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Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1931, 14 October 1874, Page 2

Owing to the heavy sea running on the bar yesterday, steamers- -Murray and Ino could not leave for tbeir dnstinations, and there was no chance for the local tug bringing in any of tbe vessels in the roadstead. Should the -weather moderate during the night, the steamers will leave this morning, and it is expected that the p.s. Lyttelton will arive at the wharf, from Nelson direct. On the 15th ult. Messrs M'Meckan and Blackwood's steamer Claud Hamilton, outward bound to New Zealand, came into collision with the light-ship in the West Channel, which was damaged to the extent of L7O. The matter was brought under the notice of the Pilot Board, who held an inquiry yesterday. After a sitting of two hours, during which the evidence of those on board the steamer and the light-ship was taken, the Board arrived at the following decision : — "The Pilot Board, having taken the evidence into consideration, and having heard what the master of the Claud Hamilton had to say, is of opinion that the collision with fcbe Wesb Channel light-ship arose from the default of Captain Bawdeu in neglecting to take the necessity precaution in navigating his vessel in entering the West Channel on the 15th ult., and for this default the Board suspended his exemption certificate for a pilot for two calendar months." The repairs to the. light-ship have been made by the Government, Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co. paying the cost. . The Fiji "Times," of 2nd September, publishes an account of the massacre of three of the crew of the Zephyr at the New Hebrides in July last;. It is supposed that the murdered men were eaten by the natives. The following particulars of a mutiny ■which took place on board the ship Christian M'Ausland at Port Chalmers are from the 11 Guardian " of the sth inst. :— Amongst the crew of the ship are four A.B.s named James Murphy, Andrew M 'Kenzie, John M'Artney, and Clause Harm. These men -were the disturbe-s of the peace on this occasion, Murphy acting as leader. On the 2nd. August the ship crossed the Equator, and,' <it being Murphy's turn at the wheel, lie came aft, dressed in a rather fantastic style. The crief officer, thinking the manner in which the man was dressed was exceedingly imprudent in the presence of women and children, ordered him forward to effect a change. Murphy at first obeyed, and went forward, but came aft again with M'Artney, also dressed in a burlesque style. The two were immediately ordered forward, but this time Murphy, backed up by M'Artney, decidedly refused, and the pair commenced abusing the mate, and hauled him-off the p^opdfick. He and Mnrphy fell, the mate being uppermost, but M'Artney came to his companion's rescue, jumping on top of tfae mate. Dr. Eadson, w&o was at this time sitting iv the saloon writing, seeing what was ; going ori, at once called Captain Duncan, who' was in his 'private cabin reading; The captain and doctor rushed out together, and endeavored to stop the affray, when Murphy raising struck the former a severe blow over the bead, and became, if posible, more violent than before M'Artney; drew his knife, and threatened to: stab and \ rip the captain up ; while Mr Strachan, chief mate, endeavored to keep the men off the captain. While doing so, another of the four -came from behind and . attempted to strike him, but was: prevented doing so by some of the passengers. Several of the male passengers shielded the captain from further harm, and by an extreme effort the mutiny was quelled.