THE LOST 'CITY OF DUNEDIN.' (FROM THIS WELLINGTON "ADVERTISER.")

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2463, 12 June 1865, Page 5

THE LOST 'CITY OF DUNEDIN. (FROM THIS WELLINGTON " ADVERTISER.")

The last hope is gone — speculation or supposition will no longer avail— eveiyouu must now be, however unwillingly, foiccd to the conclusion that the p.s. ' City of Jjunediu' lias been wrecked, and that up wards of fifty poisons have been launched into eternity withont a moment's warning. Tbo s.s. ' It.ingatii a' ai lived last night from the Manuka 1 !, vist Nelson, and she brings the intelligence that the ' (Jity of Duuedin, 1 which Jeft tins poit for Nelson ou the evening of the 20th May, had not reached her destination on last Monday morning. We have, iv the face of very sti oug circumstantial evideuce, hoped almost against hope. Wo have buoyed ouiselves up iv tlio expectation that matteiB were not so bad as they appealed — that a merciful Providence had mterposed, and that our gloomy foiebodiugs would disappear quickly on the anival of intelligence concerning the vessel in connection with the safety of which our worst apprehensions had been aroused. Now, however, all hope is gone. The vessel has been wrecked, probably within a few miles of our homes, and. we greatly fear that not oue of the crew or passengers will be left to tell of the awful calamity, and the ciicumstauces attending the disaster will never be revoalod. With an unwilling hand have we day by day by day penned the particulars as they have reached us. We have now but httlo more to add, as our worst feais have been verified, and our prophecies have proved to be but too true. To attach blame now to auy one in particular would bo futile, but_ while we cannot but commeud in the highest possible teims the interest which has been manifested in. tfiis matter by the Ministry generally, and by the Hon. Major ltichardson in particular, we cannot too stiongly condemn the culpable conduct of his Honor the Superintendent in not, when the first intelligence reached him, adopting some measures for instituting a seiirch for any person who might have survived. We do not say ' that arch a scaich would h-ivo resulted in any good, but there is a possibility that seme of the uufortnuatts might have been snatched fiom the jaws of death through timely assistance being lendeied, and the rescue of even one human being under such circumstances would have been an ample recompense, and would ha\ c eased the public mind. There is a satisfaction in feeling that one has done one's best, but there are persons iv Wellington who cannot in the present case lay to their souls that flatteiing unction. It is now doneit is past- eveiy hope is gone— aud wo would fain that weconld diop iv cut bain for ever over the terrible catastrophe. Since the publication of our last issue, a seaich lias been instituted iv the neighbourhood of the lighthouse and the Teiawiti coast, but nothing of any material consequence has been found in those localities. A letter from Mr. Russell, Wairarapa, wxs received in town on Tuesday, aud the writer stated that a quantity of wreck had come on shore- at Palltscr Bay, and amongst other thin s a figure-head, a sketch of which was enclosed. This drawing was at once recognised by Captain ltobettson, of the Marine Boaul, and several other gentlemen, as bciug a faithful representation of the liguie-head of the ' City of Duuodiu.' The p.s. ' Sandfly, 1 in charge of Captain Kennedy, of the Maiine Board, left at duylight this morning for the coast, ,\vith the -view of r seaiching for poitions of the wreck. The steamer will first proceed to Palliser Bay, and then ciuiso off the diffoient places where ttaces are likely to be obt lined. The impiession on the minds of seveial gentlemen well versed iv nautical matters^is, that the ill-fated vessel must have been kept too far in shoie, and that she'struck ou Seal Hock or 'Top's Rock, and that she backed off and went down immediately with her 'living freight. Of course this 'is' mero speculation, ■but many oircuaastances. go to prove tint it is a>oorroctjliypothebis. ( ( , „ fr , (FBOMTHE " INDEPENDENT," JUNJ3 3.) Wo fear that the_v.eiL of mysteiy which oyorshndows the fate of Captain Boyd, his ship, passen- ' gers, aud,orew, will never be/withdrawn^ and that wo l liave 1 seen ' and * heard •" the *-la«t of ,the 'City of Dunediu. Whether »ho stiuck oii a ', i!,l { , 'l <> j

rock and went down immediately with, her- Imngg freight, or whether she blew up, will never;- be: TO'Ji vealed, but it must be a satisfaction to know 1 tb*fc'iS all that could be done was done, to leirn » tidirigiCT concerning her. Bickering over the bodies* of .'tne*j| dead is unieenily, or wo would strongly common t °*pM a paragraph'™ the Thursday's wsne of the Advcrliseiy,M which most unjustly condemns the conduct of his || Honor the Superintendent in " not adopting^ tomes (that vague word, some) measures for- instituting *!...,-:< search." We know on authority that his Honor Dr.-f| Featherston bad no power to act in the matter^ and we feel that his kind heart feels >ai deeply »s any >^ the terrible calamity that has befallen men who left us such a short time ago. - i