The Southland Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 20,1868.

Southland Times, Issue 885, 20 January 1868, Page 4

The Southland Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1868.

SCJe'E the fatal wreck of the " London " there has been no event calculated to enlist the sympathies and call forth deep emo« tion throughout Australia, as well as New Zealand, so much, as the melancholy loss of th'.e fine ship "General GranV* wttjekeA on the Auckland Islands IMte account, which we publish in ottf other columns is a sad narrative of death, suffering, and hopeful endurance. We believe that no one can read it without feeling a thrill of emotioa more pungent than any words can express. The feet that over seventy souls have been sttd> denly hurried into eternity in near proximity to' our ehwe*, W^th no hand to help, and tha% the 'few survivors were for nearly two years doomed to all the misery and suffering attendant upon being cast away, destitute of provisions and clothing, on a desart island, in an inhospitable climate, is matter for inten*© sorrow; but this is to an extent hollow unless the mind is directed toWarus attempting to devise Sowfc ftcnetfie for preventing the ftifttre records ol ' Buch events as we this' day publish-. .tt !* inadequate sympathy tx)«u«co\if tliose who have suffered^ to lament the loss of those who are gone, congratulate ourselves u£oti our ph^ithrophie proclivitiee, and yet neglect to consider. What steps should be taken to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents or mitigate the sufferings of those that may be wrecked among the innumerable islands that Btu'd the South Pacific Ocean> It has long been known that lnany homeward bound vessels from Australia and New Zealand have left various ports with living freight and valuable cargoes'that have never been heard of afterwards ; and from time to time information has been received by coasting vessels of evidence existing of wrecks on the Auckland Islands-, which islands lie directly in the track. The last three years has proved that these reports have riot been nction. The history of the sufferings of the few survivors of the "Invercauid," the " Grafton," and now those of the " General Grant," evidence the necessity of something being done to secure periodic visitations to these dangerous, rock-bound islands. A search ship should be at once despatched without the delay of organising a regular service. Mariners intimately acquainted with those seas,- from long sealing and whaling experience — Captain Gilbot over twenty yeais*-thinks it is possible, and even probable, from the course taken by the mate and his crew when they left their companions at Port Ross, that they may have reached either Campbell's, the Antipodes, or Bounty Island, and are still there. Under these circumstances it appears an imperative duty for this Province to fit out without delay a search ship to thoroughly examine all these islands. In a matter of this sort — -life or death — no step should be omitted -to determine the fate of these men, and ascertain as far as possible if other castaways are on auv of the islands. The cost of a search expedition might bo heavy for Southland, but we believe the Government would be justified in carrying it out, and there is no doubt it would afterwards be reimbursed. The General Government

would never refuse to aid hi so noble an undertaking. H we mistake not, Yicteria, aud the other colonies, wo\ild be m6st willing to .contribute.their 'full share of the ekpeoae. If done it (should fee done quickly. There are= Vessels in, pork that could be at once dispatched, and no time should be lost in an attempt being made to rescue, if still living, the unfortunate men, and any others, who may be placed in a similar position. In the above remarks we hav6 con* fined ourselves to pointing out what U necessary t6 be done, this fatal wreck, I however, opens up a large and serious question, provisions shall be made for the future?. Is it not the duty of the Governments of the Australiaa to unite in establishing a service to prevent, at least, the lingeringsufferings that arise from the marine casualities that occur in these daAgerbus se'ftsf .It '« most certainly 6x6s &6& feapohsibilitiefe thkt it \vould be a crime to attempt to evade; There are war vessels that are -almost idta Cannot one of them be all tolc as a search ship ? If such cannot be done is there any "obstacle in the way of Nev Zealand solicitinc the co-operation of thi Australian Colonies in the establishmeu of such a service. The trips of thi " Victoria rt and the v Sbuthiaid" two years ago=-attn6'ugfe failing to do what th^ '"Araherst" has done, discovering in a state of wretchedness a band of castaways-^wefe not useless. The stores' stated to have been left on different, Isl^ndsj hav^j not been discdveredi Mt thß_ live s^ock' appears to Uav6' incic'easei and materially cttntribuifeA t ! 6 sustain the "life of those jAxo have been so fortunately rescued. This is a subject that should commend the attention of all Australian Governments. Before concluding, we would BUggest to the Government, the gifapriety of supplying the necessary funds to enable those who h&ve been saved by the Amhertt to rea«tt their h«mes« .-- !