THE BARQUE CHIEFTAIN.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 84, 20 October 1858, Page 2

THE BARQUE CHIEFTAIN.

To the Editor of the Nelson Examiner.

Sin — I have always had such a horror of appearing in public print, that never before have I addressed au editor; nor should I now, but that, struck with astonishment and indignation at the paragraph in yesterday's number of the Colonist, headed " The barque Chieftain," I feel it due to the worthy and estimable captain of that vessel, that an immediate and explicit denial should be given to the statements therein contained.

And first, as to the complaints of the treatment of the passengers. Of course, I cannot prove a negative, and state that no complaints were made to the concoctor of that paragraph j but this I do affirm, that the captain has in his possession a letter addressed to him by the passengers, testifying their appreciation of the care and attention they had received at his hands during the voyage, and thanking him for his kindness ; and that this testimonial bears the signatures of all the passengers, but those of one family and that of an ex-oificer of the East India Company's service. The head of that family stated publicly at the dinner table, that his reason for not signing was, that he had not been asked to sign till after the intermediate and steerage passengers had signed; and the ex-officer's reason for his refusal to sign was, that, in the early part of the voyage, the captain had affronted him. I most distinctly and emphatically deny, that there has been anything approaching a mutiny on board ; and I defy any one to assert that the men hare, on any occasion, refused to obey an order of the captain ; on the contrary, they have always treated him with the greatest respect, mid deserve- ly so.

The chief mate, it is true, is in confinement, and that for drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and assaulting the captain, &c. &c. On the day succeeding the night on which the chief mate was intoxicated, and assaulted the captain, the latter received a most respectful letter, signed by the whole of the crew, intimating that, in consequence of the disgraceful conduct of the mate, they should decline to servo the ve3sel after her arrival in this port, if he were reinstated.

When a man makes a statement as to the cleanliness of any part of a vessel, he would exercise a little common sense, if, before making it, he obtained more than a "glance" at such particular part. I ask you, sir, and, through your publication, the publip, if it is probable, that the testimonial to which

1 have before referred (and which is open to inspection at the o3ice of Messrs. Nicholson and Ridings) would have bsen signed by all the second and third class passengers, if there were such a necessity for "soap, water, and disinfecting fluid," as your contemporary wjuld lead its readers to suppose. Your 3, &c, Wsr. Boorm;a.n, First-cabin passenger per Chieftain.

The Zealandia eaine to anchor in this harbour yesterday morning, being the 98th day from the Downs. She has a full cargo of immigrants, numbering 399 of all ages and sexes, of whom 148 are children and infants. —They are lauded in good health and spirits. Lyttelton Times, September 22.

A few days ago, at Cape Kidnappers, a piece of wreck and thwart of a boat were washed ashore. In the former were composition nails, and on the latter the nnmo "Redgrave3" burnt in. They arc supposed to be portions of the Panama brig, that foundered e'irly this year between tho Chnthams and the east coast of New Zealand. —Hawke's Bay Herald, August 28.

The schooner Rosebud, Captain Ssnnll, fw>n Otago and Port Cooper, arrived in this harbour at two o'clock yesterday morning. She sailed from Otago on the 3rd, arrived at Lyttelton on the 6th, and sailed thence for Wellington on the Bth instant. Captain Small reports the arrival of the barque Jura, from theCljde, with 397 passengers, including children ; .Mr. Adams, the Emigration Accent for Otago, was a passenger by her. The Lord Worsley was steaming into the Otago heatta as the Rosebud was leaving. She appeared as if she had encountered some very heavy weather, as some of her bulwarks on the port side were washed away. Captain Small was unable to speak thi 1 Lord Worsley, as sha was steaming in very last and he waa cowing out with a fair winJ. Her rlfck whs crowded with passengers. The brig Content, belonging to Messrs. Mi 1 Andrew & Co., sailed for the Bluff Harbour the latter end of September. She conveyed shipwrights to heave down and caulk the barque William Hyde, which had been on shore at the Bluff, but which had been got off. It was intended to make the William Hydun coal hulk, and on the nest arrival of the Queen she» was to be lowed to Dunedin tor that purpose. — Wellington Independent, October 13.

Thu following vessels wen* lying at Port Cooper when the Rosebud K'ft, viz : —The barque Federation, laid on Cor Melbourne ; the brig Dart, from Sydney, unloading ; the schooner L r rjtnoi3, laid on for Sydney, with product*, to sail on the 13th instant ; and the brig Spray, with a cargo of coals, waiting to meet the Lord Worsley. — Id.

The following advertisement appears in the Sydney Herald, of the 25th September :—: —

" Nuw Zealand Royal Mail Steam Company.. — Preliminary Notice. — One of the undermentioned new first-class screw steamers is intended shortly to j>ly monthly between Sydney and Nelson or Auckland, carrying Her Majesty's mails — Prince Alfred, 800 tons, 200 horse power ; Lord Ashley, 50i) tons, 100 horse power j Lord Worsley, 500 tons, li'O horse power ; Airedale, 400 ton 3, 90 horse power. The above steamers have splendid accommodations for saloon and intermediate passengers, and are well adapted for carrying horses and cattle. Will discharge and load at Moore's Wharf. — Edward Coleinan, General Manager for the Colonies."

The Melbourne Argus of the 21th September, says: — During the early part of the day great excitement prevailed to learn the name of tho steamer signalled off Portland. The announcement tlu>t it was the steamer Lord Ashley, from Milford Haven, bound for New Z -aland, was inad«' a little before 11 o'clock, and caused general disappointment. The following is a copy of the telegram received from tlie stutioninaater at Portland :—": — " The steamer Lard Ashley, 500 tons, Captain Stewart, from Milford Haven to Auckland, under sail, put into Belfast at niiie a.m., for water, coals, and provisions. Thi3 is the steamer reported off Portland. She is the first of the mail steamers to ply between Sydney and New Zealand." This last statement is not correct. The Lord Ashley and the Lord Worsley are intended to run between Milford Haven and New Zealand, for the futherance of immigration to that colony.

The schooner Mary Thompson, Captain Muirhead, which arrived in this harbour on Thursday last, had a passage of ten days from Melbourne. She sailed from Port Phillip Heads on the 26th ult., made the pa-sage from land to land in eight days, and was becalmed 2 i hours off Cape Farewell. The English mail had not arrived previous to her sailing; but the clipper ship Morning Light arrived at Melbourne on the lUth, after a splendid passage of 76 days, bringing ten days later European intelligence. — Independent, Uctober 9.