THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 41

broken over her gangways. At 2.15 a.m. (the 7th
instant), the gale had somewhat subsided, and the
wind went round to the N.W., but without any
squall; in fact, the weather moderated, the heavy and
bank of clouds had passed off to the eastward, and
the stars came out clear and bright, the moon, which
had given considerable light, was setting. No large
vessel was seen near us when the “Captain” had been
last observed, although the lights of some were
visible at a distance. When day broke the squadron
was somewhat scattered, and only ten ships instead
of eleven, could be discerned; the “Captain” being
the missing one. We bore up for the rendezvous,
thinking she might have gone in that direction, but
no large vessel being in sight from the mast-head, I
became alarmed for her safety, because, if disabled, and
she ought to be within sight, and if not disabled in
company with squadron, and I signalled the following
ships to proceed in the directions indicated to look
out:—The “Agincourt” to the S.W.; the
“Monarch,” S.; the “Warrior,” S.E.S.; the “In-
constant,” S.E.; the “Hercules,” E.S.E.; the
“Northumberland,” E.; the “Bristol,” N.E.; the
“Bellerophon,” to the N. by E.; the “Minotaur,” also
N.E. These vessels proceeded about ten to fourteen
miles, but nothing could be seen of the missing ship.

The greater part of the ships were recalled and
formed in line abreast, and steered at three or four
cables apart to the S.E., looking for any wreck.
The “Monarch” first picked up a top-gallant yard
of the “Captain,” the “Lord Warden” another, with
sails bent, then some studding-sail booms, and on the
“Psyche” joining me from Vigo at sunset, she re-
ported having passed two cutters painted white,
bottom up, with a large amount of wreck, apparently
the hurricane deck, among which was found the body
of a seaman with “Rose” marked on his flannel.

I have thus stated all that occurred under the eyes
of the Flag-Captain and myself, and I much regret
to say that I can come to no other conclusion than
that the “Captain” foundered with all hands on
board, probably in one of the heavy squalls between
1.30 and 2.15 a.m. of this morning (7th instant), at
which time a heavy cross sea was running, but how
the catastrophe occurred will probably never be
known. I had the most perfect confidence in Captain
Burgoyne, Commander Sheepshanks, and the execu-
tive officers with whom I had come in contact. Cap-
tain Burgoyne himself was a thoroughly practical
seaman, and it is impossible that she could have been
better commanded. The service will mourn the loss
of an officer of such ability and promise. I regret,
also, Captain Coles should have shared the same fate.
He had been several passages in his newly-constructed
ship, and took a deep interest in all that concerned
her.

I greatly deplore the sad event, which has cast a
deep gloom on the whole squadron.

I have, &c.,
A. W. MILNE, Admiral.

The following are extracts from the Times and
Standard :—

leading seaman; John Heard, Robert Herd, William Lawrence,
David Dryburgh, and John Walker, able seamen; James
Kerrnan, ordinary seaman; Francis Merriman, James Saunders,
and John Gribble, boys (first class).

It appears from the depositions of the survivors that the
“Captain” turned bottom up in a heavy squall, and went down
in three minutes.

Statement of Mr. James May, gunner, R.N. :—
It appears from the depositions of the survivors that he was
awake about twelve o’clock on the night of the 6th, by some
marines making a noise outside of his cabin, and finding the
door more than usually unsteady, he dressed himself to go on
deck, and see if the guns were all right in the turrets. In pass-
ing to the engineers’ bathroom he exchanged a remark with the
engineer officer who had come off the first watch, and thus he is
certain as to its being just past twelve o’clock. When he got up
to the after-turret, the ship gave a very heavy roll to starboard,
and continued in that position, gradually heeling over more and
more, until he found the water coming into the point hole on
the top of the turret, through which he crawled, and then
and himself overboard. He however succeeded, with five
others, including Captain Burgoyne, in reaching the steam pin-
nace, which was floating bottom uppermost, and observing the
wreck passing within a few yards of them he cried out, “Now
men, this is your only chance.” He and three others
also, and succeeded in getting into the boat. They in vain
endeavoured to regain the pinnace to save their captain, but the
running so very high prevented them fulfilling their task, and
in the attempt they were struck by a heavy sea, nearly
swamping the boat, and washing one man (George Myers) over-
board. It was then determined to let the boat run before the
sea, as the land was known to be to leeward of them. About
o’clock they sighted the light on Cape Finisterre, and
forwards observed land. They made for it, and succeeded in
landing about noon on the 7th at Finisterre, and at four o’clock,
after making all necessary inquiries, and drying their clothes,
succeeded to Corcubion, where they found the Vice-Consul,
who telegraphed and sent the news of the sad disaster through
Corunna to England. The “Monarch’s” boats picked them up.

May speaks highly of the manner in which Charles
Tregenna steered the oar.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 19th January, 1871.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
appoint the under-mentioned gentlemen to be
Registration Officers for the respective Electoral
Districts opposite their names, for the election
of Members of the House of Representatives.
These appointments bear date the 2nd day of
January, 1871.

Robert Clapham Barstow—Mongonui and Bay of
Islands.
Harcourt Richard Aubrey—Marsden, Rodney.
Henry Colin Balneavis—Waitemata, City of
Auckland East, City of Auckland West, Parnell,
Newton.
James Naughton—Town of Onehunga, Eden,
Franklin.
William Nicholas Searancke—Waikato.
Jackson Keddell—Thames.
William Gilbert Mair—East Coast.
Harry Eyre Kenny—Grey and Bell, Town of New
Plymouth, Egmont.
Singleton Rochfort—Napier, Clive.
Walter Lawry Buller—Wanganui, Rangitikei.
Alfred Ross—Manawatu.
James Coutts Crawford—Wellington Country,
City of Wellington, Hutt.
Herbert Samuel Wardell—Wairarapa.
Henry Widowson Turnbull—Collingwood.
Alexander Le Grand Campbell—Motueka.
Thomas Brunner—City of Nelson, Suburbs of
Nelson, Waimea.
Stephen Lunn Muller—Picton, Wairau.
Joseph Goodall—Cheviot.
George Lilly Mellish—Ashley.
William John Warburton Hamilton—Kaiapoi,
Avon, City of Christchurch East, City of Christ-
church West, Heathcote.
William Donald—Lyttelton.

Admiralty, 12th September.

The gunner of the unfortunate ship “Captain” has reached
the Admiralty. From his report, and the depositions of other
survivors, it appears that she capsized in a heavy squall shortly
after midnight. Captain Burgoyne, who was on deck, ordered
topsails to be lowered and sheets let go, but in vain. The force
of the wind, acting on the sails and on the bottom of the hurri-
cane deck, proved too much for her stability.

The following persons, who escaped from Her Majesty’s ship
“Captain,” and landed at Corcubion, north of Cape Finisterre,
on the evening of the 7th instant, arrived this day at Ports-
mouth, in Her Majesty’s steamship “Volage” :—

Mr. James May, gunner; James Ellis, gunner’s mate; Lewis
Werry, captain foretop; James Harvey, second captain fore-
top; George Bride, coxswain of the pinnace; Charles Tregenna,