A barque of 424 tons, the Ann Gambles, built at Worthington in 1862, was sent out after the year 1875 by the New Zealand Shipping Company, and when just about completing her third run to New Zealand, disaster overtook her at the Bluff. At the time she was laden with general merchandise, including the much-required plant for the Invercargill gas works.

The barque made her first voyage to Nelson, arriving there on the 3rd December, 1871, after a passage of 121 days. She sailed from London again on December 8th, 1876, and arrived at Lyttelton on April 12th, 1877, the passage occupying 124 days. She was under the command of Captain Morgan. The following

the Ann Gambles Wrecked At The Bluff.

year she sailed from Gravesend on January 26th, and arrived at the Bluff on May 17, 1878. Nothing eventful occurred until she was within 300 miles of the New Zealand coast, when a furious gale came on, and whilst labouring in the heavy sea the barque lost her fore topgallant mast and foreyard. The crew were occupied two days in clearing away the wreckage and securing the foreyard. She encountered bad weather on sighting the South-west Cape on May 15. It was then blowing a hurricane, with thick weather, and she was close in shore when the land was sighted. Great difficulty was experienced in clewing the ship offshore. The crew, however, managed to get the vessel clear, and after weathering the land she was hove-to to wait for an improvement in the weather. Next day, on the 16th May, she bore away, and passed the Solanders at noon, with a whole gale behind her.

Struck by a Squall.

As she drew up to the Bluff sail was shortened, and the night being bright moonlight and quite clear between the squalls, Captain Morgan determined to make for Bluff Harbour. As she rounded Starling Point the foresail was taken off her and both anchors let go, the foretopsail being still on the barque. Just then, the master averred, a heavy squall struck the ship, and before the anchors could "bite" she was driven upon the rocks at Tewais Point, and, the tide acting on her, she swung broadside on.

Pilot Smith, observing the plight the vessel was in, went off at once, and found her hard and fast on the rocks. Nothing could be done to aid the barque, as when the pilot boarded her she was full of water from the aft to the forepeak watertight bulkhead. The pilot boat conveyed all hands from the wreck to the shore, as the hull was bumping very heavily. The end came on November 24, when the vessel broke in two, and the following day the vessel had almost disappeared.

the Ann Gambles was manned withpage 282 fourteen hands, all told, including the master and four apprentices. It was freely stated at the time that to attempt to make Bluff Harbour after nightfall and without a pilot was a rash proceeding. Excepting the brig Carl, the Ann Gambles was the only vessel that had come to grief at Bluff for 13 years.

The same gale encountered by the ship was felt at Invercargill and the Bluff. The "Southland News" reported: "A fearful south-west gale was raging, which raised a high sea, that broke at times clean over the wharf."

An inquiry was held and it was not surprising that the captain's certificate was suspended for six months.

The ship had a £10,000 cargo aboard, including the long-expected and much required plant for the Invercargill gas works, and the underwriters decided to sell the wreck where it lay. She was in a perilous position, especially if a southerly gale were to spring up, and a big effort was made to refloat her, but without success.

As an explanation of her accident it may be mentioned that an examination showed that the starboard anchor was broken at the shank, and the chain of the port anchor had carried away, showing the terrific strain that had driven her ashore.