The HINDU 1871

Hindu, brig: The vessel passed Solander Islands on March 28, 1871, 55 days out on a voyage from Fuchow to Dunedin with a cargo of tea. Running through Foveaux Strait, the weather became thick and stormy, concealing the light on Dog Island. The night was so dark as to render the land invisible, and the first intimation of danger was the sight of the outer line of breakers. Soundings were taken, the lead showing a depth of seven fathoms, but almost immediately afterwards, at 3 am on March 27, the brig struck. The Hindu stranded inside the half passage rocks on the Riverton Beach, about 20 miles from Riverton, and near the New River Heads. Soon after striking the mainmast went by the board. All hands, numbering fifteen, landed safely with the assistance of a party of Maoris. The brig was sold by auction, realising 315 pounds. Her cargo of tea, a large portion of which was undamaged, was sold for 346 pounds

Salvage operations were carried out to a stage where, on September 4, the Hindu had been hove off into a sufficient depth of water to float her, and the steamer Beautiful Star was engaged to tow the brig into the New River. Before the arrival of the appointed time the weather became overcast and the steamer put back into Bluff. In the meantime those on board, having observed the smoke from the steamer, kept everything in readiness for towing. By 3.30 pm, the sea rose and the and the chain cable parted, causing the vessel to strand again. As darkness set in the position of those on board became critical, for even at that time there was seven feet of water around the vessel, and a heavy surf was running. Around midnight the crew resolved to attempt a landing in the ships boat, and succeeded in doing so. The next morning they discovered that the Hindu’s deck had been swept by the sea and the deckhouse in which they had been living strewn along the beach. The brig later broke up.

The Hindu, was a comparatively new vessel of 255 tons, having been built in 1867. She was under the command of Captain C. Sandberg and was owned in Norway. The Court of Inquiry found that the casualty was caused through miscalculation of leeway and drift, and blamed the master for not taking soundings

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