CALIFORNIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1194, 9 February 1864, Page 3

CALIFORNIA.

[FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO ' MORNING CALL,' NOV. 17.]

Arrest of Smugglers.—For some time the United States marshal lias had suspicions that parties on board the steamer Pacific, plying between this port and Victoria, were engaged in pursuing a branch of trade which was entirely contraband. Strict watch was kept on the arrival of the vessel, on her last trip, and sufficient learned to warrant the arrest of George Hutchinson and Mr. Phillips, the former male and the latter clerk of the steamer Pacific, a man named Fitzgerald, and an employe in a well known mercantile house in this city. They are accused of smuggling opium and silks, and it is asserted tliat about 30,000d01. worth of goods were brought down on the last trip. The marshal lias seized trunks, seven of them containing opium, valued at about 10,000d01., which had it been successfully smuggled through, would have defrauded the Government out of about 5,000d01. It is thought that the parties have other accomplices, but of this the officers are not certain. Two of the parties arrested gave bail, but Phillips and Fitzgerald were, locked up to await the examination.

An Outrageous Act.—On Saturday night, or Sunday morning, some miscreant entered trie print-ing-office of the ' Union Franco-American,' a French weekly, and destroyed a large portion of the material for yesterday's issue. The editor of the ' Franco' ascribes the Vandal act to the politics of his paper, and, with a petulance which we can forgive on account of the excited feelings which his misfortune naturally generated, deelares that in despotic France no such act could occur as this in republican America.

Storm, and Loss of an Iron-clad. —On Saturday and Sunday nights a storm created sad havoc in the city, on the bay, and through the country. The wind hegan to blow about twelve o'clock on Saturday night, and increased until it blew almost a perfect hurricane, snapping the hawsers of the many ships which were tied to the wharfs, causing the vessels to start upon voyages without pilot or crew. The damage on shore was considerable. Many new houses, nearly completed, being damaged to the extent of thousands of dollars. This was owing to the fact tlmt some time ago a shrewd speculator purchased all the asphalt um in the market, and then ran up the price to such an extent as to cause those who were building to determine to await the arrival of further supplies before they covered their houses ; but not wishing to lose any time, they went on and finished the houses, putting on the plastering, &c. The result is that when the flood-gates of heaven were opened, and the rain came down, the plastering did the same. In other portions of the city the chimneys were twisted off'and thrown to the ground, as if tliey were tender twigs. On Saturday night the Aquila, on board of which is theiron-clad monitor Comanche was run into by the British ship Isca, and the two vessels where chafed together, and considerable damage sustained by the port bulwarks of the Aquila, about twenty-five feet of which were carried away. At daylight the tug Merrimac went to their assistance, and hauled the Aquila alongside the Rincon Point Dock, where she was secured. On Sunday night, when the storm arose again, the waves began to play sad havoc; the water at the stern of the Aquila being very shallow the vessel at every roll struck upon the solid rocks, and in a very short time it was discovered that she was making water rapidly. The pumps were started, but it was soon found that they were useless, as the water gained fast. Seeing that all eiforts must prove unavailable, the sailors were ordered to take some heavy chains ashore for the purpose of hold ing her to the wharf, but before the preparations could be completed, she gave a lurch and went down, head foremost; the bow being some twenty feet under water, while her stern is resting on the bottom yet partially above the wharf. The sinking of the Aquila is a catastrophe which must interest and grieve every loyal citizen of California. For over a year we have been looking forward with Ihe most anxious solicitude for the arrival in our waters of one of those inventions for defence that have been the marvel of modern limes. In anticipation of the early appearance in the bay, mounted and equipped, of the iron-clad Comanche, we had neglected the completion of such harbour defences as would be prudent precautions in times like these, depending to an extreme, perhaps unjustifiable, degree on the capacity of the expected Monitor. But she is no sooner with us than a misfortune almost debars the hope that she will evei keep guard at the gate whilst the city is sleeping. Should it remain calm for a few days, there is little danger that the vessel will go to pieces. At a late hour last night the weather continued to grow mild.