page 133

The Pleiades.

After sailing the seas for thirty years, and bringing many thousand immigrants to the Colony, the ship Pleiades met her doom by going ashore on the East Coast of the North Island in 1899. She was a full-rigged ship of just upon a thousand tons, and was built by McMillan of Dumbarton, being launched in 1869. In 1875 she was purchased by the Shaw, Savill Co., and made her first run to Wellington. She was never a flyer, but made good average passages to the several ports.

On the last voyage out in 1899, after a rather lengthy passage to Port Chalmers, she discharged her cargo and then sailed, for Napier in ballast to load wool for London. She had a fair run up the coast, and at daylight on October 31 she was seen to be dangerously close to the land, but all efforts to "wear" her were unavailing, and as she was slowly drifting inshore before a heavy gale, Captain Burton, who was in command, decided to run her aground to, if possible, save life. The chief officer saw over the tops of the mountainous seas a likely spot, and in accordance with his gestures the vessel rushed within a few hundred yards of the dreaded reef on to Akitio beach, south of Cape Turn-again. At 8 a.m. the vessel grounded, and remained in an upright position. It was by the merest bit of luck that the vessel missed the reef which runs out from the beach and on which the seas were breaking with great fury. Had she struck this she must have gone to pieces in a few minutes, and the probability is that none would have survived to tell the tale. When the lookout man cried "Land on the lee bow," all hands were called on deck and the topsails were shaken out in an effort to claw off the land, but without avail. All acted calmly, realising that in a few minutes they might be struggling for life in the boiling surf. Lifebelts were served out, and the lifeboats were prepared. Captain Burton mustered the crew aft, impressing on them the importance of cool courage in the crisis. After the Pleiades grounded, the port lifeboat conveyed all safely to shore in two trips. Subse-page 134quently the personal effects of the crew and some stores were saved.

On landing, the crew recognised that they had got out of a very tight corner, and gave three hearty cheers for Captain Burton. The men were treated most hospitably by a Mr. Handyside, and were later taken to Wellington by the s.s. Himitangi.

the Pleiades came through the ordeal practically without damage. All her masts and rigging were intact, and she was making practically no water. She was high and dry forward, but the stern was afloat at high water. Owing to the rough nature of the coast nothing could be done to save the ship.

At the inquiry the Court found that Captain Burton, though not a stranger to those parts, and acquainted with the dangerous character of the East Coast, sailed his ship, running light in ballast, in dangerous proximity to the land, apparently without cause or reason, and when in danger failed to adopt the proper course, to keep an offing. The Court considered he was right in beaching the ship and not anchoring. The Court therefore found him guilty of careless navigation, and suspended his certificate for six months. The chief officer was reprimanded for not taking and recording cross bearings. The costs of the inquiry were divided between the captain and the mate.

the Pleiades, under Captain Setton, made one fast run to Lyttelton in 1878. She sailed from London on December 13, but was detained with heavy weather in the Channel for eight days, and finally left Land's End on the 22nd. She had good north-east and south-east trades and favourable winds generally when running down her easting. Cape Leeuwin was passed on February 28, and the Snares on March 9, only 77 days from land to land and 88 from Gravesend.

On the following passage out to Lyttelton, 1879-80, the Pleiades made another fine passage of 86 days, port to port. When within 100 miles of the Snares, on January 21, she encountered a heavy gale from the west, the ship running under two close-reefed topsails, the upper one having blown away. Several heavy seas came aboard, filling the decks, smashing the bulwarks, sheep pens, and one of the lifeboats, the davits being torn out of the sockets. When within ten miles south of Lyttelton the steering gear broke when the ship was in stays, the wheel being shattered. This, Captain Setton stated, was no doubt the result of the recent storm. A temporary tiller was rigged, and the ship steered for Lyttelton.

On the arrival of the Pleiades in 1881 at Lyttelton, Captain Setton reported having sighted and boarded a derelict on October 16, which proved to be the Ulster, of St. John's. She was timberladen and waterlogged. The bulwarks and masts were gone, and nothing save the bowsprit was standing. The vessel was full of water, with the cargo floating about.

During the next voyage out to Lyttelton in 1882 the Pleiades had a favourable run until September 13, when during a gale she shipped a heavy sea, which filled the decks to the rail, smashed the starboard boat, and burst in the cabin doors. The saloon and deck-houses were flooded and other damage sustained.

the Pleiades made 25 voyages under the Shaw, Savill and Albion flag before leaving her bones on the beach at Akitio, as under:—

^*