The Coromandel.

the Coromandel, a barque of 849 tons, built at Glasgow in 1875, for Mr. John Fairlie of Glasgow, brought a large number of immigrants to New Zealand under charter to the Shaw, Savill Co. She completed seven voyages and was sold to New Zealand owners on her arrival at Lyttelton in 1884. She was then engaged in the intercolonial trade for several years. In 1896 she was stranded at Westport.

the Coromandel was engaged in the Indian trade for three years after she was launched, and in 1878 made her first voyage to the Dominion, arriving at Lyttelton on June 28. Captain Hendry

Coromandel Capsized At Wellington Wharf.

reported having landed the pilot off the Start on March 19, and struck a heavy north-west gale in the Bay of Biscay. He had no north-east trades whatever, but three weeks' variable weather to 30deg north. The south-east trades were good, and carried to 23deg south. Thence experienced heavy gales of wind until passing the meridian of the Cape on May 20. Four days later the barque shipped a heavy sea over the starboard quarter, which carried away the binnacle, starlight, and companion-hatch, and filled the cabin with water, besides doing other serious damage. Thence had fresh westerly winds to the Leeuwin. Passed Tasmania on June 14, when further heavy gales were experienced from the north-east, with heavy seas. The Snares were passed on June 25, and Lyttelton Harbour was made on June 28.

the Coromandel had another rough voyage when bound for Lyttelton in 1884. Captain Hendry reported that on August 14 the barque experienced a south-west gale, with terrific squalls of sleet and hail, the vessel lying-to with tarpaulins in the mizzen rigging. During the last six weeks of the passage the decks were never dry, as gale after gale was encountered until arrival in port.

This was the barque's last voyage from London, as she was sold to Captain L. Williams, who sailed the barque until 1896, when she nearly became a total wreck at Westport. She was, however, refloated, and in command of the late Captain Bendall, a gentleman well known in shipping circles throughout the Dominion when trading in steamers on the coast during the sixties and seventies, was brought on to Wellington. The ship experienced very rough weather, during which the pumps had to be kept going, and eventually she was towed into Wellington. She was berthed at the old Railway wharf, butpage 146 the following day she met with further misfortune. The crew, who were exhausted from continuous pumping, just tied the ship up and left her.

Shortly before the Coromandel was berthed the Otago dredge had been working, and dredged within twenty to thirty feet of the wharf, leaving a tolerably high bank. The barque was still leaking badly, and settled on the edge of the bank. The following day (May 3, 1896) she capsized, in about six or seven fathoms of water. When the lines snapped the barque gave a lurch to starboard, then heeled over and eventually went right over and lay on her side, while great spurts of water were flying into the air, caused by the air escaping from her hull.

The barque lay in this position for nearly twelve months. Numerous attempts were made to refloat her, but all ended in failure until a Mr. Thos. Carmichael, a Wellington contractor, decided to have a go at the hard task, and he was eventually successful. When the hull of the ship was made ready for pumping, powerful centrifugal pumps were rigged, and steam from the boilers of three or four small steamers lying handy was used to drive the pumps. Pumping started at 9 a.m., and at 2 p.m. the decks were above water and the barque standing on an even keel again. The ship was subsequently dismantled, and converted into a coal hulk, and is still doing duty in Wellington Harbour.