Correspondence with the Colonial Secretary's Office

6 deposited the ships papers with some valuables of my own in a large tin box over which water proof cloth had been firmly tied, and fastened it by a strap to the fore top. A greater part of the top had been broken off. The box had either floated away or sank.

The sea had evidently washed over the whole of the masts & rigging as portions of seaweed & coral sand were aboard clinging to the different parts. A larger piece of coral was found on the fore top [foretop], at least 30 feet above the bed of the reef. From these evidences I think that the unfortunate men left on the wreck could not have survived the exposure more than two days, & I also think that as all the yards (the most available materials wherewith to make a raft) were still floating about, they had made no attempt to leave the wreck.

[signed] Thomas Tate

Declared before us at the Police Office Cardwell this 6^th day of March 1872

[signed] Brinsley G Sheridan PM [signed] P. F. Sellheim J.P.