Dublin Packet
In 1836, Captain Leathart was Master of Dublin Packet when she was transporting oil and stores between Sydney and New Zealand.
In 1838, George Weller bought the 108 ton schooner to service his shore station at Otago. However, while working off the coast in June 1839, Dublin Packet, under Captain Wells, got into difficulty in heavy seas at Taieri Mouth and was blown onto rocks with such a force that the ship and her crew were immediately in great danger. Dublin Packet's crew clambered up the rigging and remained there until the mast too was swallowed up by ferocious seas. In the struggle to get ashore three crewmen drowned including the steward, the second mate and a crewman from the American whaler Favorite who had lost his mind and was being taken to Sydney to be committed.
Bystanders on the shore made a frantic attempt to rescue the stricken crew but couldn't reach them and in the morning there was nothing left of the Dublin Packet other than wreckage strewn across the beach.
In 1838, George Weller bought the 108 ton schooner to service his shore station at Otago. However, while working off the coast in June 1839, Dublin Packet, under Captain Wells, got into difficulty in heavy seas at Taieri Mouth and was blown onto rocks with such a force that the ship and her crew were immediately in great danger. Dublin Packet's crew clambered up the rigging and remained there until the mast too was swallowed up by ferocious seas. In the struggle to get ashore three crewmen drowned including the steward, the second mate and a crewman from the American whaler Favorite who had lost his mind and was being taken to Sydney to be committed.
Bystanders on the shore made a frantic attempt to rescue the stricken crew but couldn't reach them and in the morning there was nothing left of the Dublin Packet other than wreckage strewn across the beach.