ACCIDENT TO THE S. S. CITY OF SYDNEY.

Grey River Argus, Volume 21, Issue 3058, 4 June 1878, Page 2

ACCIDENT TO THE S. S. CITY OF SYDNEY.

We published in our special cable news on the 17th instant a short mesbage relative to this accident, and the following, taken from the last Sydney paper, is sent by a correspondent at Noumea, writing on the 12th :—

The City of Sydney arrived on the sth inst. A few anxious moments were passed on board the steamer at. the commencement of her voyage. She left Sydney at 7 a.m.— everything in good order. At 8 o'clock, pumps sounded ; all well. Soon after passing thft heads very rough weather was experienced, and the ship labored much. Suddenly at 2 p.m, Bft of water reported in her hold. Her captain, Mr Henry Webber, who was making his first voyage in her, immediately adopted every step to insure the safety of the_ passengers and crew ; pumps, were set going, boats prepared for any emergency, ani the vessel was put about for Sydney, Finding, however, that after three or four . hours pumping, the water was reduced from -eight to tin cc feet, and that they had complete mastery of the leak, the captain and engineer concluded that there was nothing to prevent them making their voyage. The ship was once more put upon her course, and arrived here in five days, including the interruption, making one of the fastest voyages on record.

When the cargo was discharged the cause of the leakage was found to be a small pipe .leading from the ladies' cabin to the port side of the vessel, a short distance below the water-line. This'pipe had been broken, and the water thu? entered. This slight accident, which at first, when unknown, caused much natural alarm, was easily remedied, and the ship declared in every way seaworthy. The poor captain's eyebrows lifted one day On receiving, at a quarter to 12 o'clock, eleven summonses, all written in French, citing him to appear before the tribunal at 1 o'clock of the same day — Bhort notice, gentle reader, for " ye foreigner." He was adjudged to pay 50,000 francs (L 2000) damages to the various consignees of the injured cargo. Of course, appeal is made, the more especially,' as according to report, but one summons was legally drawn up.— Post,