the Anazi, a small composite barque of 468 tons, formerly owned by Mr. J. Fleming, of London, was purchased by Shaw, Savill Co. She made her first appearance at Auckland on March 1, 1874. She was a slow sailer, her fastest passage being made in 111 days to Port Chalmers, and her longest run 126 days to Auckland. When entering the Hauraki Gulf in 1874 the barque went ashore early on the morning of March 1 at a bay about three miles beyond Takapuna, Auckland. Full details of the disaster were published at the time, and the following interesting account was supplied to the "Auckland Star" by Mr. Burley, one of the passengers. He stated:—

"We passed Tiritiri about 7 p.m. on the night of April 30. Instead of making for Rangitoto Reef, the captain stood towards the Lake shore, stating he intended working the ship about all night, as he considered he knew all about the harbour. About 12.30 the ship gave three bumps—she was about eighty yards from the shore. Messrs. Burley and Wood next morning swam ashore. They had difficulty in doing this, as the captain refused to allow anyone to leave, and refused to hoist any signal of distress, although urged to do so by the passengers. After Messrs. Wood and Burley left the ship the rest of the passengers and crew got ready to leave, but the captain refused to allow them, and high words ensued, the crew threatening to lash him to the mast if he still offered resistance. Upon being persuaded by the chief officer he withdrew his objection, and the passengers were landed. When the pilot, Captain Burgess, who had been out all night in a boat looking for the vessel, reached the scene the vessel was lying broadside on a sandy beach between rocks. No effort had been made to secure her with anchors after she struck, and she had altered her position considerably, becoming firmly embedded in the sand. There was no immediate danger of her breaking up, and the Thames steamer, the Golden Crown, was chartered and endeavoured to tow her off at high water. She reached the wreck at 4 a.m., but this attempt proved unsuccessful. Another effort was made at high tide the same evening, fifteen tons of salt having been thrown overboard to lighten her. The whole strength of the four boilers of the Golden Crown were used, but though moving the Anazi slightly, it was found that more cargo would have to be removed. To the surprise of everyone, next morning signals showed 'Anazi afloat,' but at 11 o'clock another signal told that the Anazi had taken the ground again. The barque was, however, successfully floated again at high water and hauled off to her anchors about seventy fathoms out into deep water."

Another passenger stated it had been a dreadful voyage. Provisions were short for a month, except for the captain and his friends. The captain's dreadful cruelty to the steward, who was in ill-health, caused him to commit suicide, and his conduct was outrageous to the second mate at the time of the disaster. The mate was on duty at the time of the stranding, and had done his best to rouse the drunken captain, but had failed in the attempt. The men on board had to protect the second mate from the fury of the captain on his discovery of the state of things. The conduct of the first mate was also most reprehensible. Though rockets and guns were on board he would not allow a signal of distress to be made, though the vessel was being knocked against the beach most unmercifully. When the passengers decided to go away in the boat (they had previously sent bottles ashore containing statements of the case), the captain, who had forbidden them to go, endeavoured to cut the ropes, and he had to be bound until the boat was lowered, and then the passengers were afraid he would fire at them, as he had his pistol at hand.

Captain Holman, who had previously visited Auckland as an officer on the Ida Zeigler, was in command. The barque had on board twelve passengers and a cargo valued at £47,000, including a valuable plant for the Kaponga Gold Mining Co., Coromandel.

Finding of the Court.

An inquiry into the stranding of the barque was held on March 2, and thepage 164following decision given by the nautical assessors:—

"The Court is of the opinion that the barque Anazi was stranded in consequence of the mismanagement of the master, Captain Holman, whilst labouring under the influence of liquor. The Court is also of opinion that the chief mate, Mr. Wise, has been guilty of gross neglect of duty and showed an utter disregard for the safety of the ship from the time she was laid to until she stranded. The Court is further of opinion that the second mate, Mr. Marsack, was extremely culpable in not at once reporting to the chief mate the fact that he believed the captain to be under the influence of liquor. The fifth section of the Inquiry Into Wrecks Act, 1869, prohibits the Court from cancelling or suspending the certificates of the officers unless it be proved that the ship was 'seriously damaged,' the act of stranding being entirely ignored. The evidence shows that the stranding of the Anazi caused her to lose 12ft of her false keel, but otherwise she does not appear to have been injured. The question therefore to be considered is, does the loss of 12ft of false keel constitute 'serious damage' as contemplated by the 15th section of the Act, under which these proceedings are instituted? Upon that point no evidence whatever was offered. The nautical assessors of the Court are of the opinion that it 'does not,' and therefore the Court has no power to deal with the case under the Inquiry Into Wrecks Act, 1869."

On the application of Mr. Brookfield, his Worship said Captain Holman must pay costs. He had had a narrow escape, and he hoped it would prove a salutary lesson to him through life.

Alarm of Fire.

The voyage of the Anazi appears to have been eventful with misfortunes. She left Deal on November 4, and on the 14th of the same month a fire broke out in the storeroom, and as four tons of gunpowder were included in the cargo great anxiety was felt. Passengers and crew exerted themselves to the utmost to extinguish it (with totally inadequate appliances), and were ultimately successful.

Nothing of an eventful nature occurred on any of the other passages. Captain Hill, who made six voyages in the Anazi, subsequently commanded the Himalaya, visiting alternately Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin.