THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 461

James Henry Moore Carpenter, to be Ensign.
Date of Commission—15th October, 1863.
Thomas Spencer, to be Ensign. Date of Com-
mission—24th October, 1863.
Frederick George Dalton, to be Assistant-
Surgeon. Date of Commission—20th
October, 1863.

In the Waiuku District Rifle Volunteers.
Ensign Daniel Henderson Lusk, to be
Lieutenant. Date of Commission—20th
October, 1863.

In the Castle Point Rifle Volunteers.
James Guthrie, senr., to be Captain. Date of
Commission—21st October, 1863.
Duncan Cameron, to be Lieutenant. Date of
Commission—21st October, 1863.

In the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers.
Ensign William Black, to be Lieutenant.
Date of Commission—21st October, 1863.
Thomas McGuinness, to be Ensign. Date of
Commission—21st October, 1863.

In the Wairarapa District.
Major Edward Gorton, to be Major Com-
manding Militia and Volunteers. Date of
Commission—30th July, 1863.

T. RUSSELL.

ERRATA.

Colonial Defence Office,
Auckland, 21st October, 1863.

IN Gazette No. 31, of the 22nd July last,
folio 288, the Christian names of Captain
Herrick, Napier Militia, should be "Jasper
Lucas."

Also,—

In Gazette No. 43, of the 27th August last,
folio 360, the Christian names of Ensign Hay,
"Forest Rangers" Volunteers, should be "Wil-
liam McGregor."

Also,—

In Gazette No. 50, of the 24th September
last, folio 427, the Commission of Captain
H. G. Smith, Auckland Militia, should bear
date "11th August, 1863," instead of 1st
September, 1863.

Also,—

In Gazette No. 50, of the 24th September
last, folio 428, the Commission of Lieutenant
H. L. Williams, Auckland Militia, should bear
date "11th September, 1863," instead of 22nd
September, 1863.

T. RUSSELL.

General Post Office,
Auckland, October 7th, 1863.

THE following evidence taken at En-
quiries held with reference to the
grounding of the s.s. "Lady Bird," in Queen
Charlotte's Sound and between Port Chalmers
and Otago, is published for general informa-
tion.

READER G. WOOD,
For the Postmaster-General,

Evidence of Frederick Renner, Master of the
Steam-vessel "Lady Bird," relative to that
vessel grounding on Pig Island, Queen
Charlotte's Sound.

Present :

Captain SHARP and Captain JOHNSON,
President and Warden, Chief Marine Board.

On the 31st of July, 6.45 p.m., the vessel
grounded on a spit composed of sand and
boulder stone extending off the West point of
Pig Island, about half a cable's length. At
this time the Chief Officer was in charge of
the deck. I had quitted the deck from 20
minutes to half an hour, and had given in-
structions to keep the vessel in mid-channel,
and to call me before reaching Jackson's
Head. It was a clear night and all parts of
the land perfectly visible. Mr. George White,
Chief Officer, came to this Colony in that
capacity about four months since, and has a
Master's Certificate, No. 22,366. Has passed
through the Sound at least half a dozen times,
and has had the dangers pointed out to him
by me. He has many Certificates of sobriety
and good conduct. The Channel between
Pig Island and the Main is about one and
a quarter miles wide. The Reef is steep too.
The vessel grounded about fifteen yards from
the shore going at full speed, about nine knots
per hour—drawing six and a half feet forward
and nine feet aft. From the main chains
forward the vessel was aground, having four
feet under the bows, six feet amidships, and
two and a half feet under the stern. The
shock was not sudden or severe, rather a
grating sensation. The engines were imme-
diately stopped, and finding the vessel could
not be easily taken off, trimmed the vessel by
moving chain cable aft and starting the water
forward, run out a stream anchor and warp
astern, hove tight; the tide flowing at high water
at about nine o'clock p.m.; the vessel, by means
of steam and warp, was got afloat. All the
compartments were sounded; found the vessel
did not leak. The water was quite smooth
at the time. I am in the habit of leaving
the deck in charge of the Chief Officer when
the weather is clear. On this occasion I had
to call at Forsyth Island, and go through
French Pass, and was to relieve the deck
before the vessel reached Jackson's Head, a
distance of about ten miles from Pig Island,
from which time I should be required on
deck all night. The water is too deep in the
Sound for the lead to be of any use. On
arriving at Nelson on the following day, the
vessel was laid on the hard and partially
examined, after which she proceeded on her
voyage to Manukau. To the present date,
24th August, no additional leak has been per-
ceptible. The Chief Officer, Mr. George
White, was quite sober when left in charge
of the deck. He has since deserted from the