White Wings Vol II. Founding Of The Provinces And Old-Time Shipping. Passenger Ships From 1840 To 1885
The Henbury
The Henbury.
The Henbury, a ship of 473 tons, sailed for Dunedin from Gravesend under Captain Robinson, with passengers and general cargo, on the 23rd April, 1859. She arrived on the 20th August, 1859.
Within a few hours after her arrival the vessel was totally destroyed by fire, the origin of which was a mystery. After anchoring, the captain went up to Dunedin, and during his absence the crew obtained a quantity of grog, in which they indulged to great excess; so much so, that under its influence some severe blows were exchanged amongst the men, and their conduct altogether was so extremely disgraceful as to compel the passengers, who were on board to seek refuge, some on the Avondale and some on shore. On the following morning, about 3 o'clock, the chief mate was aroused by a strong smell of fire, and immediately discovered that the sails in the sail locker were blazing. Every effort was made to extinguish the outbreak, but it had gained too strong a hold, and in a short time the entire after part of the ship was a mass of flames. The only possible means of subduing the fire was to scuttle the vessel. This was accordingly done, but not effectively. The ship had been allowed to drift towards the shore, with the object of avoiding sinking her in deep water and having run too far in she could not be sunk deep enough. Her stern grounded, and this prevented that part from being submerged. The fire continued to rage below deck with such fury as to allow of no effective means being taken to save any part of the cargo. About 10 a.m. the flames burst forth and completed the work of destruction. The Henbury in a few hours lay on the beach at Port Chalmers a complete wreck, the whole of her after part, as far as the main mast, with the cargo, having been reduced to a cinder. As the fire occurred so shortly after the vessel's arrival, nothing had been landed, consequently the passengers lost everything they had on board, many having to rush ashore in very scanty garments. The cargo, all of which was destroyed, was valued at £20,000.