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Shipwrecks

The Timaru roadstead was treacherous winds and reefs. From November 1865 until 1890, it was the graveyard of 28 ships.

1842 Lady Mary Pelham. French Whaler. 2 September 1842. Had been wrecked on Long Beach, Tinaroo, about 90 miles to the southward of Akaroa, all hands perished. It is said that she had a large quantity of oil on board.

1864 HeraldBeached 10 miles north of Timaru because of a fire. Principal cargo bottled beer was lost.16 January 1864, beached ten miles north of Timaru. An ironcask and a coach were thrown overboard, but the principal cargo,bottled beer, was lost.
1866 Prince Consort.Schooner.35 tons.When lying at anchor at Timaru on 20 Dec. She dragged her anchor and became a wreck. Capsized when her ballast shifted. She waswashed over the reef, broke up in the night, and was sold for £73.Three men were on board, and two of them, with the efficient aid rendered by the Alexandra life-boat, were fortunately rescued.Wrecked
1868 William Miskin Steamer 115 tons. Went ashore at Timaru on 4th February. Built at Kingston upon Hull in UK in 1852, went ashore at Timaru on 4th February 1868 when under command of Capt Bain.Just before the fires were put out, a heavy sea swept the deck, washing overboard one of the sailors, a man named John M'Donald. Took tho ground within a few yards of the rocky promontory, on Mr. Belfield's property (Ashbury Park). The ship was thrown onto the beach a few yards from Mr Belfeilds property and twelve hands to got to shore safely. She broke in two when the last man had to leave. Sailor, John McDonald was swept overboard and drowned. Fragments of the ship, iron plates, chests, luggage, tines of kerosine were strewn up the beach. The ship had visted the Timaru roadstead many times, including bringing gold, mined from the Westcoast. The wreck happened when the district experienced gales and floods. It was "smashed to atoms"Wrecked
1868 Despatch Brigantine 139 tons. Went ashore at Timaru on June 13th - Carrying livestock Carried the first white woman to SouthCanterbury, Mrs William Hornbrook. Drifted ashore in a gale aftershe arrived from the Chathams.
1869 CollingwoodBarque 457 tons.anchored too close in-shore, had loaded 1,225 sacks ofwheat. Wrecked in Timaru Harbour on 23rd May when anchors dragged. Wrecked
1869 Susan Jane Barque 181 tons. Wrecked in Timaru Harbour on 23rd May when anchors dragged. Carrying building timbers from Mercury Bay but only landed a little. Theremainder littered the beach.Wrecked Carryingtimber
1870 Layard.Brigantine 175 tons. Built 1856. Was driven ashore near Timaru when anchor cables parted on June 8th. Wrecked
1870 AuroraSchooner 42 tons.Refloated
1873 Fairy Queen Brigantine 175 tons. Parted her cable and was driven ashore at Timaru on 27th August. Cargo ofcoal from Australia, struck the beach opposite Strathallan Street. A barrel of pitch was set alight on the rocks above to give directionin rescuing the crew. She was sold on the beach for £135.Wrecked Carryingcoal
1873 WandererKetch 32 tons. Wooden Ship built in Nelson 1871. Two were on board at the time.Edward Breton was washed overboard about an hour before she broke adrift. He was picked up and put m the cabin to recover, and came on deck just after she broke adrift.Driven ashore at Timaru by a cyclone. Wrecked at Timaru when her cables parted on 27th August.cargo of 20S bags of wheat. I originally sailed from Greymouth with a cargo of forty-five tons of coal bound to Timaru. The vessel soon afterwards struck against the brig Fairy Queen, which was ashore. No lives were lost, the three hands being saved by the assistance of men on the beach.Wrecked
1873 Lady of the Lake Steamer 66 tons.Sept 1873 sprang a leakafter leaving Oamaru, struck a reef when she took shelter in theTimaru roadstead, and hit the beach opposite George Street, whereshe was abandoned.Refloated
1873 Duke of Endinbrough Schooner 77 tons.Carried 39,956 feet of timber from Auckland forthe Temuka bridge. She was sold at auction for £205, refloatedfrom the beach and named the Euphrosyne .Refloated Carryingtimber
1875 CyreneBarque 527 tons. Run ashore at Timaru on 9th May. The property of Mr. C. W. Turner, of Christchurch, coal laden, from Newcastle. Ship and cargo were fully insured.The Cyrene recently arrived from San Francisco with 18,000 sleepers for the Government railway then being constructed to Temuka. Only a portion of which had been discharged. The Ship and cargo were sold to Captain Cain.Every sleeper was saved, and from these alone Captain Cain must have made a good profit. No lives were lost in the accident. Went on the beach half a cable's length south of Strathallan Street, TimaruThe Cyrene was broken up for firewood and some of them sank in the boat channel from the Government Landing Service, where they caused inconvenience by fouling the boat lines, and from time to time these pieces were fished for and dragged out of the way.Wreckedrailway sleepers
1875 Princess AliceBrigantine 268 tons. Built 1862. Dragged her anchors at Timaru on 9th May. Eight hundred sacks of wheat from Messrs. Cunningham and Co, who had chartered her for Sydney to load with grain. The hull was purchased by the Government Landing Service and broken up to get it out of the way. It was blocking the travel of shingle - the beach on the north side was scoured away, the Strathallan street sewer damaged, and the Landing service hampered in working and threatened with destruction. No lives were lost in the accident. Wrecked
1877 Isabella Ridley Barque 233 tons. Wrecked at Timaru on 19th April after dragging her anchors.There was a heavy sea, but no wind. The captain tried to beat out, but had no wind. He then headed for the beach, flying a signal of distress. A rocket was thrown, and the crew were safely landed. About a thousand persons witnessed the affair, it being a calm, lovely, sunny day. The barque crushed all her lower timbers, and soon went to pieces. No fewer than five other boats were drifted in on the same day, but they were not seriously damaged. Built in 1858 by Scott & Sons Co. and owned by Gibbs & Clayton, on voyage from Newcastle to Timaru with 2000 sacks of grain, was wrecked on rocks in front of the Government landing services, Timaru. All 10 were rescued.Wrecked
1877 Craig Ellachie Brigantine 266 tons. Went ashore Timaru on December 22nd after parting her cables in a gale. Wrecked
1878 Lapwing Brigantine 231 tons. Min. casualty. False keel knocked Refloated
1878 Melrose.Barque 287 tons.One death. Sept 3rd. Laden with coal went ashore at Waimataitai Spit.Captain was washed overboard while attempting to seize a rocket line ; another man was lost Arthur Connolly, rest of the crew saved. Captain Evans, of the Palmerston, was drowned, while attempting to reach the Melrose after the latter vessel struck his vessel. His body was seen floating in front of the Government Landing Service late on Sunday evening Totally wrecked, not a splinter remaining. At the inquiry it was , proved that she was utterly unseaworthy, portions of her beams being "so spongy that you could put your finger clean through." It was only sheer recklessness that induced her owners to send her into an open roadstead like Timaru.The ketch Palmerston, the only one out of the five vessels which were in the roadstead on Sunday morning which is still afloat,Wrecked
1878 Fanny. Ketch 25 tonsFanny grounded near the harbour landing, allowing the combined crews to make it to shore, before drifting off and colliding with rocks. Three other boats were seriously injured.Wrecked
1878 GlimpseKetch 39 tons.Parted her anchor chain in a fierce swell at Timaru. crew abandoned ship and took to Fanny. The sea lifted the Glimpse high and dry on a shingle bank. She was later able to be repaired and floated.
1879 Akbar Brigantine 230 tons. 5 drowned, struck 1miles beyondDashing Rocks. Carrying350 tons of coal.
1879 PelicanSchooner 74 tons.All landed safely. Refloated
1879 John WatsonSchooner 209 tons. Struck on the reefs, on Nov. 20, to the southward of the roadstead when crossing thereef off Bloody Jack's Point. Carrying 220 tons of coal. There was a strong N.E. breeze with a sharp sea.Wrecked
1881 AmaranthSchooner 51 tons.Vessel fouled the schooner Circe in a strong gale, and then went ashore. No lives lost.Wrecked
1882 City of CashmereIron ship 980 tons. January 12 1882.A small steamer was unable to tow her, and let her go, when she drifted on to the beach and became a total wreck. Officer in charge of deck censured for not letting go second anchor sooner Ninety, Mile Beach.Wrecked
1882 Duke of SutherlandBarque 1,047 tons. Sankon 2nd May while at anchor in Timaru roadstead. Struck the ground, starting the stern post, in an unusually heavy sea. In November, 1890, the wreckage of this vessel was broken up by dynamite into handy pieces for lifting, and the wheat with which she had been laden was found to be in an excellent state of preservation.Wrecked
1882 Ben Venue.Iron ship 999 tons.Sank on 14th May in heavy seas while lying atTimaruroadstead. No lives were lost. Wrecked
1882 City of PerthIron ship 1,189 tons.Refloated. When the Ben Venue capsized, the crew made for the City of Perth, but she too lost her anchors and ran aground beside the Ben Venue. The crews took to lifeboats. All would have been well had the harbourmaster not headed for the City of Perth. Getting aboard, he realised the hopelessness of the situation, and some of his men launched a lifeboat. When it capsized 40 men were left struggling in mountainous seas. Nine died.
1886 Lyttelton Iron ship 1,111 tons. Built of tons sank on 12th June 1886 at Timaru in fair weather. Wrecked
1892 S.S.Elginshire Steamship 4,579 tons. Grounded on 9th March off Normanby Point south of Timaru in fog. Had 550 tons of meat from Rockhampton, 11,000 muttoncarcasses and 300 wool bales shipped at Oamaru.

1958 Kaitoke Refloated
1969 Holmglen40 km east of Timaru15 died. Wrecked
1973 Delphis Sinks in the Port of Timaru after being crushed against the wharf by a bulk carrier.

Reference: South Canterbury Museum,rootsweb/wrecks,NZGS file ANZSHIPS andPapers Past

Each wreck or beaching was the subject of an inquiry and from such reports a wealth of information is available concerning the beach, the cargoes, working conditions, landing places and the condition of the ships involved. The cargoes also indicate the increase in the production of wool, meat and grain in South Canterbury. Not all of them are described here in detail, but only those of some special interest.

The first shipwreck was reported from Timaru in the New Zealand Colonist of 2 September 1842 which stated that ‘ The Lady Mary Pelham reports that a French whaler has been wrecked on Long Beach, Timaroo, about 90 miles to the Southward of Akaroa; all hands perished. It is said she had a large quantity of oil on board.’ JNo record of such a wreck can be traced by French Archives, which have a remarkably full list of French whalers in New Zealand waters at that time. It was suggested that this may have been the Gustave, Captain Deglos s whaler, but that vessel, after an absence of two years, returned to Have on 22 July 1843 with a cargo of oil obtained while whaling in Pegasus Bay ‘and the Timaroo Beach’, which implies that after the Wellers left Timaru, whalers still hunted in Caroline Bay. -https://archive.org/stream/gillespie-1958/Gillespie-1958_djvu.txt

By August 1873 a rocket brigade, all volunteers, had saved fifty-one lives. Members of this brigade watched the beach during stormsand when ships were in danger. Their life-saving apparatus consistedof two rocket guns which fired lines to ships in distress and soenabled crews to be hauled ashore. This brigade was disbandedwhen the breakwater was completed. Eight men had also beenrescued in the lifeboat Alexandra which was purchased in 1864, butwas never a success.

THE LATE WRECK.
TIMARU HERALD, VOLUME VI, ISSUE 170, 16 JANUARY 1867, PAGE 6

[From theTimaru Herald, December 22.]
The unfortunate catastrophe, the wreck of the Prince Consort, which we record today, leads us to enquire into the causes of the accident with a view that precautions should in future be taken to guard against a like disaster.
The main cause which led to the accident was undoubtedly the shift-] ing of the ballast which rendered it quite impossible for the vessel to right, when once, thrown on her beam ends.
She was also imprudently near the shore, but' this of itself r was of small moment, if the ballast had retained its proper position, for with two anchors down, the vessel was perfecdy able to ride out the gale.
We come to this conclusion, on. the ground that some years since, there was a far heavier gale, and tenfold the amount of sea running than on last Thursday, and a small coaster, was lying m the roadstead the whole time and if we remember right, she did not lose a stick, although exposed for something like eighteen hours to the fury of a gale that happily very seldom visits our port.
Since Timaru has been visited by shipping, now some ten or eleven years, this j is the first accident that has occurred, and the like need not occur again if a little precaution was taken m stowing ballast on board small crafts. It has hitherto been the custom to ship for ballast the loose beach shingle which, if stowed, as is often the case, m bulk m the bottom of a vessel, is very likely to shift and thus cause the ship's destruction: and this is as likely to happen on the broad ocean as when lying at anchor. If it is absolutely necessary to carry the shingle ballast, it surely would not he a difficult matter to retain it m its right position, and thus secure a great additional safeguard.
A warning like the present does good m the end, for it will make masters more careful as to the ballasting of their crafts, and may be the means of saving lite and property which otherwise might be sacrificed if the present system has gone on with.
We were glad to observe the expeditious manner theAlexandralifeboatwas taken out of the shed and put off to the rescue of the shipwrecked crew but a little over a quarter of an hour elapsed from the vessel capsizing to thelifeboatbeing alongside the wreck.
This time, even, would have been shortened by. one third, if thelifeboatcould have been launched direct from the shed into the water, but the ground m front of the shed is m such a broken state that it was impossible to take the boat over it. The piling and filling m of the whole fore-shore from the old landing place to the Government shed is urgently required, and.the Government should lose no time m causing it to be done. We must not omit to recognise the hearty efforts made. by a number of volunteers m assisting to get thelifeboatinto the water, and also of these few men who stepped forward to man the boat; but although their conduct was most manly and praiseworthy, the chief boatman did right in', refusing their services, and taking with him his own tried crew.
If fact, he could not have acted otherwise, as both himself and crew are specially engaged to man thelifeboatwhen needed. Last, though not least, we must call attention to. one gallant fellow, Mrßertrand, who sw,am through the surf to the rescue of a fellow-creature.
Such an action deserves special mention, for instances of manly courage are not now-a--days, m this quiet part of the world, of such frequent occurrence as to afford to pass over them unnoticed. A Royal Humane Society's medal has been given for actions of less courage and daring than that displayed by Mr Bertrand. Yesterday afternoon a subscription list was opened m the town for the shipwrecked crew, and m the evening it had amounted to seventy guineas.

An account of the event is here:https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD18670116

1868 "The William Miskin was anchored about half-a-mile from the shore, was not sent to sea, she could not possibly ride out the gale. At 4 p.m. this became a certainty, as the sea was making a complete breach over her, and. In fact, breaking outside the ship Timaru, riding at anchor fully one aud a quarter miles from the shore.
At midnight on Monday the barometer took a stand at 28.80, and soon after commenced to rise, the thermometer also rising, thereby indicating a change of wind, which, m fact, shortly after become quite wavm. The fears entertained for the steamerWilliamMiskinwere, unfortunately, fully verified; for shortly after mtdnight she parted cable, and about 2 a.m took the beach on the north side of LeCren's Gully, and in less than ten minutes became a total wreck.
The question now arises upon whom i;he blame should fall for this melancholy catastrophe. We are supposed lo have a harbour master with a pilot under his command.
Is it not part of their duty to sea to the safety of vessels riding m the roadstead, and, should occasion require it, signal for them to go to sea, or ride in the roadstsad at their own responsibility? l am of opinion the present wreck, which most undoubtedly will more or less damage the favourable impression now existing respecting Timaru, calls for a most searching enquiry."

WRECK OF THE STEAMERWILLIAMMISKIN.

We regret exceedingly having to record the total wreck of the screw steamer theWilliamMiskiu, Captain Bain, which took place early yesterday morning on the beach about one and a half miles north of Timaru. TheWilliamMisfein has only of lato been put on the Timaru and Duuediu trade, being formerly employed on the West Coast, where she hud one or two narrow escapes from wreck having been ashore there on more than one occasion, but was fortunate enough always to escape with but little material damage. Yesterday, though, her usual goodfortune deserted her, for she now lies not only a total wreck, but ovory portion of her hull, spars, and rigging are literally smashed to atoms. TheWilliamMiskinmade her appearance m the Timaru roadstead early on Sunday morning from Duuedin with passengers and a miscellaneous cargo, from twelve to fifteen tons of goods. The passengers were early that day put ashore, and the steamer lay at her usual anchorage waiting to discharge on Monday. Sunday was a fine, calm day, but the weather towurda evening looked threatening, there being heavy masses of cloud to seaward. On Sunday evening about eight o'clock it commenced to rain with wiud from the south-east. It rained heavily all night, aud early on Monday morning the wiud increased m violence raising a heavy sea. About 10 a.m. on Monday, theMiskinwas observed to anchor further to seaward from the berth she had uulil then occupied. She was riding by a single anchor with about sixty fathoms of chain. The wind aud sea still increasing, a second anchor was dropped at about half-past ten o'clock. Between three and four o'clock m the afternoon seas commenced to topple over the vessel, and with every sea something or other was washed off the deck, till at last when she commenced to drag, the eteaxner's deck was almost clean swept — water casks, gangways, oil locker, waterelosets. galley and life-boat having all disappeared} The officer m charge, the first mate, (Captain Bain being on shore) had from 6 p.m. on Monday till 1-30 a.m. the following morniug kept the vessel under a full head of steam head to sea, but at that hour the steam failed, the constant seas pouring over having extinguished the fires. Just before the fires were put out, a heavy sea swept the deck, washing overboard one of the sailors, a man named John McDonald. At that time the crew were busily engaged m baling out water from the engine-room, as the pumps then were found useless. Even if all hands had not been bo engaged, it would have been impossible to have saved the poor fellow, as the sea was far too high to have rendered any effectual aid a Soon after 1.30 the steamer began to drag, and at half-post two o'clock the mate perceived that both cables had parted. On finding the steamer drifting hopelessly, and entirely at the mercy of the waves, the mate ordered the topsail and jib to be set to keep her steady and end on to the land. In an hour and ahalf after the cables had parted, the steamer took the ground within a few yards of the rocky promontory on Mr Belfield's property. Had the unfortunate vessel struck the rocks, a great loss of life must have ensued, as the rocks and cliffs behind them rise perpendicularly and would give but little chance of escape ; as it was however, the Miskiti was thrown almost high and dry on a shelving sandy beach, and all hands, to the number of twelve, without the least difficulty got on dry land. Immediately on striking, the steamer commenced to break up, and she was actually broken m two when the last man to leave, the second steward, jumped from her shattered deck on to terra firma. The men at once made for Mr Belfield's house, which is quite, close to the scene of the catastrophe, where they were hospitably received, and soon after they left for Timaru. We barn that at the time the officer m charge shifted the steamer's position, at 8 o'clock on Monday morning, no danger was then apprehended, as, although the barometer was low and filling, yet the storm glass on board theMiskingave no indication of the approachingtempest. On this false security the mate rested, for there cannot be a doubt if he had gone to sea, all would have been well,

and we should not now have to deplore the loss of the steamer. At that hour there was nothing to prevent the mate putting to sea, neither wind or sea were sufficiently high to make the attempt at least dangerous, but afterwards, a few hours later it became impossible, and the steamer had to trust entirely to her cables. We hope that an inquiry into the cause of the wreck will be made, for it seems to us that with a little exercise of fore* thought the Bad catastrophe could have been averted. beach from Whale's creek to the rocky promontory above alluded to, presented a melancholy scene yesterday morning, the entire length being strewn with fragments of the broken-up vessel — iron plates, cabin furniture, parts of doors, planks, tea, chests, bits ofpassengers' luggage, tins of kerosine, 6c., dec, all m inextricable confusion. Of theMiskinitself nothing remains but the boilers standing upright m the sand, with a small portion of the Teasel's bows ; everything has been clean washed out of her. Not a vestige of a deck, or an atom of wood work is there — all is completely destroyed. Along the whole length of the beach where the remnants are thrown up, we found dotted here and there dead sheep and other animals. At first it was supposed they formed part of the vessel's cargo, but on enquiry we find they must have been washed down the Pareora or the Opihi riven, accounts of the losses sustained by stock-holders on the banks of those rivers having reached us. The wreck was visited yesterday by many hundreds of people, to whom the sight of » wreck has been, fortunately, hitherto but of very rare occurrence m or near Timaru.

-WRECK OF THE STEAMER WILLIAM MISKIN.TIMARU HERALD, VOLUME VIII, ISSUE 281, 5 FEBRUARY 1868, PAGE 2

That same year Timaru experience a disasterous flood and fire... "In the town the inhabitants were greatly excited by the wreck of the steamerWilliamMiskin,but attention was soon drawn away to the country districts, about which accounts of a most alarming and of course greatly exaggerated nature were circulated. We have compiled as full an account of the effect of the gale and floods m the various district. ... The steamerWilliamMiskinhad no tackle to ride out a gale, and ought to have been sent to sea. In the country thousands of sheep have been drowned, houses swept away, crops and fences destroyed, and lives sacrificed. The damage to roads and bridges is very great, and we fear that when accounts reach us from the other country districts, they will only add to the already large number of losses sustained." -FURIOUS GALE.TIMARU HERALD, VOLUME VIII, ISSUE 281, 5 FEBRUARY 1868, PAGE 2

THE LATE GALE.TIMARU HERALD, VOLUME VIII, ISSUE 281, 5 FEBRUARY 1868, PAGE 2

1868 William Miskin wrecked at Caroline Bay. In 1906, it was reported that... The drifting of the Waimataitai beach from north to south of late has brought to light once more some relics of old time wrecks. Among them, now on the surface of the beach, are long-buried fragments of the little steamer William Miskin, wrecked in 1868, and the "dead eye" of the shoud bits of muntz metal of some wrecked sailing ship. There are certain points about the about that ship that need attention before the weather becomes hotter.
-TOWN & COUNTRY.TIMARU HERALD, VOLUME LXXXIX, ISSUE 13118, 29 OCTOBER 1906, PAGE 5

This is the 1905 tons The 'Euphrosyne' steel ship at Port Adelaide. Part ofA.D. Edwardes CollectionTheOne of the ships owned by C.S. Caird and Co., Greenock.

Euphrosyne (Ship : 1873-1875) Built by Alex Duthie at Auckland as the "Duke of Edinburgh" in April 1868. Built as a paddle steamer of 86 tons. On 23 January she was re-registered at Auckland, having been converted from a paddle steamer to a three-masted schooner of 77 tons. On 27 August 1873 she was wrecked at Timaru, and sold at auction to H Green. She was refloated, and sailed for Lyttelton. Still in H Green ownership she was repaired, and re-registered under the name "Euphrosyne", at this point strangely registered as having been built by Green at Lyttelton, and allotted a new official number. The on 14 March 1875 the "Euphrosyne" sailed from Dunedin for Oamaru, and was never seen or heard of again; there was no trace found. See "New Zealand shipwrecks" by C W N Ingram.

WRECK OF THE BARQUES COLLINGWOOD AND SUSAN JANE.
TIMARU HERALD, VOLUME X, ISSUE 417, 26 MAY 1869, PAGE 2

LOSS OF ONE LIFE The anniversary of Her Majesty's birthday m 1869 will be .long remembered m Timaru ; as on that day (Monday last) it is our painful duty to record the total losb of two vessels. — the barques Colling wood and Susan Jane, and also the loss of one of the lifeboat's crew m their brave, but unfortunately vain endeavours to go to the assistance of a schooner — the Twilight — which was lying m the roadstead, and had during the whole of the forenoon onMonday been flying a signal of distress. We will proceed to give the history of the several sad occurrences in' the order they occurred.
The Collingwood, barque of 457 tons register, wasbuiltinNewYorkabout 20 years ago, and had been trading m colonial waters for the last six or seven yean — principally between Dunedin and Newcastle. She was owned by Messrs Hutcheson and Co., of Dunedin. The Collingwood arrived m the Timaru roadstead early on Wednesday morning, having taken on board at Lyttelton 1700 bags of wheat, and intended to complete her loading m Timaru with about 25,000 bushels more of wheat, with which she was to proceed to Aucklaud. During Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 1225 bags were shipped on board — making the total cargo on board at the time of the wreck between 10,000 and 11,000 bushels.
During Friday and Saturday there was a nasty sea running, but unaccompanied with any wind, and not sufficient to prevent the shipping of cargo. During Sunday .the sea rose and a very heavy surf tumbled on the beach, but still, strange to say, without any wind. At about six o'clock on Sunday evening the sea was at its highest, and during the evening, when a slight puff of wind came off the land, tlio signal was made from shore by the firing of a roekot to "go to sea." The Susan Jane aud the schooner Twilight attempted to obey the signal, but the wind was so very light that it was found impossible to do so, and anchors were again dropped.
For about two hours before midnight the. sea dropped considerably, but after that hour it again rose to its former strength. Towards morning, between 4 and 5 o'clock it is said that the barque Susan Jane drifted past the bows of the Collingwood, and it is supposed that the latter vossol'e anchor was lifted or tho cable broken by getting fout of the Susan Jane's cublo, for just then the Collingwood fouud herself adrift, and heading rapidly towards tho laud. Tho starboard anchor had parted previously, and now as the port anchor had gone, the bivrque was perfectly helpless, at the mercy of Ihe waves, for there was not a breath of air to enable. the vessel to got out of her imminent danger. Soon after 5 o'clock, she was amidst the iu-shore breakers, aud shortly afterward* took the ground about mid-way along the Waimalaitai lagoon, m Woollcombe's gully.
As soon as she grounded, Mr Mills, the Harbor Muster, was present on the beach with the racket apparatus, and amid firing the first rocket, Mr Mills, we regret- to say, was severely burned about the face and right hand, the rocket going off so suddenly that he had not time to get to a safe distance.
A second rocket was fired under the direction of Capt. Crawford, aud it was well directed, passing right over the vessel. The line having been seized by the men on board, a large rope was quickly passed to the vessel, and preparations made for rescuing the crew. A life buoy, with a species of sack attached underneath wasspeedilyroveon to the rope, and being pulled by a smaller line backwards and forwards from the vessel to the shore, every man on board was soon landed.
The men thus landed were the first and second officers, the crew of ten men, three men who were working their passage, and four men who were taken on board at Timaru for stowing cargo — seventeen souls in all.
The master, Captain Lewis, was ashore at the time of the wreck. The last man to leave the wreck was Mr Green, the first mate.
The Collingwood at this time was resting on an even keel head on to the beach, but between 8 and 9 o'clock she slewed broadside on to the sea, which then having greater power over her, the work of demolition was from that time most rapid. Between 11 and 12 o'clock her masts went one after the the other, and an hour or two later she was completely broken up.
After the disastrous loss of the Collingwood many were the anxious eyes directed towards the Susan Jane, which was Been as daylight dawned on Monday bravely fighting with the breakers, having drifted some considerable distance inshore from the position Bhe was anchored m the previous evening. The Susan Jane, as most of our readers are doubtless aware, belonged to Messrs Cain, LeCren, Turnbull, and others in Timaru, and was brought from New York in the year 1867. Since then she has been chiefly engaged m the coal trade between Timaru'and Newcastle.
On Wednesday last she arrived m the roadstead from Mercury Bay, Auckland, with a cargo of timber. During last week a few boat-loads only of this ' timber were discharged. On Sunday afternoon she was riding easily at her anchors, and did not commence to drag till late m the evening, after -having made an unsuccessful:attempt to put to sea by which she lost good anchorage ground. After midnight on Sunday- and on Monday morning she dragged considerably, and at dawn on Monday she was seen to be well into the entrance of Caroline Bay, with two anchors down, and a large amount of canvas set to ease, off the strain on her cables!
If there had been the slightest land breeze her safety was certain; but, unfortunately, during all Monday there was not sufficient wind even to blow out the, sjgnals. which were passing between the vessel and the authorities on shore at the Government flagstaff. From 'eight o'clock m the morning till past midday the vessel slowly drifted nearer -the ; shore, ianxiously watched by hundreds of spectators who lined the cliffs, At last, when all hope was past of saving the vesael thesignal m given to " slip the cables." The barque then rapidly surged towards the land, and eventually took the beach under the cliff nearly opposite to' the house of Mr H. J. LeCren Mr Morrison, late pilot of the port, was on the top of the cliff with the rocket apparatusjjuid threw a well directed line between her fore and main masts. The rope with the lifebuoy was rapidly rigged out, and the work commenced of landing the crew, nine m number, from the sta^de^TesMJ.'^tllgot safely ashore without mishap, , with the. exception of the ship's cook and mate, who both fell into the boiling surf whilst on their, passage from the vessel. Tho cook was saved by Captain Patterson, the master of .the Susan Jane, who, , boldly rushed into the "surf ' and 'seized the'' man, and both were pulled out of the water by the bystanders on shore. ' The cook was, we regret to say, badly injured by the fall.' The mate was also saved. The vessel then was then lying deck on to the sea, and soon began to breakup. Late at night the 'masts went and she was a complete wreck, and the cargo washed out of her lined the beach m all directions.
About the time the Susan Jane was wrecked, with fortunately' all hands' saved, another scene was being transacted on another part of the beack, which' hod a different and a tragical ending. We have said before that the Twilight, sohooner,. had been flying a signal of distress the greater part ' of Monday morning, and not only was the signal flying, but the crew were heard on shore loudly shouting for assistance.
The crew of the lifeboat were, we believe away at the time, on the look out to render assistance to the Susan Jane, and some time elapsed before they could be got together.
Some men had in the meantime forced open the lifeboat, house, and were proceeding to take her on to the beach— a volunteer crew having been got for her — but a gentleman informed Mr Mills, the Harbour Master, (who had charge of the life boat) of this unwarrantable act, and he at once took matters m his own hands, and got together his own tried crew.
Plenty of volunteers were forthcoming to drag the boat on the carriage from the shed to that part of the beach used by the new Lauding Company, where it was proposed to launch her.
The carriage was taken some, little, distance into the surf and after one or two attempts, the boat was fairly let go. Something however went wrong, and the boat instead of sliding down the grove in the carriage got misplaced and stuck hopelessly on the axles, and a heavy sea coming' washed the boat off the carriage and broadside on to the sea, throwing out the crew. She was immediately hauled bow on again by scores of willing volunteers, and an attempt was again made to shove her off, but the effort failed, and a heavy wave washed her up the beaoh broadside on, smashing nearly all the oars.
The men were either washed or thrown out of the boat on each occasion but they soon scrambled into her again. Several times did the volunteers push off the boat, and on each occasion it was thrown back high up on the beach as a mere toy, each time drifting' to' the north and nearer to the reef which separates the two I lauding services. At last the efforts made were successful, and the boat loft the beach amid the cho*rs of the spectators who thronged the beach road und the high ground adjoining.
The moment was one of intense excitment, as the boat was fairly over the reef where the waves were breaking with the 'greatest furv,aud it was then soon that out of her full crew "only six were on board, fciie others having been washed-out and loft on the beach.
The names of the crew when the boat finally quitted the shore were, Mr Mills, (Harbour Muster),' Duncan' CSuneron (coxswain); .A. White, Thomas Baker, G. Newton, and. W. Oxley. When j ust nt the edge of the reef and but a little way from shorej a tremendous : sea struck the boat and capsized her, throwing all the men into the. water. The scene on the beach at this moment was one of the most fearful excitement, as all the men were struggiling under water it as seen 'hat most, if not all, of them had on the cork lifer belts belonging to the lifeboat Alexandra had righted herself in an instant and soon one man was seen to climb into her and hold out his hand to assist another.
Presently five men had again climbed onto the boat, but one was missing, and was not seen again.
It was soondiscovered that that man was Duncan Cameron.
When the lifeboat capsized all the oars except one were lost, and with this one oar, and a line;; which was attached to the boat's anchor, the crew managed to bring the boat ashore without being again upset.'
It is generally supposed that Duncan Cameron was rendered insensible by a blow on the head, either from the steer-oar or some part of the_ boat as he was a.most expert swimmer, and could have reached the boat, even without a lifebelt, if by any means he lost it.
We learn that when in the water Cameron caught hold of Newton's leg, and would have drowned Newton had he not shaken himself free.
Cameron was a good sailor, and came to Timaru some yean ago from Turanaki He leaves a wife and four children, and we think we have only to mention this fact to ensure liberal 'assistance' for them from a public ever ready to appreciate. courage; and to help those in distress.
This loss of life is more to be deplored when occasion for such a sacrifice is by many persons called in question. In such a matter we do not wish to judge it is the duty ot the harbour master to decide whether he will or will not answer a sigual of distress, and as Captain Mills was himself in the boat, no one can say that he in any way shirked his duty, althongh at the time he was suffering from the effects of an accident with a rocket in the morning.
What the schooner Twilight wanted, we do not know, as she put to' sea on Monday evening when a light breeze sprung up, but it is generally supposed that she was short of provisions and water.
It is a most significant fact, and one which, amid all this distress, speaks a word in favour of the holding ground in the Timaru roadsteadthat the schooner Twilight, riding at the outer anchorage for a small craft, scarcely shifted her position and rode out the storm with comparative ease.
Had the other vessels been further out, and never taken up their anchors, all probability, would now be in the roadstead.
We understand that both the Collingwood and Susan Jane were well insured, and the cargoes of both vessel were also insured.
The hull of the Colhngwood was insured by the New Zealand Insurance Companyu ₤2,500 and the grain on board covered by floating policy in the Union Bank. The hull of the Susan Jane was insured for ₤1,500.

See Also

Racine Family YMCA - Lighthouse Run

Landing terrace for Timaru Shipping Company, Timaru -natlib.govt.nz/512388

Annie Bow, Timaru. 1879? A broadside view of a small steam and sailing ship. ByArthur Lagden Haylock (1860-1948).
Born in Akaroa. In 1877 he entered Government Service and was posted to the Land Office at Timaru. His interest in ships and the sea led him to join the Timaru Rocket Brigade, a group of volunteers which watched over vessels anchored in the roadstead. Involved in the attempts to save the 'City of Perth' and the 'Ben Venue' in May 1882. Transferred to Christchurch and then Wellington. After retirement active in the Anglican Church Men's Society and maintained his interest in compiling records of maritime events. He was only child of Charles Lagden Haylock's second marriage. Had 4 half brothers from a former marriage; Peter, Charles, George and Harry. (Source: Back PA3-0354 & PA3-0358). See also `A Tribute to my pioneer ancestors' by Greta M Haylock, 1974. He also designed the bravery Benvenue medals.

After the storm (Timaru Beach 1882, showing the wreck of the ships Benvenue and City of Perth, 1883).John Gibb 1883.Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, bequest of Mr Thomas Peaco*ck Esq, 1922

City of Perth was refloated, repaired and renamed"TURAKINA." HOMEWARD BOUND. [picture] : 1247 tons. Built at Glasgow. 1868. Ex City of Perth[between 1885 and 1946].ELIDA ex TURAKINA ex CITY OF PERTH [picture]. (1910).. (1910).Brodie Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria.

The 'Lyttelton' wrecked at Timaru. The iron ship 'Lyttelton', 1111 tons, wrecked at Timaru [iron ship rigged, 1180 gross, 1111 net tons. ON78620. 223.8 x 35.0 x 21.0. Built 1878 (3) R Duncan and Co., Port Glasgow. Owners: Albion Shipping Co., registered Glasgow. Totally wrecked at Timaru, New Zealand, when leaving for England June 12, 1886. Built for and usually employed in the England-New Zealand passenger and cargo trade.oai:collections.slsa.sa.gov.au:(AuASA)b21287363, PRG 1373/30/1

A topsail schooner belonging to Messrs Turnbull and Co., which was wrecked when only one year old in 1875. It is shown in good condition with crew aboard, and a ladder propped against the hull, possibly while stranded on a south coast beach in Wellington before refloating. The sea in the background appears to be open sea, possibly Cook Strait, with a distant steamer on the horizon.

Elibank Castle' (1874 - 1885) - on hard sand in New ZealandTurnbull, Alexander Horsburgh, 1868-1918. Shestranded on Ninety Mile Beach (South Island) near the mouth of the Ashburton River 6th June 1875 – there was no loss of life.

We arrived at Timaru on Tuesday, 1st June, after a very tedious passage of southerly gales and calms, and found eleven sailing vessels and two steamers in the roadstead, some of which had been there 25 days, and had not got clear of their inward cargo. I was on shore once, but landed none of my inward cargo. On Friday, the 4th, at 5 p.m., it commenced to blow a hard gale from the southward, but only three vessels went to sea. OnSaturday [6th], at 9.30 a.m., it commenced to blow very heavy, when signals went out from the shore for all vessels to put to sea and they all slipped their cables. We slipped at 10.30 a.m., and stood out to sea with the wind at south. At 2 p.m. the wind hauled to the S.E., putting the vessel on a dead lee shore, the wind blowing furiously, with a tremendous high sea at the beam, throwing the vessel on her beam ends several times, and, scarcely able to recover herself again. At 4 p.m. we saw the schooner Success, of Auckland, owned by Mr. Blair, of Wanganui, about two and a-half miles to leeward, and another vessel about the same distance ahead. The first vessel went ashore twelve miles to the south of us, and the other fifteen miles north. At 8 p.m. we saw land on the lee quarter, and no chance of keeping the vessel off the shore. We then made preparations to save life. At 9.15 p.m. we struck heavily on the beach, the sea breaking heavily over us, being low water at the time. We did not wash up till early next morning, when she was left high and dry. The following high water the sea only met round her. She now lies broadside on to the sea, with a small list to seaward, and about 40 yards from a cliff, which I measured, and found to be 46 feet high. The bench is loose, soft shingle. The vessel does not appear to have hurt much. She must have rubbed a considerable amount of copper off her bottom, which cannot be seen, as she is well embedded in the shingle.Sunday, 9 a.m., we all started in various directions over the plain, to try and find a habitation. -https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/231582464?keyword=Timaru&startPos=160

1890-08-02 -The S.S. Duke of Sutherland - 1882Duke of SutherlandSankon 2nd May while at anchor in Timaru roadstead.Wrecked.https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/110284/rec/48

The Duke of Sutherland, which is the latest addition to the fleet of the New Zealand Shipping Company engaged in the carriage of frozen meat to Europe, arrived in the port of Auckland on July 9th, under the command of Captain Bell, having left London on the 3rd of April with a cargo of steel railing for Cape Town. Though a recent acquisition, she is not a new vessel, having been built now some seventeen years by Duncan and Co., at Port Glasgow, for the service of the Eastern Steamship Company. She is a fourmasted vessel, fore and aft rigged on main, mizzen, and jigger-mast, with top-sail yards on the fore. Her dimension are 300 ft. x 38 x 28i in depth ; her horse-power 400, and her tonnage 2,031 net or 3,116 gross. After staying a day in Auckland and partially loading, she proceeded to Napier and the Southern ports to complete her cargo. Then at Napier a large accession to this will be made from the station of Messrs Nelson Bros, in Hawke’s Bay (see illustration on page 3), whose depot for frozen meat at Cannon-street Railway Bridge, is one of the notable features on these lines in London. The process followed there is in this wise. The carcases, after the animals have been killed and dressed, are hooked to friction pulleys travelling overhead, and are run into the cooling room, the skins, fat, etc., being removed in a tramway elsewhere. The cooling-room is constructed with a double ceiling, through which a current of air is drawn by a fan driven by a donkey-engine. After hanging here for ten hours, so as gradually to remove all the animal heat, the carcasses are passed into the refrigerating chambers, which are fitted with sliding air-tight doors. These chambers hold from 200to 400 carcasses, and the sheep remain in them for thirtysix hours. They are then removed into the storing-rooms, and each being sewn in a cotton bag, and duly labelled are now reaily for shipment, as thown in illustiation on page 3. The refrigerating and storage chambers have the walls, floors, and ceilings insulated with a charcoal lining, and the cold air is supplied through an inlet air trunk diiect fiom the engine, and afterwards passes back to be cooled down and used over again. By this means there is a constant circulation of cold air. • One thousand sheep can lie prepared per day, and there is storage accomodation for 26,000 carcasses. The storage chambers open directly on to the railway siding (having air-tight doors at each end), where the frozen carcasses are put into specially-constructed trucks, which convey the meat to the port of shipment. There it is consigned to the steamers and sailing-ships which convey the meat to England, and which are fitted with similar machinery and chambers.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/new-zealand-graphic/1890/08/02

The Star May 3 1882
Loss of a Grain Ship 'Duke of 'Sutherland' in Timaru Harbour

"A few minutes before seven o'clock Captain Rowlands' felt his vessel quiver very severely. A few minutes later she came down on the ground with a crash."

A good deal of excitement was caused in Timaru to-night by the barque Duke of Sutherland making distress signals in the roadstead. Shortly after seven o'clock a gun was fired on board, and, after waiting about half an hour, two rockets were fired from the vessel, and blue lights were burned on deck as signals of distress. It was at first imagined that the vessel must have parted her moorings, but as she still remained at her anchorage such an idea was abandoned. The Rocket Brigade answered the signals by firing a gun from the lighthouse, and an attempt was made to launch the lifeboat, but the order was countermanded, as the sea was comparatively smooth. The captain and his crew came ashore in the ship's boat about nine o'clock, and reported that the vessel had sprung a leak and was filling with water, there being then fully six feet of water in her hold. The vessel is grain laden, and she had nearly completed her loading, and was expected to sail for London to-morrow with a full cargo.

The Duke of Sutherland, a clipper, is a strongly built wooden vessel of 1047 tons register, built at Aberdeen in 1865, owned by Jacobs Brothers and Co., of London and was surveyed in 1877 and reclassed for eight years. Captain Rowland is her master. For many years past she had been running in the Australian trade. The captain says the vessel was labouring in the trough of a heavy sea, and she bumped on the bottom. She is said to be drawing 20 feet of water, with about eight to ten feet of water under, the depth at low tide being about 30 feet. The statement about bumping could not be credited on shore, as the vessel is anchored out about 400 yards from the extreme seaward point of the breakwater, and there are several large vessels anchored close to her. There is a heavy ground swell in the roadstead, but the sea is not rough, as instanced by the fact that several whaleboats have been rowed out to the vessel during the evening. It is far more likely that, being an old wooden vessel and heavily laden, she sprang some timbers by labouring in the trough of the sea. The captain, accompanied by the Harbour Master, has now returned to the ship, and it is said that she is a hopeless wreck, and likely to go down at her anchors before mooring, but until the Harbour Master comes on shore no real authentic information can be gained. The sailors have taken their traps ashore, and say the vessel is doomed.

Later.
The vessel is a hopeless wreck. She has not altogether sunk, being built of wood, and an attempt is now being made to drift her to the northward out of the way of the other vessel, but it is doubtful whether it will be successful. She has about 1000 tons of grain in her, 10, 550 sacks of wheat, shipped by the New Zealand Grain Agency and Mercantile Company. The vessel and cargo are fully insured by Adelaide offices.

The Star May 4 1882
May 3. Captain Rowland's and the Harbour Master proceeded on board again about eleven o'clock last night, and succeeded, with a number of men, in keeping her afloat till four o'clock this morning, when she was hauled clear of the other vessels, and the cable slipped, and she was carried down towards Caroline Bay, where she broke up this afternoon. A court of Inquiry will be held tomorrow afternoon.

The barque, Duke of Sutherland, was allowed to drift a few hundred yards to the north, and about noon to-day she canted over on her side, and all her deck fittings where washed away. She disappeared altogether tonight. The hull and cargo are advertised for sale tomorrow, but it strikes me the auctioneer will have to work largely on his imagination in deciding where the vessel actually is.

WRECK OF THE BRIG CRAIGELLACHIE.

Last Saturday morning about 7 o'clock the brig Craig Ellachie came ashore on the rocky beach, a short distance to the north of the Government Lauding Service, and there appears to be no possibility of saving her I from becoming a total wreck. She was riding m Bafety at anchor m the roadstead, until about 5.15 o'clock that morning, when she paited one of her cables, und commenced to drift towards the shore. As quick as possible the second anchor was dropped, and that held her for about three-quarters of an hour ; but the chain eventually parted, and she was consequently rendered quite helpless, and her journey towards the shore was rapid. Cuptaiu Hills, very fortunately, noticed the first cable parling, and seeing the danger m which the vessel stood, about 5.45 ho fired the signal gun, and m a few minutes after the Rocket Brigade assembled with commendable promptitude, together with a large number of people who were aroused by the report of the gun. The vessel touched the shore about 7.10, and a rocket having been fired, communication tvug immediately effected with her, and all the crew were safely landed. The vessel was then made fast to the shore and abandoned, and. she now lies high, and dry on the beach. The Craig Ji'llachie was a wooden vessel of 226 tons register, and at the time of her disaster was under the command of Captain Meredith. Sho was built m Sundcrland m 1862, and was therefore about 15 years old. About two years ago she was purchased by Messrs E. and J. Smilhjjcoal merchants, of.tb.i9 town, for whom she has been trading, principally to Newcastle, since. Sho was a very good sailer, having made her last passage from Newcastle m 13 dnys, and had also great carrying capacity, from 360 to 380 tons of coal being her usual cargo. Much sympathy is felt for Messrs Smith, as, though she is insured to some extent, they lose considerably by her. She was insured for £1000 m tho New Zealand Insurance Company, and for £300 m the Union. Her cargo was also insured for £300 m the Victorian Insurance Company's office, but only about 100 tons of cool remain now on board. The same afternoon's tide brought her broadside on to the shore, and many thought her position was improved and hopes that she might yet be saved were entertained. Yesterday, however, it was discovered that almost all her keel was smashed, while m several parts of her bottom she was letting water m and out freely. There is not now the slightest possibility of saving her, but as she is lying on a snndy bed, it is probable she will not break up for some time. On Saturday afternoon, by the last train, Captain Dunsford arrived from Christchurch, and he, with. Captain Cain, took possession of her on behalf of the underwriters, and it is probably that she will be offered for sale either to-day or next Thursday. An investigation into the cause of the disaster will be held m [tko Custom-house at 11 o'clock thiß morning. THE SCHOONEE KATE MACGBEGOE. This vessel also experienced tho full force of the fierce sea which was rolling m on; Saturday, and so far aB we can learn she had a narrow escape from meeting the same fate as the Craig Ellacbie. On Saturday night, about 9.30 o'clock, after baring stood bravely through it all day, one of her cables parted, and the signal of distress was at once hoisted. Captain Mills, the Harbormaster, was on the alert as usual, and noticing thp signal, about 10 o'clock fired the signal gun, and m a few minutes after the Volunteer Rocket Brigade were again at his side, ready for action. No immediate danger, however, being observable, two or three men were appointed to keep a look-out during the night, and the Brigade separated, and we are glad to state their services have not been called into requisition since. Yesterday & cask came ashore addressed to Captain Morgan, the master of the Kate Macgregor — who had come'ashore previous to the rising of the storm and was not able to return — which on being opened was found to contain a letter from hiß mate, stating that as one of her anchors had gone he would take the vesiel to sea m the event of her losing the other, or, failing that, he wished that a light should be placed on the safest part of the beach, so that he might try and save her from being injured. "These laudable precautions, however, proved unnecessary, as towards midnight on Saturday the weather moderated, and yesterday the sea waa tolerably calm, and now there appears no immediate danger of a recurrence of the »torm. The Annie £owe was the only other vei*el m port, but she rode out the storm m splendid style, and does not seem to hare. KBYed an inch daring the whole time. -https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD18771224.2.14

Mobile Unit - NZ oral history, 1946-1948: RNZ CollectionHaylock, Arthur Lagden, 1860-1948, IntervieweeNew Zealand Broadcasting Service. Mobile Recording Unit

An interview with New Zealand shipwreck historian Arthur Lagden Haylock who discusses wrecks around the New Zealand coastline. Mr Haylock, who was born in Akaroa, Banks Peninsula in 1860, is interviewed in Wellington, where he has lived since 1892. He talks about his interest in ship wrecks and his rescue work with the Rocket Brigade at Timaru (where he lived from about 1877).

Arthur and the interviewer discuss a map of New Zealand showing the location of various shipwrecks.

Arthur remarks that the ‘Orpheus’ wreck was one of the most celebrated in New Zealand and Waitara was very busy with ships. The Whanganui coast was dangerous and there were many wrecks. There were four wrecks in Wellington and twenty in Palliser Bay.

His interest in wrecks began with the ‘Melrose’ he describes how she became wrecked and the consequent loss of life. Arthur first got involved in wrecks when he lived in Timaru as they were fairly common due to the wind. He describes the thrill of the wreck as she strikes the beach.

The ‘Akbar’ was wrecked in 1879, after the ‘Melrose’, ‘Fanny’, ‘Glimpse’ and ‘Lapwing’ shipwrecks in 1878. Arthur explains how he joined the Timaru Rocket Brigade when the ‘Akbar’ was wrecked when Captain Alexander Mills was the harbourmaster. The Timaru Rocket Brigade’s headquarters were in a tower on the site of the old lighthouse in Timaru, where they were asked to keep watch in bad weather. The night the ‘Akbar’ was wrecked the ship couldn’t signal with a rocket or flare as they had got wet, which he feels was negligence from the captain as he didn’t keep them in a watertight box. It wasn’t until the morning that the ship was spotted on the rocks and five lives were lost including the captain and his wife.

Arthur describes that they used an 'express', which was a wagonette with two horses, to carry everything to and from the wreck, sometimes up to three miles by road and across paddocks

Arthur and the crew of the Timaru Rocket Brigade witnessed the ‘Craig Ellachie’ come ashore at 7am, after she dragged her anchor and parted her cable. He watched as Captain Meredith’s wife, the crew and then Captain Meredith came ashore.

The ‘Melrose’ was the most exciting wreck Arthur and the Timaru Rocket Brigade attended to, as it was very dangerous for the ship’s crew to hang on to the wreck and come ashore. He describes the scene as he watched from the beach when Judge Ward helped rescue the captain from drowning. He survived and was sent to hospital by Doctor McIntyre.

Arthur describes how on 22nd November 1879 the ‘John Watson’ struck the reef at Patiti Point and how the schooner ‘Saxon’ and the harbour master Captain Alexander Mills responded.

Arthur also recounts how the ‘City of Cashmere’ was wrecked on January 14th 1882 five miles north of Timaru and the Dashing Rocks. How he took a boat from the Timaru Boating Club so he could sketch the vessel in a watercolour and got into trouble at sea.

On a beautiful sunny day on the 14th May 1882, the sea ‘was in a furious state’. Whilst standing on the shore Arthur witnessed three boats capsized which were trying to reach two ships ‘City of Perth’ and the ‘Ben Venue’ that were anchored. At the inquiry the captain stated he had never seen such high waves created by the ocean currents crossing each other, not caused by the wind. The cross currents had caused the stern to slew right round. At the inquiry, the Harbour Board authorities said happened frequently in Timaru.

The ‘City of Perth’ came ashore under the Ben Venue cliffs and avoided being wrecked due to having two anchors down and ropes out. She was hauled off and taken to Port Chalmers for repairs and reconditioned to sail again. He recounts how the ‘City of Perth’ crossed the bow of the steamer ‘Ruapehu’ at 16 knots an hour and handed them a rope to tow them. Much to the excitement of those aboard the steamer, as this was a thing you would see ‘in the old shipping times’.

Mr Haylock came to Wellington in 1892 and has had 70 years of interest in ship wrecks, having kept a diary of wrecks since he was 13 years old.

In 1864 the Marine Department began publishing information on wrecks which Arthur uses for his research, earlier than that he uses books on New Zealand.

Arthur talks about the wreck of the ‘White Swan’ off Ariki Point when it raced with the ‘Storm Bird’ travelling from Auckland to Wellington, but came ashore by cutting the coast short, 36 miles from Masterton on the coast.

Arthur comments there has been between 1500-1700 wrecks around New Zealand, with the 'Endeavor' in Dusky Sound in 1769, being the earliest. Arthur collects information from the Marine Department, daily papers and books, which he then marks on the map and keeps a card system which lists the name of the vessel, the captain and the tonnage. Also collecting information from the Mission Library in Sydney and his friend George Cook. Also Mr Harris in Dunedin and he’s travelled to many places, including the British Museum and Hobart to uncover information on wrecks.

For 60 years Arthur investigated the ‘Wainui’ which was built for Mr Latter, whose sons Arthur played with. The ‘Wainui’ left New Zealand in 1874 and Arthur found out from the papers in 1879 she had been ‘lost in the islands’. Arthur contacted Miss Ida Leeson at the Mission library who advised Arthur to contact the Governor of New Caledonia. He made contact with the captain of the ‘Wainui’ who answered his questions after 60 years of investigating. Captain Champion was the last captain on the ‘Wainui’, he was employed by the Union Company in Lyttleton and captained Bishop Selwyn’s boat the ‘Undine’. The Chief Engineer of the 'Wahine', Ernest Low confirmed this to Arthur.

Sir George Shirtcliffe and Arthur Turnbull, now head of the shipping firm in Christchurch under the same name, were both members of the Timaru Rocket Brigade.

The shipping disasters and loss of life at Timaru, which occurred on Sunday 14th May, 1882.. Aoraki Heritage Collection, accessed 21/05/2023, https://aorakiheritage.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/239

Conservation officer Mr Ashley Gualter at the city’s memorial for the wrecks of the Benvenue and the City of Perth.

Timaru streets are the sites of many famous wrecks Few people would think, walking into the Caroline Bay Hall, that in May 1869 a 183-tonne barque called the Susan Jane was wrecked there. Local conservation officer Mr Ashley Gualter recently compared records of where many vessels went down at Timaru to where land had been reclaimed. He plotted from information he had obtained from the South Can- terbury museum where each vessel originally sank or was grounded — although many of the wrecks broke up and were scattered. Between 1866 and 1886 what are now the Port of Timaru’s roadways had the unenviable record of having 28 wrecks or strandings.
Passing the South Canterbury Roller Skating Rink on the Port Loop Road, you are crossing over the site of the wreck of the Layard. On 8 June 1870 the 179-tonne brig ran aground there and was wrecked, while discharging its cargo of 257 tonnes of coal. Continuing along the Port Loop Road you cross the bows of where the 214 brig Fairy Queen ran aground in August 1873; the Wan- derer, a 32-tonne ketch which grounded on the same day; and the 237-tonne barque Isabella Ridley. The Isabella Ridley was dragged to the rocks by a strong surf on 19 April 1877.
The Rocket, Brigade had already assembled, and when the vessel beached a rocket was fired through its foresail, setting it alight. By Lindsay Mutch Staff Reporter Its crew of 10 landed safely, but during the night the chief officer and a seaman made an attempt to reach the wreck and save personal effects, but one of them drowned. The other was saved by the po- lice and later discharged with a caution. After passing the site where the Duke of Edinburgh was originally grounded with the Wanderer and the Fairy Queen but later refloated, you can move on to Hayes Street. On Hayes Street you pass over the site where the Prince Consort, a 36-tonne schooner was wrecked on 20 December 1866; and the 272- tonne brig Princess Alice ran ashore on 9 May 1875. Where the corner of Hayes Street. and Hayman Street is situated, the Cyrene was wrecked on the same day as the Princess Alice. The barque of 538 tonnes had been taking on water and ran itself aground about two hours after the Princess Alice.
Further down Haye Street is the site where the Lady of the Lake was grounded in 1873, but later refloated. Numerous other vessels were wrecked around Timaru — apart from the infamous tragedy of the City of Perth and the Benvenue on 14 May 1882. In 1886 the Lyttelton, an iron- hulled ship of 1111 tonnes, was be- ing towed out of the port by the steamer Grafton. However the tow line became entangled in the ship’s propeller and an anchor was dropped. When the tow resumed the ship holed its bottom with the anchor, and sank. It was the last vessel to sink at the port in the 20-year period. Since those years, between 1866 and 1886, the port’s record has im- proved considerably. Although the Elginshire ran aground at Norman- dy, south of Timaru, in 1892.
And in 1958 the Kaitoke ran aground, to be refloated later.
In 1959 the Holmglen sank about 35km east of Timaru, and on 12 November 1964 the 4670-tonne Treneglos was stranded on a reef off Jack’s Point. For four days the liner remained fast on the reef, until about 5000 bales of wool and several hundred tonnes of general cargo had been unloaded for transfer back to the port in boats — or jettisoned into the sea. When lifted, the vessel made its way to port for temporary répairs before being towed to Wellington. Mr Gualter said the study was one small historical aspect in the investigation of the department’s proposed marine reserve for the area.

D E Drake,Three Bradley brothers in 1882 wreck rescues(12 May 1982). Aoraki Heritage Collection, accessed 05/07/2023, https://aorakiheritage.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/3660

Three Bradley brothers in 1882 wreck rescues D. EK. Drake It is not surprising that the dramatic events involving the wrecked Benvenue and the City of Perth in Caroline Bay on May 14, 1882, have been a talking point in the Bradley household over the years. On that fateful day annual reunion of sur- the cliffs alongside the perience of a shipwreck when nine gallant men lost. vivors. Benvenue. If I had known Was in 1873. When he was their lives in the port’s The reunions were dis- of the set as I do now, I only 18 years old, the little worst achipping uisebier, contin eda iS ouenl would never have left the pieamers ie eaeys e Hae Bradley brothers — abou 920 when ere ship.” 4ake, Was wrecked at the saac, Philip and Dan — were only eight or nine On-the journey back to Old landing service. at the ere solved in the Sever. Paes ee aa the shore, the Bradley life- Potton Cle eoree aoe al rescue attempts: which n May 14, 2, Isaac boat capsized. Isaac and n » When he was eo asblacs: oe peliand aspilp aradley were Philip were both rescued, OHNE a the one pilot rother-in-ld seorge among the first volunteers one of them by their Service, he schooner Sunaway, was also there. to crew a lifeboat which brother, Dan, who was a Amaranth got into dif- went out to the stricken member of the crew of the ficulties, and he had to row iT City of Perth, and Isaac, Alexandra, the port’s life- out to the ship, pick up the 5 then only 22 years of age, boat. master, and tow him back was the first man to go on For years afterwards, to shore. The Amaranth board the vessel. Later, he Isaac had plenty of op- later went ashore on Nine- said he was_ sent forward portunity to discuss the ty Mile Beach. by Captain McDonald events of 1882, He was for In 1882, there was the {master of the City of a long time. until his re- loss of the City of Wilfred, Florence, and Perth) to see if the bow an- irement in 1934, the Union Cashmere (January), the Rita (Mrs Pragnell), who chor had been carried Company’s marine super- Duke of Sutherland (May ailivesncbimnacn: away. intendent at the Port of 2) which was wrecked in cineronl vecurvivincarel’ In an interview with a Timaru, and often used to Caroline Bay in spite of ye oe youn iving Tela- vimaru Herald reporter in entertain the masters of nt attempts to save tive of Philip is his grand- Ldeldlaetint ie anna reaper ka her, and, of th son, Mr P. J. A. Bradley, !932, Isaac said it was then Visiting ships in his home. Ben SHC paecOUuse =the PISO OMTIMATUG: “" that a fatal mistake was | But the Rev. Ww. J. Benvenue and City of A vivid reminder of the Made. Brad eons, ise “Thi ee ees ory father dis i Bi ings or 2 scene in Caroline Bay 100 “Most of us thought the aes coun e. sipeln “Black” Sunday” Be May years ago is a fine oil pain- vessel was going ashore on “He used 14, 1882 — but Mr Bradle} ting in the home of Mr A. I Dashing Rocks,” he said. e later considered that his Biciia at 137 eon the a ip, ve pou time went on, but we were Worst personal experience The Saran of CoM ne ieee a ing over really just water rats’,” was with the wreck of the C..M. th , and it did not look Mr Bradley recalled. Elginshire, just south of Jones, once eescribed fas like an inviting place to go Isaac Bradley probably Timaru, in May, 1892. On an engineer aboard the . . . and we took to the had every reason to de- that occasion, he spent 24 be dranimg i chvsfe Sap” gina See, el a a ater Nurs nasal bat nie a z s at, for vas j 2 open sea. Benvenue close in to the shore, she got into a south- Sales eves: eS "'Tsaac Bradley died in Benvenue Cliffs and rolling erly set. and drifted into sailors. His first ex- 1936. He was 76. Isaac, who was almost legendary on the Tir waterfront through his 55 years’ service there, most of it with the old Union Steam Ship Company. is today survived by four of his large family — Arthur, to say ‘we were called heroes as the and the City of Perth . drifting stern-on to the cliffs. Amid the heavy, rolling seas are the life. boats which set out to try to rescue the City of Perth. According to notes pub- lished in The Timaru Her- ald 50 years ago, the paint- ing had been described as “most realistic’’. Mr Arthur Bradley, now 83, said he did not know how the painting came to be in the possession of his family, but ‘‘it was in our old home‘for as long as I can remember”’. And, perhaps, it was ap- propriate for the painting to be in the Isaac Bradley home for not only did he and his two brothers figure prominently in the rescues, but for a number of years afterward his Messrs Arthur (left) and Wilfred Bradley with the C. M. Jones oil painting of ships in trouble in home the venue for an Caroline Bay on May 14, 1882.

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