ARRIVAL OF THE MAHIA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 8, Issue 638, 25 July 1865, Page 1

ARRIVAL OF THE MAHIA.

THE Mahia and Zillah, respecting which some apprehensions wei'e entertained, both arrived in safety, the|former on Friday the 21st, and the latter on Saturday the 22nd inst. The Mahia, it will be remembered, left Napier on Saturday the Ist inst., for Wairoa, with orders for Lieut. Biggs and his volunteers, 32 in number, to proceed on board; en route to "Waiapu. The Mahia arrived at, Wairoa early next (Sunday) morning— entering the river and getting up to the camp by 0 a.m. She went in before a strong souther, and with a heavy sea beginning to set in. The weather continuing bad, it was Wednesday the sth before she could leave the river. The men embarked in course of the forenoon of that day, and at 5 p.m. the cutter sailed, a heavy sea being still on the bar. Arrived off Awanui on the afternoon of Friday the 7th, and at 4 p.m., landed Mr. Biggs and party. During the night it came on to blow hard from the southward ; and, at 2 a.m. on Saturday, had to run round the East Cape for shelter, dropping anchor in Hicks' Bay. On. Monday the 10th, a nor-west wind springing up,oame back to Waiapu. and stood off and on waiting for despatches till Tuesday the 11th. At 7 % p,m. made sail for Napier, and at daylight on Wednesday, rounded Portland Island. Off Long Point, saw a man of war steamer, which fired a blank shot. Capt. Enrigbt, thinking it a signal for Mr. Campbell, ,the pilot at Mahia, went oij his course ; but he was soon convinced of his mistake by a shot being fired across the bows of his vessel, as a gentle hint for him to heave to. This he did at once ; but by this time he had got considerably to leeward of the steamer and had to beat up to where she lay. She proved to be H.M.S. Eclipse. Capt Enright, on rounding under her stern, was told to come on board ; but, seeing that he bad only two men in the cutter besides himself, he suggested, as the better plan of the two, that he should be sent for ; upon . which a boat was lowered and manned from the steamer and sent alongside. Capt. Enright, upon going on board, delivered his despatches to Mr. M'Leanj and Capt. Sturley, who was in the Mahia, was taken on board the ship of war in the capacity of pilot. The Mahia then bore up for Nuhaka, where she took in 400 bushels of corn ; finished loading on the night of Monday the 17th, but, &• souther setting in had to run for Wangawehi. Left there on Thursday morning, and arrived off Ahuriri Bluff at 9 p.m on Friday.