The Catlins Historical Society is hosting the 150th commemoration of the sinking of Surat, on New Year’s Day in 1874.
Surat was a three-masted ship which had been delivering people from the United Kingdom to New Zealand for a few years. The ship left England in October 1873 and was due to land in Dunedin.
On December 31, 1873 it passed the south of the South Island and headed towards Dunedin.
But the ship hit a rock, raking her hull before drifting clear, on the southern part of the Catlins coast.
The hull was checked and it was not leaking. But during the night a weakened section of hull broke, and the pumps had to be manned.
At daylight on January 1, the steamer Wanganui was sighted and offered help, but Captain Johnson — according to many accounts, in a state of heavy intoxication — made it clear in no uncertain terms that help was not needed. The story goes he threatened people with a revolver if they did not follow his command.
He did anchor the ship in Jack’s Bay and allowed passengers to land. About half the passengers were landed before it was discovered that the ship was in danger of foundering.
At this point, the anchor was raised and Surat continued north to the mouth of the Catlins River, where she was deliberately beached in the sandy bay now called Surat Bay and formerly known as Forsyth’s Bay. All the remaining passengers and crew landed safely and all the passengers eventually got to Dunedin but their possessions were more or less lost.
About 125 people will be visiting the area of the wreck.
People registered for the event and some descendants of the passengers and crew on that fateful voyage will be attending. Some are coming from Australia.
The day’s events will include a visit to the Owaka Museum to view the Surat display and the Surat movie, a luncheon, a tour of sites applicable to the story, such as Jack’s Bay and Owaka Heads, and descendant photos. A barbecue tea will be hosted by the Owaka Lions, followed by an evening programme of family stories and old Owaka movies.
The evening programme is open to the public. The Owaka Memorial Community Centre will be the base for the day.
A compilation book of Surat information has been put together by Liz Rowe and Glenda Landreth and there will be speakers at the various Catlins sites visited. Speakers include Bruce Collins, who wrote the book The Wreck of the Surat, Owaka Museum manager Mike McPhee and other Catlins residents who own properties with a connection to the Surat story.
