The Queen Bee was a three masted barque, constructed in Sunderland and launched in 1852. It was used primarily for transporting immigrants from England to New Zealand, having made about 11 journeys before grounding on Farewell Spit

Farewell Spit

Farewell Spit is a narrow sand spit situated at , at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand. Known to the Māori as Tuhuroa, it runs eastwards from Cape Farewell, the island's northernmost point...

 in 1877.

Journeys

Departed	Date	Arrived	Date	Captain	Passengers
London		Adelaide	5/3/1865
London	1/10/1868	Auckland	8/1/1868	Leslie	98
London	22/10/1870	Auckland	26/12/1870	E G Dent	108
London	16/7/1872	Auckland	26/10/1872	E Williams	100

London to Farewell Spit

The Queen Bee sailed from London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England for Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....

 on 21 April 1877 with a large cargo and 30 passengers bound for Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....

 and then Napier, New Zealand

Napier, New Zealand

Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...

. It cleared The Downs

The Downs

The Downs are a roadstead or area of sea in the southern North Sea near the English Channel off the east Kent coast, between the North and the South Foreland in southern England. In 1639 the Battle of the Downs took place here, when the Dutch navy destroyed a Spanish fleet which had sought refuge...

 on 24 April. The ship sighted Madeira

Madeira

Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...

 on 9 May.

According to its Captain, J S Davies, everything went well on the journey with the officers, passengers, and crew getting on well together. They had light winds to the Cape of Good Hope

Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...

, but then encountered strong winds and heavy gales as it sailed along the 45th parallel until the ship was off Tasmania

Tasmania

Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...

 on 27 July. From there until it reached New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 it had northerly winds. At one stage on its journey, prior to 24 July, it was sighted and spoken to by the Thistle. The Queen Bee sighted New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 just north of Milford Sound

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island, within Fiordland National Park, Piopiotahi Marine Reserve, and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site...

 on Thursday, 2 August. Sailing up the west coast of the South Island

South Island

The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...

 against the wind was difficult.

By 4 August the Nelson papers were expressing an element of concern about the late arrival of the Queen Bee stating "At this season of the ear it is a very difficult job to make a landlocked port". At 8pm on Monday, 6 August the Queen Bee was abreast Farewell Spit

Farewell Spit

Farewell Spit is a narrow sand spit situated at , at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand. Known to the Māori as Tuhuroa, it runs eastwards from Cape Farewell, the island's northernmost point...

, and sighted the light at about 8.30 pm. Because the weather was favourable she at first maintained her course and then steered SSE to ½ east.

Grounding

At midnight Farewell Spit was bearing north-west and showing red when the Queen Bee struck about 6 to 8 miles from the lighthouse. The ship came up hard. The Captain tried backing the yards but was unable to get unground her. Soundings were taken in the hold and found 4 ft 6 deep in water. Later the Second Mate attributed the grounding to an error with the compasses. The problem with the ships compasses was also raised by the Captain and Chief Officer at the subsequent wreak enquiry.

Despite their difficulty, all remained calm. The crew then fired guns, launched rockets, and burnt blue lights to attract attention from the shore. They obtained no response. At 3.45 pm, the Captain then ordered the second mate take the dingy with four men to seek assistance. After calling in at Bark Bay

Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park is a national park located at the north end of the South Island of New Zealand. The park was founded in 1942, largely through the efforts of ornithologist and author Perrine Moncrieff to have land reserved for the purpose. With a coverage of only 225.3 square kilometres,...

, where they were helped by by Messrs Huffam and Hadfield, the boat proceeded to Motueka

Motueka

The town of Motueka in the South Island of New Zealand lies close to the mouth of the Motueka River, on the western shore of Tasman Bay. It is, after Nelson and Richmond, the third largest centre in the Tasman Region, with a population of 7125...

.
At 8am on 7 August, in heavy seas, all the remaining passengers and crew commenced abandoning the Queen Bee in the lifeboat

Lifeboat (shipboard)

A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...

, cutter, and Captain's gig

Captain's Gig

The captain's gig is a boat used on naval ships as the captain's private taxi. It is a catchall phrase for this type of craft and over the years it has gradually increased in size, changed with the advent of new technologies for locomotion, and been crafted from increasingly more durable...

.

Abandonment

At launch the lifeboat was damaged and needed to be continuously bailed out to keep it afloat. The lifeboat took Mrs Gibbs and three of her children, Mrs Pearce, Miss Sanders, Mrs Cheel and three of her children, together with these were four seamen. It headed for Awaroa

Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park is a national park located at the north end of the South Island of New Zealand. The park was founded in 1942, largely through the efforts of ornithologist and author Perrine Moncrieff to have land reserved for the purpose. With a coverage of only 225.3 square kilometres,...

 with the women bailing out water. A blanket was hoisted as a sail.

The cutter took Dr and Mrs Maunsell and their two children, both Fosberry’s, Mr Gibbs and five of his children, Mr Whyte, Master Hartell, Mr and Master Cheel, Messrs Barnes, Charington, Wills (a seamen), and a man named Furness, who was a stowaway

Stowaway

A stowaway is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as an aircraft, bus, ship, cargo truck or train, to travel without paying and without being detected....

. For a time the cutter and lifeboat sailed together, then parted with the cutter sailing to leeward.

In the Captain's gig, and on a raft the crew had constructed, were Captain J. S. Davies, Mr Baillie (chief officer) Mr W. H. Mason(third officer), the boatswain, carpenter, three stewards, two cooks, the butcher, one able body seaman, and Messrs Hilliard and Beckett, passengers. It was the last to leave at 4pm and was to head for Collingwood

Collingwood, New Zealand

Collingwood is a town in the north-west corner of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located in the hub of the Aorere Valley, in the western half of the Golden Bay area.-Geography:The town lies at the end of State Highway 60 in Golden Bay...

 towing the raft. The boats only contained a little water, because the heavy seas had made loading impossible.

Raising the alarm

At 7.48 pm on Tuesday, 7 August the Second Mate, John E Going, sent a telegram from Motueka

Motueka

The town of Motueka in the South Island of New Zealand lies close to the mouth of the Motueka River, on the western shore of Tasman Bay. It is, after Nelson and Richmond, the third largest centre in the Tasman Region, with a population of 7125...

 to the Nelson Harbour Master, Captain James S Cross advising the ship had struck Farewell Spit

Farewell Spit

Farewell Spit is a narrow sand spit situated at , at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand. Known to the Māori as Tuhuroa, it runs eastwards from Cape Farewell, the island's northernmost point...

. The Harbour Master set sail for the Spit on the steamer Lady Barkly followed by the steamer Lyttleton. The Kennedy was thought to have been already at the scene, but later reports stated that it had not sighted the Queen Bee.

The Lady Barkly arrived first. Captain Cross, went on board Queen Bee and found it abandoned except for four dogs and a cat. The animals are believed to have subsequently drowned. After the arrival of the Lyttleton Captains Cross, Walker, and Scott, and Mr Ross, the engineer of the Lady Barkly, surveyed the Queen Bee and condemned it as a total wreck. It was submerged with the exception of a portion of the starboard quarter, and a small part of the forecastle. Her hatches were burst open, and the cargo was washing out and floating about in all directions.

While the Lady Barkly was at the Queen Bee, the lifeboat reached Awaroa where the occupants were assisted by the Hadfield brothers. After short time they were picked up by the schooner

Schooner

A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....

 Merlin. From it, they were transhipped to the Lady Barkly. Stopping at Motueka, the Lady Barkly picked up the sailors who had raised the alarm and then sailed back to Nelson, arriving on 8 August. The whereabouts of the cutter and the gig were unknown.

The journey of the Captains gig

During the night of 7 August the gig had sailed towards D’urville

D'Urville Island, New Zealand

D'Urville Island is an island in the Marlborough Sounds along the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It was named after the French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville. With an area of approximately , it is the eighth-largest island of New Zealand, and has around 52 permanent...

 and Stephens

Stephens Island, New Zealand

Stephens Island is at the northern most tip of the Marlborough Sounds in the South Island of New Zealand. It lies two kilometres to the northeast of Cape Stephens, the northernmost point of D'Urville Island. The Māori call the island Takapourewa but Stephens Island is the commonly used name...

 Islands. These they sighted at daybreak on 8 August. On attempting to land in a small cove the gig was destroyed. The ship's carpenter was lost presumed drowned during the landing, but everyone else made it ashore safely. Once ashore Mr Hilliard, a passenger, attempted to climb the hill surrounding the cove, but fell badly injuring his feet. At high tide the water almost covered the cove. A fire was lit on the morning of the 9th using driftwood, wet matches provided by the steward and the mates burning glass. Water was found but no food.

The search

After two hours in port, on 8 August, the “Lady Barkly left Nelson to resume the search, intending to head for the Croixelles and then across Tasman Bay

Tasman Bay

Tasman Bay is a large V-shaped bay at the north end of New Zealand's South Island. Located in the centre of the island's northern coast, it stretches along of coastline and is across at its widest point. It is an arm of the Tasman Sea, lying on the western approach to Cook Strait.At the bay's...

. The Lyttelton returned at 3 am on 9 August having remained at sea searching for the missing boats. It to had had no success.
The Lyttelton set sail again that morning under Captain Whitwell to resume the search. The Lyttelton intended to search for the next two to three days, or until the missing boats were found. The Lady Barkly returned to port.

The Nelson Collector of Customs sought Wellington steamers, including the Manawatu be sent into Cook Strait

Cook Strait

Cook Strait is the strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It connects the Tasman Sea on the west with the South Pacific Ocean on the east....

 and Stephens Island

Stephens Island, New Zealand

Stephens Island is at the northern most tip of the Marlborough Sounds in the South Island of New Zealand. It lies two kilometres to the northeast of Cape Stephens, the northernmost point of D'Urville Island. The Māori call the island Takapourewa but Stephens Island is the commonly used name...

 to join the search, T R H Taylor and the rescued sailors from the Queen Bee set sail to search D’Urvilles Island

D'Urville Island, New Zealand

D'Urville Island is an island in the Marlborough Sounds along the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It was named after the French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville. With an area of approximately , it is the eighth-largest island of New Zealand, and has around 52 permanent...

 and then the bays, and the Nelson Naval Brigades boat Aurora under Lieutenant’s Gully and Simpson also left with the Lady Barkly to search around D’Urvilles Island.

The wreck was put up for auction by Messrs Sharp and Pickering at 11 am on 9 August 1877 on instruction from the Nelson Lloyds

Lloyd's of London

Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...

 agent, Messrs Curtis Brothers. Neither the ship nor its cargo were insured.

Meanwhile at D’Urville Island, the survivors from the gig had sighted smoke from several ships, but been unable to alert them. Mr Mason, the third mate, managed to climb out of the cove and headed inland to try to get help. The night was fine, but the morning of Friday, 10 August brought rain and wind. The Lyttelton was sighted off shore at about 2 pm, but they could not attract its attention. Just then the Manawatu came into sight, saw them and hoisted a signal flag. All those who remained in the cove were taken on board the Manawatu to Nelson.

The journey of the cutter

At 10.34 am on Saturday, 11 August Lieut. Simpson from the Aurora telegraphed from Cable Bay that the Cutter and all on board had been located safe and well at French Pass

French Pass

French Pass is a narrow and treacherous stretch of water that separates D'Urville Island, at the north end of the South Island of New Zealand, from the mainland coast. At one end is Tasman Bay, and at the other end the outer Pelorus Sound leads out to Cook Strait.French Pass has the fastest tidal...

. When those on the Cutter left the Queen Bee on the 7th they found that they only had three oars, which were almost useless, no sails or mast, a bottle of water and three tins of preserved meet. The boat was overloaded and so they attempted to catch the lifeboat to transfer some of the people. After struggling for an hour and a half they turned to run before the sea, being blown seaward. The cutter was constantly taking on water, but fortunately the wind shifted to the north west. Making a sail from a rug held on with a brass rod, they managed to row and sail to Savage Point, just above French Pass. On the night of the 7th they remained at sea near the mouth of Puna Habour. The next morning at daybreak they landed on the beach, made a fire and boiled water. Some of the crew went in search of help and came across the Maori settlement of Rene Hoihoi on Rangitoto Island

Rangitoto Islands, Marlborough Sounds

The Rangitoto Islands are a group of islands near the Marlborough Sounds along the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand.The group consists of Wakaterepapanui Island , Tinui Island and Puangiangi Island ....

 where they were treated with great hospitality. The remained at Puna Harbour until the 9th when they rowed to Mr A Elmslie’s place at French Pass. From there the people from the cutter were taken by the Aurora and a Maori boat to Nelson.

The Aurora arrived back in Nelson at about 4.30 pm on the 11 August. A large crowd, including the Military Band playing Home Sweet Home, gathered to welcome them back. The Maori boat arrived at 7 pm. The butcher, F Gutherlest, returned on the Lady Barkly a little later.

The Lyttelton and HMS Sappho

HMS Sappho (1873)

HMS Sappho was a sloop, of the Royal Navy, built by Wigram & Sons, Blackwall and launched on 20 November 1873.She commenced service on the Australia Station in December 1874....

, under Captain Digby, in the meantime had landed 25 of their crews on D’urville Island to try to find the missing third mate, Mr Mason. Messrs T R Taylor and H Walmsley had been searching the island for him since the 11 August. After a fairly widespread search he was located tired and exhausted.

The enquiry

An enquiry into the wreck was commenced on 16 August under Resident Magistrate L Broad Esq and Captain Johnston, Nautical Assessor. It concluded on 22 August, with judgements against the Captain, first mate, and second mate. The enquiry found that there was poor navigation, no sounding were taken when they knew they were close to land, and a poor lookout was kept. The Captain’s licence was suspended for three years, and the second mates for six months.

A relief fund had been set up for the survivors, with 100 pounds being sent to the widow of the ships carpenter, the only person to lose their life.

Crew

Captain: John Sayer Davies,
Chief Officer: Arthur Hessen Baillie, Masters Certificate from 1852
Boatswain:
Carpenter:
Chief Steward: Alexander Gardner
Stewards: 2
Cooks: 2
Butcher: F Gutherlest
1st Mate: ?
2nd Mate: John Ernest Going, Masters Certificate from 1875
3rd Mate: William Henry Mason
Able body Seamen: 5
Seaman: John Willis, John Price, Oscar Frank, Edward Williamson, Martin Wardrope, and 1 others

Ships manifest

The Ships manifest stated the following load:

4 bales flour bags, 10 cases Van Houten cocoa, 30 bundle spades, 42 cases galvanised corrugated iron, 1 bale seaming twine, 150 cases Hennessy's brandy, 2 crates brownware, 3 casks china, 15 cases marmalade, 10 kegs split peas, 50 kegs patent wrought nails, 50 cases Tenant's ale (quarts), 10,000 Countess slates, 9 cases glass, 10 qaurter-casks sherry, 60 camp ovens, 150 grindstones, 20 barrels tar and pitch, 20 quarter-casks pale brandy, 50 cases Blood's stout (quarts), 50 cases Pig brand stout (quarts), 10 cases Bath bricks, 40 casks whiting, 1 cases gauge glasses, 11 rolls sheet lead, 1050 sash weights, 23 kegs shot, 25 boxes tin plates, 2 iron tanks raisins, 10 casks shell almonds, 10 casks barcelona nuts, 5 casks walnuts, 2 cases Jordan almonds, 50 barrels currants, 3 cases sultanas, 1 case Sollazzi liquorice, 4 cases scythe stones, 1 cask scythes, 50 kegs Hall's sporting and blasting powder, 16 cases Curtis and Harvey's sporting powder, 30 quarter-casks vinegar, 3 cases Huntley and Palmer's biscuits, 10 bales cornsacks, 20 cases cocoa, 6 cases blacking, 20 cases Worcester sauce, 1 case percussion caps, 10 cases red herrings, 4 cases scented soap, 250 boxes candles, 10 cases' bedstead, 3 casks soft soap, 5 cases acid, 2 cases cream of tartar, 10 cases bottled fruits, 2 cases pimento, 2 cases maccaroni, 40 kegs seed, 50 cases Lome whisky, 20 cases corn flour, 95 packages drapery, 50 cases Meukow brandy, 30 cases claret, 160 kegs paint, 6 bundles castings, “N. Edwards & Co”; 20 cases and 10 casks currants, 17 crates and 5 casks glass and earthenware, 4 cases gunpowder, 200 boxes candles, 200 bags salt, 12 casks and 10 jars vinegar, 65 drums oil, 35 casks sulphur, 20 boxes starch, 11 cases confectionery, 28 cases oilman's.stores, 11 packages paints, 3 cases hose and belting, 5 bales paper, 4 crates bottles, 40 cases salmon, 3 cases leather, 6 cases clothing, 37 packages hardware, 120 coils wire, 50 axles, 42 grindstones, 650 bars iron, 18 kegs nails, 4000 feet iron pipes, 23 packages merchandise, “E. Buxton and Co”; 2599 packages, “Sclanders and Co”; 311 packages, “City Council”; 677 packages, “H. Davis & Co”; 13 packages, “W. 0. Wilkins”; 3 packages, “W. Darby” ; 54 packages, “R.Mackay”; 11 packages, “Lightband and Co” 11 packages, “W. Milner”; 11 packages, “Lucas and Sons”; 11 packages, “J. Hounsell”; 45 packages, “H. Hounsell”; 24 packages, “Franzen”; 9 packages, “Johns”; l4 packages, “Nelson Hospital”; 2 packages, “Burnett”; I case, “Rev. Martin”; 3 cases, “Rev. Mother St. Michael”; 1 case, “Spencer”; 1 case, “Frater”; 1 box, “Greville”; 1 case, “Mrs Morton”; 2 packages, “Jennings”; 2 boxes, “Franklyn”; 1 case, “Cassidy”; 1 case, “Coward”; 2 packages, “Fell”; 1 case, “Cowling”; 1 package, “Fell and Atkinson”; 7 packages, “Hodder and Co”; 4 greyhounds, “Chatteris”; 1 case, “Adams”; 26 packages, “Gibbs”; 1 case, “T. Whitwell” ; 3 casks paints, “J. P. Cooke”; 169 packages tubes, plates, & c, “Anchor Foundry”; and 423 packages, “Order”

Passengers

The number of passengers was first reported as 16 – possibly because only the adults were counted. Later reports ranged from 30 to 50 passengers. The list from the Colonist names 30.

‘’Saloon:’’ Mrs J Gibbs, Mary Gibbs, Richard Gibbs, Louisa Gibbs, Frederick Gibbs, Sidney Gibbs, Ellen J Gibbs, John H Gibbs, Henry E Gibbs, Lucy F Gibbs, C J Beckett, Earnest Catt, W A Whyte, H Hartle, Dr Maunsell, Mary Maunsell, Mirial Maunsell, Eily Maunsell, Eva C Fosberry, Emma Fosberry, and H H Hilliard.

“Steerage:” Elizabeth Pearce, Mary A Sanders, Charles W Cheel, Eliza Cheel, Elizabeth Cheel, Grace Cheel, Diana Cheel, William Cheel, and Ann Cheel.

There was also one stowaway

Stowaway

A stowaway is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as an aircraft, bus, ship, cargo truck or train, to travel without paying and without being detected....

; a Mr Furness