WRECK OF THE CITY OF DUNEDIN.

The following official report of the search made for the City of Dunedin has been laid before the Assembly : —

Dr. Hector has the honour to report to the honourable the Postmaster-General that J. W. Rayer sent, in compliance with instructions, to search the Coast near Cape Terawiti, for traces of the wreck of the City of Dunedin, paddle-steamer, returned last evening, having examined the shore, from Lyall Bay to Ohariu Bay. He reports that —

1. In bay west of Tongue Point, he found the back o£ a saloon seat, with iron racks, painted green, and quite uninjured. Within a few yards of the same place was the top of a round table, a cork fender, and lining-floats from the inside of a life-boat ; also, a staved water-cask, a little further up the coast.

2. On inner Ohaoa Point, which faces northwards, he found a second saloon seat back, but severely in* jured and battered. 3. At Ohariu Bay, pieces of two boats, one painted green, with black and white streaks, and the other blue.

4. At Sinclair's Head, part'of the rounded sternrail of a vessel.

5. Planks — as if of bulkheads, scattered along the whole coast. Examined those to the north, being most battered.

When at Terawiti he made inquiries respecting what had been seen by the girl Macmanaman, aged fifteen. She left Wellington to ride out to Terawiti on the Saturday the City of Dunedin left port, and when about a mile from home, and just before dark, she saw a steamer close among the rocks, and looking as if it was going round and round, and would not steer. The sailors were pulling the sails up and down, and appeared to be in confusion. On reaching home she asked her mother to come out and see, but she (her mother) was busy, and did not go. The manager of the station had passed the girl in the afternoon in Happy Valley, on his way into town, and some time after saw a steamer clear the port on a westerly course. He says it was a fine evening, but the wind fresh from the S.E.

On the Monday following, a shepherd named M'Leod saw from the top of the cliff what looked like a sheep's carcase floating in the sea with a large bird on it. As one of his own sheep had slipped down the cliff, he thought it might have been it washed away, but, on descending the cliff, he found his sheep still there.

Rayer is to return at once, and continue the search northwards to Otaki, where there is a report that a large quantity of coals have been cast up on the shore.