Charleston: Its Rise and Decline/Chapter 3
Chapter III.
CONSTANT BAY: ITS WORKING AND MISHAPS.
CONSTANT BAY was far from being a safe harbour; vessels entering, leaving, and while there took considerable risks. Most visiting craft were sailing vessels of low draught, but occasionally small steamers made trips—the Mullah, Kennedy, Waipara, Halcyon, Bruce, Result, Despatch, and maybe others. The steamer Nile never entered Constant Ray, but her namesake schooner was a regular trader. The Result was stranded there upon two occasions and was, about 1878, damaged on the rocks.
Callers among the sailers were: The ketch Constant from 1866 to 1869; the ketches Brothers and Sister, Standard Heathcote, Excelsior, Amateur, Jane Anne, Flying Squirrel; the cutters Harry Bluff, Elizabeth, Volunteer, Flora McDonald, Wairoa, Joseph Paul, Pearl, Hope; the lugger Star of Buller; the schooners Jona, Emerald Isle, Betsy Douglas, Kate, Flying Cloud, Fairy, Ann, Wild Wave, Shepherdess, Louisa, Fancy, Lizzie, Dart, Rapid, Ada, Mavis, Nile, Falcon, Mary Jane, Mary Ann, William and Julia.
The first steamer to enter the bay was the Waipara on 18th January, 1868, Captain Beveridge, the Harbourmaster, boarding her in the offing and piloting her in. Half the town turned out to witness her arrival.
Advertisements in the Westport Times notified from time to time during 1869 that the Constant would continue to trade regularly between Westport and Charleston. They were signed by E. Suisted and Thos. Allen, of Stanley Wharf.
Large steamers such as the Alhambra and Southland called in the early days, but lay outside and were tendered by the surf-boats or, at times, by any small steamer that happened to be there. Mrs. John Hartill, of Wellington, tells of her arrival at Constant Bay with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. Ballard, in 1866, as passengers by the Alhambra. Mrs. Hartill was then a child of four years of age. The steamer, she says, lay off the port at 11 p.m. and, despite the hour and darkness, the passengers and luggage were transhipped and landed on the beach. By the same steamer came Mr. and Mrs. Kerr. They and the Ballard family camped in tents on the Nile Hill until houses were built.
Mr. Ballard was the first engineer at the Nile Steam Sawmill, later was engineer on the steamers Result and Nile, and finally engineer of the Westport Harbour Board’s tug, the Mana.
The surf-boats were privately-owned, by companies, and worked for hire. Two of these were the Lizzie and the Star of Brighton. Old-timers tell how one of these boats was sailed single-handed from Grey River to Constant Bay by James Parsons, who had travelled on foot to take delivery of it.
Parsons was later landlord of the Welcome Inn at Little Beach, which possessed a more agreeable bar than did the port, though less water passed over it.
These surf-boats had heavy and dangerous work, and many hairbreadth escapes. It is recorded that in 1867 or 1868 one of them, while carrying passengers, including women and children, was totally wrecked on the rocks, and those on board rescued with extreme difficulty. Owing to the bravery of the Harbourmaster and the boat’s crew, no lives were lost.
On 8th November, 1869, the Albion Surf Boat Company wrote to the Superintendent of the Province, concerning another disaster:
Charleston, Nelson, N.Z.,
8th day of November, 1869.
“We, the undersigned, forming the Albion Surf Boat Company, do hereby certify to the truth of the following statement:
On the 15th October, 1869, on entering Constant Bay in the surf-boat a heavy roller struck her, causing the boat to run bows under and capsizing her. Three of us managed to hold on to the swamped boat, the other two men kept up by swimming, the surf at the time was breaking over us. We then called on the Harbourmaster (Alexander Beveridge) to come to our aid; as the two men who were swimming called out to the effect that they could not keep up any longer.
The Harbourmaster (Captain Alex Beveridge) then jumped from the rocks into the surf (three fathoms of water) and swam out to us and cheered us up; he then swam for an oar that was floating, and gave it to Smith who was nearly exhausted. The other man, Henry Tyson, went down before the Harbourmaster could get to his aid.
The Harbourmaster then remained by us, and assisted Smith until the lifeboat came from the shore to our rescue; after one of the crew got hold of Smith, Captain Beveridge then got into the boat, and assisted to get him and the rest of us into the lifeboat. The lifeboat was then headed for the shore and all landed safe, with the exception of the beforementioned Henry Tyson who was drowned.
George Hughes.
Robert Hughes.
Charles Smith.
Robert C. Ferguson, Coxswain.
Witness to signatures,
Thos. Dollman, Newsagent.
To His Honour The Superintendent, Nelson, N.Z.”
The Superintendent, Mr. O. Curtis, informed the Colonial Secretary of Beveridge’s gallantry. Beveridge had meanwhile resigned the position of Harbourmaster, and on his resignation was presented with an Address from the inhabitants of Charleston, and with the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society. The Superintendent said that it was the opinion of the friends of Beveridge that if the Governor would forward to the Royal Humane Society the papers dealing with the event, that Society might award Beveridge its gold medal in addition to the bronze one already granted. It does not appear that any action was taken. A copy of the Address referred to is given at the end of this Chapter, together with a list of the signatories.
In 1869 Captain Beveridge presented a petition to the Provincial Council praying for compensation for a reduction made, without due notice, in the salary of Harbourmaster. The request was not granted. Owing perhaps to this reduction, he took up an appointment as Harbourmaster at Hokianga on 9th June, 1870.
Some of the disasters and mishaps about Constant Bay were:
17th April, 1867.—Iona, schooner, Captain Smith, collided with the Cymraes, Captain E. Perkins, in Constant Bay. She was driven ashore badly damaged, and considered a total wreck, being sold at auction by Thos. Dwan. However, she was refloated, as is evidenced by The Charleston Herald of 8th November, 1867, showing her as an “expected arrival” from Hokitika. The Cymraes, 28 tons, was wrecked at the Grey River in November of the same year.
26th August, 1867.—Emerald Isle, a schooner of 28 tons with a crew of four was lost with all hands outside the bay, which she had just left. It is believed that she carried insufficient ballast, and that while in the roadstead was struck by a squall, thrown on her beam ends, and foundered. A few minutes before the squall broke, she was sighted by another schooner, but when the squall abated she had disappeared. She was owned at Greymouth. Much wreckage was found about Constant Bay during the next day. The master’s surname was Abe. She was registered in 1866, No. 40175.
2nd October, 1869.—Harry Bluff, a cutter of 11 tons, Captain Frederick Jackson, with a crew of three, and carrying ballast, was totally wrecked on the bar with the loss of two lives. The enquiry found that the vessel was lost through disregard of the orders and signals of the Harbourmaster. The Westport Times’ statement (condensed) was that “she got bilged on the rocks while going out. Three men tried to swim ashore, two of them were successful but the other, Harry Hill, was drowned. Another man, George Bingham, was severely damaged and was taken to the hospital, where he died. The vessel was smashed to matchwood. The master was part owner with Charles Craddock.”
27th December, 1870.—Betsy Douglas, a schooner of 24 tons, was lost with all hands after leaving Constant Bay. She struck a rock about a mile off-shore, off Point Robertson. She was built in Otago in 1862 as a paddle-steamer.
11th June, 1871.—Brothers and Sister, a ketch of 21 tons, built in 1850, Edward Perkins being master, with a complement of three and carrying ballast, was totally lost owing to the mooring lines being chafed by rocks. A heavy sea was coming into the bay.
14th May, 1875.—Kate, a schooner in ballast, foundered after leaving Constant Bay, developing leaks through having been badly damaged on the beach.
26th August, 1876.—Flying Cloud, a schooner of 46 tons, Captain Frederick Edwin Andrews, in ballast with a crew of four, was lost with all hands. She is supposed to have been capsized by a heavy squall. The next day her shattered wreck was found upon the rocks of Flagstaff Hill.
June, 1877.—Kaikoura, a schooner of 31 tons, Captain John Anderson, built only twenty-one months previously, with a crew of three and laden with potatoes, was lost with all hands somewhere off Constant Bay. She left Kaikoura for Greymouth on 5th June. A portion of the wreck was washed ashore on Flagstaff Hill rocks.
16th September, 1878.—Wild Wave, a schooner of 39 tons built at Onehunga in 1861, carrying a crew of three, with grain and potatoes aboard, was partially wrecked by a heavy sea coming into the bay and causing the vessel to break her moorings. The master was John Grubb. She was refloated.
16th September, 1879.—Shepherdess, a schooner of 30 tons with a crew of three, was totally lost, with the loss of one life, through heavy rollers breaking into the bay and causing her to carry away her moorings and to drift ashore. The master was John Bilby. While assisting this vessel, the pilot, Charles Craddock, lost his life. This was the last vessel to enter Constant Bay.
Some minor mishaps were:
8th November, 1867.—The ketch Flying Squirrel. The Charleston Herald of this date said: “The ketch Flying Squirrel will, in the course of a fortnight, be again ready for sea. The contractor has put several men aboard, so that no time will be lost in getting her repaired. The contract was ₤110.”
1st January, 1868.—The schooner Ada was damaged on the rocks at the centre of the bay.
16th January, 1868.—The schooner Fancy narrowly escaped being wrecked. Notwithstanding the danger-signal, and without aid of a surf-boat, she tried to cross the bar which was very rough. Having been thrown on the rocks, she would have been totally lost but for the Harbourmaster and staff getting lines aboard her, and dragging her stern first into the bay. This vessel was wrecked at D’Urville Island during the same year.
5th April, 1868.—The schooners Fairy and Fancy collided owing to a heavy sea running into the bay. The Fancy was severely damaged.
24th April, 1868.—Surf-boats. The steamer John Penn lay off the bay, with passengers for Charleston aboard. There was a heavy sea. Two surf-boats attempted to tender her, but she did not wait for them. One of the boats, owned by Charles Craddock & Co., on her return journey was capsized and her crew of four were thrown into the water. All were saved, but Craddock was severely injured while in the water, and was saved by the Harbourmaster, Captain Beveridge, at much risk to himself. The other boat, the Mary Jane, owned by the The Charleston Surf Boat Company, was also caught by two blind rollers, but although badly buffeted suffered no material damage. It was a narrow escape for both.
24th May, 1868.—The schooner Fairy had a narrow escape when entering the bay. There was a very rough sea outside, with large combers breaking savagely across the bar. Nevertheless, the Harbourmaster gave the signal to come in. While doing so the vessel was struck by heavy seas which carried away her rudder, and she was thrown on the rocks. Then “a big wave came thundering in, lifted her stern high in the air, and landed her in comparatively smooth water, where the surf-boats managed to moor her.” It took several days to repair her.
24th May, 1868.—The cutter Flora McDonald had a 
12th July, 1868.—The cutter Harry Bluff, owned by Captain Frederick Jackson and Charles Craddock, broke her moorings in a heavy swell, got broadside on, was badly bilged, and buried up to her deck in sand. She was dug out and repaired. This was a severe gale during which the Signal-station on Flagstaff Hill was shifted a distance of six feet by the wind, and almost miraculously escaped falling into the harbour. Fortunately the Harbourmaster was away from the cottage at the time. As before stated, this vessel was later, 2nd October, 1869, totally wrecked on Constant Bay bar.
30th October, 1868.—The schooner Ann left the bay for Greymouth but, when outside, sprang a leak and ran for the Buller where she was beached to save foundering. She was there for three days before being got off.
1st January, 1869.—The Westport Times recorded: “The ketch Constant had another adventurous trip. She left Charleston on Christmas evening after having a very severe knocking about on the rocks and beach there. After getting to sea her rudder-head carried away and she was found to be in a leaking condition.” She could not attempt to cross the Buller bar, so had to “run for it,” fortunately reaching shelter about 25 miles from Nelson.
3rd August, 1869.—The Mary Jane, Mavis, and Constant had a bad buffeting. A newspaper states: “A very heavy surf caused commotion in the bay, causing three vessels to part their moorings, and driving the Mary Jane on to the rocks, where she carried away her sternpost and rudder. The Mavis lost her rudder and was severely bumped on the beach. The Constant escaped injury but was sent well up on the beach.”
15th October, 1869.—One of the surf-boats, engaged in tendering a large steamer lying outside, capsized while entering the bay. Those in the boat were George Hughes, Robert Hughes, Charles Smith, Robert C. Ferguson, and Henry Tyson. Tyson was drowned and his body was not recovered until a fortnight later. In the boat that went to her assistance were Charles Craddock, John McHerron, Alfred Leggatt, George Edwards and J. Pascoe. This was the mishap that was the subject of the Albion Surf Boat Company’s letter to the Superintendent of the Province on 8th November, 1869, already quoted.
SIGNATORIES TO THE ADDRESS PRESENTED TO CAPTAIN ALEXANDER BEVERIDGE, 1869.
- George Donne, M.P.C.
- James Edwin Gillespie
- William G. Jackson
- David Isaacs
- John Mathieson
- Robert C. Parke
- Ching and Henderson
- Chas. Weitzel
- Geo. Pound
- John A. Green
- Henry Masters
- Chas. Garnett
- Fair and McCoy
- John Dick
- Wm. H. Forder
- Magovin Brothers
- Chas. Hayton Mirfin
- Patrick Scanlon
- Augustus Grosberne
- Hugh Jones
- A. Grant
- Donald McBeath
- Joseph Moss
- Wm. E. Veale
- T. S. Parry
- Thos. Dwan
- James Hennelly
- Moses Crewdson
- Wm. McMillan
- D. Ballam
- R. R. Colready
- Thos. Dollman
- James Hatch
- Wm. Hunter
- Francis McParland
- Robert Donovan
- Herbert H. Vorley
- Charles Broad, R.M.
- Walton Pell
- Charles Haines
- H. Preston Bain
- Will Nahr
- Thos. G. Macarthy
- Julius Goldstricker
- Alfred Greenwood
- John Behan
- Robt. Shepherd
- Alex. McKay
- W. J. Moore
- John Bridson
- Christian Foyn
- David Cunningham
- Walter Cato
- John Mordaunt
- R. M. Simpson
- C. T. Webb-Bowen
- C. G. Andrews
- Wm. Pitt, C.P.W.N.
- F. B. M. Miller
- P. J. Bruen, M.D.
- Wm. Nicholson
- J. Chas. Daniels
- Jn. Murphy
- D. Maloney
- Jas. M. Henderson
- Jos. Hewitt
- C. A. C. Hardy
- Jas. Fenton
- Robt. C. Ferguson
- John Webster
- H. Mein
The autographs may be seen in the copy of the Address facing Page 52.