ACT OF PIRACY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1734, 9 February 1863, Page 3

ACT OF PIRACY.

The barque 'Blundell,' Captain May Lean, took her depaitmc at .111 eaily hour on Satuulay morning, greatly to the smpube of most people in Auckland. Our readers arc familiar with the judicial proceedings taken against the master of this vessel, who was detained in jail up to eight o'clock, on Friday evening, in consequence of a judgment obtained against him some tune ago m the District Court, because of short delivery ami the disgraceful state in which he dchveied his cargo to impoiters. When C.vptain May Lean would bo able to procnio his release seemed pioble'matical, and the ' Blnndell ' lay at her moonngs in the river, fouling her bottom, and rapidly eating up hei value in expenses. The public had become familiar with this vessel, and most people came to regard her as a fixture m our harbour, so long as she held togethor — which last ■was a point on which no two nautical men weieagreed But by some means Captain Lean became possessed of money sulficieiit to pay the amount for w Inch he was detained — £60— at the suit of Messrs. Gilfillan & Co., and at eight o'clock, on Fuday night he was set at large. Once at liberty the master of the 'Blundell' did not let the glass grow undei his feet, for as the sequel proved, hi-, arrangements weie complete. He went ou board his \essel, and at an advauccd hour of the night lights w ere hoisted, which weie answered from the shore, and two boats went alongside. The sails were bent, anchors tiipped. and at two o'clock ou Satuiday morning, the % Blnndell' took an abrupt f.uewell of Auckland. So far .as is known the ciew consists of the master, the former second mate, and three seamen. The chief mate is in Auckland. She w .is in sight outside the NOl th Head at Ba. m It was stated 111 the iYf« Zmlamhv on S.itm day that the ' Blundell ' had cle.ued for Guam, but this is a mistake. She has left without a clearance, and is a lawful pu/e for any man-of-war which may fall 111 with her. We believe the Governor was waited on, and the facts repiesented to him by at least one gentleman, and eiToits weie made to have H.M. s.s 'Miranda' sent in puisiut, but the ' Mnanda ' could not be spaied for the service. The ' L'.iioline' gnn boat is available, but has not been sent after the ' Jllundell,' which <*he would soon overhaul. The 'Blundell,' so far as wo know, is short handed and not seaworthy. What com so her commander intends to steer is a matter of conjecture, but that he has played th.c Customs and his ci editors the slip is undeniably true.

11. M.5. 'Mirauda,' Captain Jenkins, sails for Sydney to-day, cairying a mail. She will bo in time for the P. and 0. steamer for Point de Gnlle, cartymg the English mail; so that no time will be lost in conveying the news of the lo^s of the ' Orpheus ' to the Admiralty. Naval Prize Monc\. — A notice appears in Tuesday's Gazette, intimating that the distribution of the pioceeds and slave bounty of the brig ' Flight,' captured <in the 19th May, 3 861, by her Majesty's ship 'Falcon,' will commence on the 21st instant, at the Admiralty. Shares • Flag, £123 12s. 8d ; commander, £293 12s. Bd. ; third class, .€59 lls. 6d. ; fouith, £38 *s. ; fifth, £21 ss. 7d. ; sixth, £19 3<s. Id. ; seventh, £12 15s. 5d. ; eighth, £6 7s. Bd. ; ninth, £4 ss. Id ; tenth, £2 2s. Gd.— Lloyd's News, Nov. 23 Two of the massive 44-inch thick iion plates received from the contractors, Messis. Bcown, of Sheffield, for the armour cased frigate ' Caledonia,* have broken, whilst being »übjected to the bending process by lrydraulic pressifie. — Ibid,