White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900

The Pleione

The Pleione.

Stranded on Waikanae Beach.

the Pleione, built in the same year 1876, as the Marlborough and Hermione, for the Shaw, Savill Company, was an iron vessel of 1092 tons. She was a comfortable ship for passengers. On her maiden voyage in 1877 she arrived at Wellington under Captain Renaut, who retained command until 1885. About 1900 the Pleione was sold to the Scandinavians. Nothing eventful occurred on any of the voyages until March 15, 1888, when under the command of Captain Culbert she was stranded on the Waikanae beach. On this occasion the Pleione sailed from London on December 22,

the Pleione Stranded At Waikanae Beach.

1887, and after the fastest passage ever made by this vessel—84 days to the New Zealand coast—she came to grief when within a few miles of her destination. Captain Culbert stated that until the haze of Kapiti Island was sighted, no land had been seen since leaving England. Like many other masters of ships he mistook Kapiti for Stephens' Island, and shaped his course accordingly, with the result that the ship ran ashore on the sands at Waikanae beach, situated between Wellington and Foxton. At the time of the vessel striking, during the night, she was making about ten knots and was under fore, main and mizzen topsails and jib, with a heavy north-west gale behind. After the ship grounded, Captain Culbert, believing the vessel was safe, decided to wait for daylight before leaving the ship. At 4 a.m. an attempt was made to get ashore. The first boat launched filled at once, then a lifeboat was brought into requisition and left the vessel in charge of Mr. Gray, the chief officer. Captain Culbert took charge of a second boat and Mr. Liddiard, second mate, the third boat. When about half-way to the shore the captain's boat capsized, and the occupants were thrown into the water. The mate's boat put back and rescued all but one who was drowned before he could be hauled aboard. Captain Culbert and one of the lady passengers were much bruised, and the lady suffered considerably from shock and exposure. Two other ladies in the captain's boat were nearly drowned. Mrs. Grunty failed to catch hold of the boat and was drifting out to sea when Mr. Liddiard gallantly struck out and brought her to the shore. Mrs. Foster another lady passenger, clung to the seat of the boat and was overwhelmed by the dash ofpage 162

the waves and was saved just in the nick of time, also by Mr. Liddiard.

the Pleione made little water and was almost high and dry at low water but soon began to sink in the sand. The ship's papers and seamen's effects were saved later, and also some of the passengers' luggage and a large portion of the cargo, which was insured for £26,000. the Pleione made the seventh vessel lost on the Waikanae beach within a few years, and went ashore in almost the same spot as the City of Auckland in 1878.

the Pleione was eventually re-floated and towed round to Wellington, after lying four months on the beach.

the Pleione, after discharging her cargo at Dunedin in 1889, proceeded to Wellington to load for London. She arrived oft Wellington Heads at midnight on August 17, and burned blue lights as a signal that she required a pilot. A southerly wind was blowing, and there was a nasty sea running. Pilot Simms, with the crew, responded to the call, and the whaleboat was towing behind the ship when it suddenly capsized in the trough of the waves. Pilot Simms and two of his men were drowned. Captain Henderson, who was in the boat at the time, was one of the two men saved.

On the passage to Nelson in 1891 the old ship in ten days ran 2464 miles, the best day's run being 274. The "Nelson Mail," reporting the arrival of the Pleione in 1896, stated the round voyage from Dunedin to London and out to Nelson had been accomplished in seven months and six days.

Captain Alfred A. Sargeant, who brought out the Pleione from 1890 until 1895, had previously had command of several of the Shaw, Savill Co.'s ships. He came out first as second officer of the ship Halcione in 1881 and 1882 to Wellington, under Captain E.S. Parker. In 1884 he was given command of the Glenlora, and brought that ship to Auckland in 1885. He then made four trips to Nelson in this ship, and in 1893 took over the Pleione. After completing four voyages in this vessel to Wellington he came to Auckland in 1897, when he left the Shaw, Savill Co. and entered the coastal service. On his first voyage to Wellington, in 1893, Captain Sargeant brought out a large party of Mr. Fitzgibbon Loch's settlers for Katikati. Captain Sargeant, when he retired from the sea, settled at Wellington, and for many years took an active part in church work, at one time being synodsman and churchwarden at the Anglican Church, Brooklyn.

Here follow the record of outward passages by the Pleione:—

Sailed.	Arrived.	Captain.	Days
To Wellington.
Dec. 14, '76	Mar. 31, '77	Renaut	107
Feb. 26	July 2, '78	Renaut	126
Apr. 1	July 17, '79	Renaut	107
Aug. 22	Nov. 28, '80	Renaut	98
July 18	Oct. 29, '81	Renaut	103
June 8	Sep. 11, '82	Renaut	95
July 13	Oct. 27, '83	Renaut	106
July 5	Oct. 22, '84	Renaut	108
Sep. 7	Dec. 27, '85	Renaut	111
Sep. 20	Dec. 29, '86	Culbert	100
*Dec. 22, 87	'88	Culbert	84
Aug. 5	Nov. 19, '95	Sargeant	106
To Port Chalmers.
Apr. 5	July 19, '89	Ferguson	105
Mar. 13	July 4, '90	Sargeant	113
June 4	Sep. 23, '93	Sargeant	110
June 6	Sep. 12, '94	Sargeant	97
June 7	Sep. 25, '98	Burton	100
To Nelson.
—	June 26, '91	Sargeant	117
—	Oct. 31, '96	Sargeant	98
—	—'97	Sargeant	99

^* Stranded on coast.

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White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900

The Pleione

The Pleione.