Depicting the wreck of the H.M.S. Orpheus,this painting by Brydges Beechey is dated September of that year
H.M.S. "Orpheus" a 21- gun steam-corvette, manned by a crew of 256 officers and men, was totally wrecked on the Manukau bar on the 7th February 1863,when bound for Onehunga from Sydney to take up duties in New Zealand.
The pilot- station at the heads showed the signal to take the bar, and the 'Orpheus came in under steam and sail before a good westerly breeze. Due to a navigation blunder and out of date maps, the ship struck heavily on the middle bank. The ship engines were ordered full speed astern, but the screw did not work and by now the ship was firmly in the sand.
To make matters worse huge seas were now breaking over the ship and after one boat had with difficulty got clear, the crew all took to the yards and rigging. The steamer "Wonga Wonga"bound south from Onehunga, went to the rescue and approached the wreck as closely as she could. Some of the bluejackets, sliding down the fore topmast-stay, jumped into the sea and were picked up; others who attempted it were drowned.
By now the yards and shrouds were thick with men despairingly looking for rescue. About 6 o'clock in the evening Commodore Burnett ,who was in the mizzen- rigging hailed the men, asked them to pray and said he would be the last to leave. The mainmast was the first to go followed by the foremast and mizzen and the next moment the crew was struggling for their lives.
Out of a crew of 256 all told, only sixty -nine were saved.
Three of the crew now rest in peace near the shores of the Manukau harbour.
On arrival place compass on top of the memorable plaque.The cache is approximately 10 paces at 210 degrees magnetic.
The cache is a camo painted standard container,consisting of log book, pen and numerous trade items.
Please note this is a offset cache