HEAVY GALE AND FLOODS IN OTAGO.

LOSS OP THE STAR OF TASMANIA, WATER NYMPH, AND WILLIAM MISKIN.

NINE PEESONS DROWNED AT TOTARA STATION.

By the arrival of the s.s. Beautiful Star from Dunedin yesterday we learn that the heavy gale which passed over the province on Monday and Tuesday night, the 3rd instant, had the most disastrous effects. The streets of Dunedin were flooded — there being iv one part; of Rafctray street quite two feet of water — and much damage was done. From all parts of the country news has been received of houses, bridges, fencing, &c, carried away, crops and stock destroyed, and in several instances, unfortunately, Jives lost. At Totara Station, belonging to Messrs Douglas, Alderson & Co. nine persons were drowned. Mr Robert M'Anley, the manager of that station, writing to Messrs Douglas, Alderson, and Co, on Wednesday, says, " It is my painful duty to report to you a fearful catastrophe that visited us on Monday night, about 11 o'clock. The Waiareka stream, which posses our house, rose all of a sudden about two feet into our house ;. and on looking out, the carpenter's house, the blacksmith's house, und the smithy had disappeared. In the carpenter's house were Robert Louden, carpenter; Mrs Louden, James Louden (son), and a little orphan girl. In the blacksmith's house were James Glass, blacksmith ; Thos. Richardson, laborer ; Jas. Waddell, ploughman ; Robert Young, laborer ; Peter Dunn, ploughman ; all of whom were drowned. Six of the ploughmen encamped at the Waiareka paddock were awoke by a little dog yelping, and found themselves in the water. After escaping from the house they joined hands, and by great exertion got on to high ground. The mill has suffered little damage. The two fellmongeries, Messw Lees and Crowther's, and another on the ICakanui, were completely swept away. The loss of stock is not yet known. Dead sheep are strewn along the sea beach and sides of the creeks. All the bodies of those drowned have been found except tkose of Petar Dunn and the little girl." Sergeant Bullen'a report to the Commissioner of Police states that the girl's name was Annie Smith. Inquests had, on Weduesday, been held on the several bodies, by Mr T. W. Parker, R.M., Coroner, and a verdict of " Accidentally Drowned" was returned in each case. My T. Grant, son of Mr P. Grant, of Granton, was drowned at the West Taieri, and a man named JolinlOhapmans, commonly called

I " German Charley," lost his life while crossing Morrel Creek. At Tokoraariro a young man named Draper, a butcher, was drowned while attempting to cross the river. The Daily Times says :— " It seems probable that the village of Outram that was, will cease to be a township. The river has sent a branch along what was, no doubt, an old bed ; so that there is a stream through the township, which will also affect the land belonging to Mr D. Borrie." It is supposed that Mr James Shand, of Taieri, has lost 1000 sheep. But the greatest destruction was at Oamnru, where both the Star of Tasmania, with 2200 bales of wool on board, and the Water Nymph went on shore, and became total wrecks, involving, in the case of the former vessel, a loss of human life. The jetty completely disappeared during the storm with most of the surf boats. WEECK OF THE " STAB OF TASMANIA." AND THE " WATEE NYMPH." The Oamaru Times of Tuesday gives the following particulars respecting the loss of these vessels :— In consequence of the stormy weather yesterday, the Blue Peter was hoisted by the Beach Master, at about 1 p.m., as a signal to the vessels lying in the roads to go to sea. There were lying in the roads at the time the ships Star of Tasmania and Water Nymph, and the schooners Anne and Emu. At halfpast one the Emu spread her canvass and worked out, and about an hour afterwards the Anne followed. We trust that both vessels may succeed in weathering the gale. About 7 p.m. the Star of Tasmania broke one of her chains, and shortly afterwards the other, and rapidly drove towards the beach. There was great excitement in town, and hundreds flocked to the point towards , which the fated vessel was driving. Shortly afterwards she came ashore, about 400 yards above the Scotch Church, and almost immediately heeled over, decks to seaward. The sea was perfectly awful, breaking on the beach with a violence never equalled in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. There were at the time some twenty-two or twentythree souls on board, among whom was a lady passenger, named Mrs Baker, and two children. The vessel rapidly breaking up, every effort was made to save the crew and passengers, who (with the exception of the children referred to, and who, we believe, were drowned in the cabin) were seen clinging to the port side of the vessel almost drowned by the sheets of water which broke over the ship. In the excitement several poor fellows jumped into the water, three of whom got safely to shore! being met by some of the bystanders, at the imminent peril of their own lives, who literally snatched the drowning men from the jaws of death ; while an equal number were unable to withstand the force of the waves, and were carried out to sea and drowned. Every effort was then made to save the remainder; a boat was brought, but it was found she could not live in the tremendous sea ; rifles were also brought into requisition, with the hope of firiug ramrods with line attached across the vessel, but, from some cause or other, with no effect. All j sorts of expedients were fruitlessly tried to carry a life-line to the crew, who could be seen, with Mrs Baker, supported by Captain Oulbert, clinging to the side of the vessel. At last Sergeant Bullen, of the police, essayed j several times at the imminent peril of his life, to throw a lifeline to those on board the wreck ; but owing apparently to the line | being too heavy, he could not succeed in doing so. Duncan Young, one of the men employed by the Lauding Service Company, then ventured boldly into the water, with a line fastened round his waist, and succeeded in reaching the vessel's side, up which he clambered amid the cheers of the bystanders. By this time the masts were over the side, and the vessel as far forward as the forehatch, completely broken up. Darkness had now set in, but a large bonfire was kept up upon the beach, which threw its light upon a scene of peril seldom equalled. Cheers greeted the daring man who had, at the risk of his own life, borne the means of salvation to the almost perished crew, which were redoubled as one after another made the perilous descent by the life-line from the vessel's side to the shore. Mrs Baker was brought safely to land on the shoulders of Mr Stevens, the mate of the vessel. Captain Culbert was the last man to leave his ship, and it was with a feeling of thankfulness that he was seen to step, or rather totter, ashore. Dr Wait was in attendance upon the shipwrecked sailors, some of whom were scarcely able to stand, and paid them every attention in his power. About an hour after the wreck of the Star, the Water Nymph came ashore about half a mile to the northward, but all her crew fortunately escaped safely to land, except as regards the mate, who broke his arm. The late hour at which our notice was penned, and the circumstance that our reporter was well-nigh drowned, must be our excuse for so meagre details of a disaster the most serious which has ever visited this port. We cannot help, however, expressing our hope that the noble conduct of Duncan Yourg will meet with that recognition which is its just due at the hands of the Government and public. Sergeant Bullen, who is in charge at Oamaru, has sent in a full report as to the wrecks, and the floods in the neighborhood of Oamaru. Sergeant Bullen refers to the galo, and to the small vessels getting out of the roadstead ; and he continues— At 3.30 p.m. the Star was observed drifting, having apparently parted her chain. She was moored with her own chain, attached to the swivel of the Government moorings. Having gone about 300 yards, she was brought up with the starboard anchor. She continued to drag this anchor, and the chain which had broken from the swivel was being hauled in, when, at 7 p.m. she parted from her anchor, her head canting in shore. Sail was set, but to no purpose. # # * After this, she heeled over to starboard, and the seas went clean over her. Her deck was soon stove in, her masts went, and the sea came through her bilge, washing out the wool, of which there were over 2100 bales on board. During this time the crew were clustered on the upper or shore side of the forecastle. Captain Culbert had barely time to crawl forward before the after part of the ship gave way. He was seen holding Mrs Baker, a passenger, whoso two boys, aged three and five years respectively, were drowned in the forecastle, where their mother had put them for shelter and safety. During this time lines were being procured, with the view of getting one on board, but the flea was so terrifiic that no person dared venture sufficiently near the vessel for the purpose, the " drawback" and pieces of oroken spars, rendering it a service of great danger. Several persons having failed, the Sergeant fastened a line round his body, and took in his hand a line with a weight attached to its end. He ventured into the surf, and made three unsuccessful attempts. If there had been daylight, the last throw would have been successful, for the weight struck amongst the people on the. ship ; but, through the dark-

ness, they did not see the line,, and they did\ not know what was being tried until they heard the blofe* the weight on the ship 8 ■ aide. After the throw referred to, the Sergeant was knocked down by a sea, or bytt floating bale of wool, and he was with difficulty hauled on shore. He was so" exhausted that lie was not again able to eßsay such an attempt. The crew were now hailed to hold on, as the tide was receding. About 10 p.m. a surf-boat man, Duncan Young, succeeded in getting on board with a rope, one end oi which was fastened on board, and the other held by the people on shore. It being now nearly low water, the whole of those on board were passed safely ashore. Shortly after the vessel struck, Mr Stevens,*the Chief Officer, fell, or was washed off the forecastle. He was tossed about for some time in the surf, and was then thrown on the beach, and was saved. A seaman was saved in a similar manner; One man who jumped overboard was last seen clinging to a bale of wool, outside the line of surf. Brooks and Petrie. two seamen, are the only ones of the crew lost ; and the other two sufferers are the children of Mr Whilst all were engaged at the Star," the Water Nymph was seen close in shore, with all sail set. But the crew could not keep her off; and about ten o'clock, she struck 100 yards north of the Star. Being light (she had but 244 bales of wool on board), she was washed nearly high and dry almost as soon as she struck. All hands got safely out of her, saving their effects. Owing to her canvass being set, she canted in shore, acid remained comparatively steady ; but in a' 'short time water was seen breaking through her main hatchway, and it was evident that her outer bilge was stove in. She now [11 a.m. Tuesday] lies on her beam ends with her back broken. 2 p.m.— The auction of the wrecks concluded. That of the Star sold for £40, and the wool for £1360. The wreck of the Water Nymph sold for £172, and her 244 bales of wool for £810. The purchasers of the Star's wool are a company here, and of the Water Nymph's, Messrs Cargills and M'Lean. Both the vessels and the wool Qic insured. Several seamen of each ship have been injured, but not seriously. February 5. — The bodies of the two seamen (Brooks and Petrie) of the Star of Tasmania, were recovered to-day, from the surf in front of the town ; and later on the bodies of tnechildren were recovered, namely, James E. Baker, aged 5£ years, and,.Malcolm W. Baker, 3 years. The bodies are to be buried to-morrow. 1088 OF THE SCHOONER OTAOO. i Capt. Clark, of Port Chalmers, who was the owner of the schooner Otago, has also . received from Mr Aitken, the following information with regard to the wreck of that vessel. Mr Aitken communicates the grati* fying news that Captain Campbell and his crew were fortunately able to save themselves, before the vessel, broke up. He writes : — " I am sorry to have to inform you of the wreck of the Otago. She left here about mid-day on Monday, being ordered out by the Harbor Master. The wind was then south-east, with a nasty heavy sea. Captain Campbell slipped his cable, and made a verygood offing, so far as I could see, and I believe he continued to do so till between five and six o'clock, when the rudder head gave way. Then, of course, there was nothing for it but to run for the land, which was made about seven miles from here. The Captain and crew got ashore with great difficulty, and saved nothing but the clothes they wore* and the greater part of even the clothes they were wearing they had to leave behind wlien the vessel struck. All here who know anything of the sea, had lost all hopes of ever seeing the crew alive again. The vessel, everyone knew, must have come ashore somewhere on the coast, the sea was so terrific. I was quite proud to see Captain Campbell and his crew this morning, having given them up for lost. A few pieces of the wreck have been washed ashore down here, and the Captain picked up a part of his time-piece on the beach, just about where the Vistula was lying." LOSS OF THE WILLIAM MIBKIN. The Otago Daily 'Ernes, of the Bth, says :~ " Early this morning we received intelligence, by the Geelong, from Oamaru, that the William Miskin had gone ashore at Timaru, and was a total wreck. The Red Eover had sailed. We could not learn whether the crew of the William Miskin were saved or not."