Warrnambool Standard
June 19  1890

A Suggestion
To the Editor of the Warrnambool Standard

Sir, -- As the search for the supposed Spanish or Portuguese discovery ship, now familiarly known as the mahogany ship, is to be continued, I would suggest the services of  “Governor,” or any other old aboriginals of Port Fairy now living at the Framlingham Station be obtained, as I am of opinion they could render very [sic] material assistance, the hummocks formerly constituting part of their hunting grounds.  I am making enquiries of the Temple family about the vessel that they and Sandy Allen broke up, but from what I can learn, it has no connection with the Sir John Byng, referred to by your correspondent T.H.O in this morning’s paper.  It seems inexplicable why this wreck was not thoroughly explored and investigaged [sic] in the early days, when the late Capt. Alex. Campbell, Capt. Mills, his brother Charles, Mr. Hugh Donnelly, and several other old whalers, to all of whom she appears to have been well known, instead of leaving it till these later times when discovery and identification are necessarily so much more difficult.  Possibly she had been pretty well overhauled, in which case if any indications were found connecting her with an ancient foreign-built vessel, the Government would have been apprised of it, through either Capt. Campbell, or his successor, Capt. John Mills, the harbour masters.  However, I wish well to the search party, and trust their exploration will meet with success.

I am, yours, etc.,

RICHARD BENNETT.
June 12, 1890.

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