29 Jul 1848

H.M. ship Calliope, Captain Edward Stanley, came into harbour from the Bay of Islands on Sunday evening, after a harassing cruise of six-and-twenty days, during which time she encountered a succession of gales and tempestuous weather. On the outward passage, whilst endeavouring to fetch into Kororarika, she was blown eighty miles to seaward, off Cape Brett, making a protracted passage of nearly eight days. On Monday, the 19th June, when a short distance from the Hen and Chickens, being then on her return passage, she was struck by a heavy squall, which split her main topsail, and compelled her to reduce her canvas. At fifty minutes past four a.m. of the 20th, the ship had been driven to the northward, the Poor Knights being in sight ; and at daybreak she was discovered to be completely embayed. To weather Cape Tewara (or Bream Head) became a matter of extreme anxiety, as upon the success of that manoeuvre the salvation of the ship and crew depended, there being no room to wear and attempt to claw off shore on the opposite tack. It was a moment to try the nerve and to demand the skill of the accomplished seaman ; and fortunately, in neither quality is Captain Stanley in the slightest degree deficient. The gallant little frigate was made to carry the heaviest press of sail beneath which she could safely stagger, until with indomitable perseverance, and favoured by the tide, the difficulty was happily surmounted, and Cape Tewara passed.

Captain Stanley then bore up for Wangari, a beautiful and capacious harbour, with excellent holding ground, perfect shelter, and a fine and fertile neighbouring country. In running in, the ship tailed on a shoal of mud and sand, (not laid down in the chart), but so gently - the water being smooth as that of a mill pond, - that her grounding was unknown until her way was perceived to be stopped. It was about half ebb, when the frigate grounded, so that at low water, she heeled over at an angle of 23°, and had in consequence, to be shored up with rough spars and top-gallant masts previously sent on deck. In this emergency, 40 tons of water were started, and her port guns gun in, and shot shifted to windward. A stream cable and anchor having been laid out astern, at 7.50 the ship was hove off, and run in safety up the harbour, bringing to with her best bower, in twelve fathoms, at 8 p.m.

During these trying operations, the beautiful little ship behaved admirably, and did she only possess two feet more of beam, she would, in the opinion of her gallant Captain, be perfection. During the stay of the Calliope at the Bay of Islands, Captain Stanley brought a claim for salvage of the stores and cargo of the American whaler Hope before the resident magistracy, who declined to make an award, the case therefore, will be brought under consideration of the Supreme Court during its next session.- New Zealander, June 28.

SG & SGTL Vol 5 ; p 184

5 Aug 1848. It is reported that the barque Elora had been chartered to proceed to the Bay of Islands for the purpose of conveying to Auckland the oil and stores saved by the boats of H.M.S. Calliope from the wreck of the American whaler Hope. The claim for salvage in this case was expected to be settled without recourse to law.

SG & SGTL Vol 5 ; p 187

^ back to top ^