H.—ls.

RETURN of Wrecks and Casualties to Shipping reported to the Marine Department, from the 1st April, 1895, to the 31st March, 1896.

18

Date of Casualty. Name of Vessel, also Age and Class Rij £ oo Number of Nature of Number Place where Casualty occurred. Wind. Decision of Court of Inquiry, &c. Name of Master ?5 PassenQ gers. Cargo. Casual ty. Lives lost. Direction. Force. i 1895. Jan. 6 Ocean, 22 years Schooner 28 Supposed foundered ; total loss Stranded; slight ! damage Koro Island, Fiji Hurricane Vessel blown to sea from anchorage during hurricane, and not since heard of; is supposed to have foundered. Vessel supposed to have touched on uncharted rock while drawing 21ft. aft, and being on usual track of vessels Vessel caught in heavy gale, during which a tremendous sea struck her, carrying away port rail, bulwarks, and six stanchions, and tarpaulins off hatches Vessel touched on patch of stone or gravel when entering roadstead A passenger named Blomfield was last seen by the mate on deck at 1.30 a.m.; but was missed on reaching Wellington, and could not be found Vessel was anchored in harbour, and, as she was making water by waves washing over her, crew endeavoured to save her by running her ashore ; but had barely got sail up when she lurched over, filled, and sank almost at once. Vessel was subsequently floated again Vessel lying at anchor off Mill Wharf, when heavy gale sprang up. Both anchors were down; but she dragged until she went on boulder-beach Damage caused through heavy weather 23 Monowai, s.s., 5 Schooner 2137 90 150 General 3 miles off land, and 4 miles south of Gableend Foreland Off Kaikoura Peninsula S.S.E. Light .. Michael Carey. years Feb. 6 Clio, 23 years .. Ketch .. 81 Cornsacks Damaged by heavy seas; partial loss S.S.W. Strong gale John Moore. March 16 Anglian, s.s., 22 years Waihi, s.s., 13 years Schooner General Stranded; no damage Loss of life only Poverty Bay Roadstead Ca jlm Philip Le Neven. 1354 54 150 April 3 Schooner 63 12 5 General 1 Cook Strait Fresh breeze W. North. . 13 Lily, 6 years .. Ketch .. Nil Foundered; partial loss Picton Harbour S.W. Gale ... Henry Berg. 14 3 Kestrel, 27 years Stranded; partial loss North side of Okiwi Bay, Croiselles Harbour Henry Ashford Featherston. „ 13 Ketch .. 51 Timber .. •• S. to S.E. Storm .. „ 13 Reliance, 20 years Ketch .. 65 Timber .. Deck swept; damage to bulwarks, and loss of deck cargo Supposed foundered ; total loss About 20 miles off Amuri Bluff S. Moderate gale Robert McQuillan. „ 13 (supposed.) Comet, 18 years Ketch .. 58 Produce Supposed 4; all hands Supposed in Cook Strait Vessel left Lyttelton for Greymouth on 11th April, and has not since been heard of; she is supposed to have foundered during heavy weather which prevailed a few days after sailing Vessel broke away from her moorings in Wellington Harbour, where she had been laid up, with no one on board, and stranded on beach. Vessel touched on uncharted rock or shoal, but sustained no damage Vessel touched lightly when coming up harbour, through insufficient water Samuel Thompson. April 15 Rowena, s.s., 22 years Schooner 74 Nil Stranded; slight damage Kaiwarra Beach, Wellington Harbour S.E. Gale .. May 3 Waihora, s.s., 12 years Aotea, s.s., 4 months Schooner General Stranded; no damage Stranded; no damage Poverty Bay Light .. Robert Neville. 1269 83 159 „ 12 Schooner 3702 50 New Zealand produce Western end of William Davie Bank, Bluff Harbour N. Moderate breeze Alexander McDougall.