stranded; partial loss Stranded ; partial loss Capsized & foundered; partial loss Stranded; partial loss Bar Turanganui Eiver, Poverty Bay Orewa Eiver, near Auckland. Between Eangitoto and Wangaproa,in Hauraki Gulf Eastern side of entrance to Port Nicholson Lat. 35° 33' S., Lung. 160 = 1' is. Light Joseph Kennedy. William Adams. s.w. Aug. 1 Schooner 25 Vessel parted cable, and went ashore Aug. 20 Cutter 19 3 Flour and Sundries Sudden gust Heavy Vessel capsized by squall from unexpected quarter; no blame to master. Samuel Eichard Savoy. Aug. 21 " Anne Melhuish," 24 years Barque 344 11 Coal and Maize N.W. Fresh breeze, squally The master acted throughout in a seamanlike manner, and is free from blame, the accident being unavoidable Accident partly if not wholly due to bad stowage William Davidson. Aug. 24 " Lady Bowen " Barque 892 Wool, Cot-; ton, Copper & other Orei Wheat and Bran Coal, Timber, Coke Coal i Cargo damaged by shipping water in a gale N.N. VV. Strong gale | Joseph JWyuason. Aug. 26 " Jane Anderson," "} 5 years f "Emile," X 10 years J " Scotsman," 16 years Schooner 96 6 ! Fresh \ breeze 1 Heavy gale The collision was not attributable to any want of seamanship or neglect of any kind on the part of captain of "Jane Anderson " Vessel was unable to beat out, and the heavy sea caused cables to part. Wo blame attached to the master " Jane Anderson " came into collision with "Emile," by which "Emile" was disabled, and could not get to sea. Heavy seas caused cable to part, and vessel was thrown on the beach Cables parted by heavy seas; Master was justified in running the vessel on shore. Vessel was not supplied with sufficient quantity of cable Cables parted by heavy seas, and vessel was then run ashore. Master took every precaution to prevent accident HughPaterson. Brig 214 9 Collision; partial loss Oamaru Bay N.E. Joseph Pallant. Aug. 27 Brig 231 10 3 Stranded; total loss Oamaru Beach ... N.E. Charles Eogers. Aug. 27 " Emile," 10 years Brig 214 9 Coal, Timber, Coke Stranded; total loss Oamaru Beach ... East Storm Joseph Pallant. Aug. 27 " Duke of Edinburgh," 5 years )hree-masted Schooner 77 Ember Stranded; partial loss Timaru Beach N.E. Strong breeze James Dunn. "Fairy Queen," 10 years Brig 214 Coal, 12 tons Stranded; total loss Timaru Beach Strong breeze William Spence. .ug. 27 East