Almost On Three Kings.

the Wellington made only one voyage to Auckland, and on that occasion she very nearly left her bones on the Three Kings, a danger that has been a menace to shipping for years and is still unlighted. Mr. James Morris, now residing in Auckland, who was a passenger from London on this occasion, arriving here in January, 1882, has sent me an account of the incident. He writes:—

"The running into a mountainous iceberg was not the only miraculous escape which this good ship had, as on the trip when I was a passenger to Auckland we had a narrow escape of running on to the Three Kings. I kept a diary or the voyage, and I find this entry: Dec. 29, 1881—wind light; ship logged only 87 miles during past 24 hours. Towards evening there was a dense mist, dull weather having prevailed for several days. The officers calculated we were some 30 to 40 miles north of the Three Kings. Suddenly the fog lifted and the islands were revealed right ahead. As quickly as possible the ship's head was turned out to sea, giving the Kings a wide berth. Some of the passengers were much alarmed; some cried; some clung hold of the sailors, and others knelt down and prayed for their deliverance.'" Captain Cowan was in command on this occasion.

Under favourable conditions the Wellington had a great turn of speed, and Mr. Morris in his letter mentions that on December 2nd she ran 342 knots, which gives an average of over 14 miles an hour.