News of the Day.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 84, 20 November 1872, Page 3

News of the Day.

WRECK OF THE BARQUE CITF OF NEWGAS I LE.

The account wo gave on Saturday of the wreck of the above well-known collier, contained most of the material facts. Leaving Port Underwood on Wednesday evening about eight o'clock with a ligbt fuvourublo wind, Cuptuin Bain wiiB met by a strong ebb tide when he opened the Strait, so that he did not muko the distance he calculated, and when he sighted Pencarrow light mistook it for Mana. The changing his course from N.E. to N.W., which he thought would carry him clear of Stephens' Island, ho run his vessel behind Wellington Head on Alapawa Island. Although we cannot but think Captain Bain both here and subsequently showed want of judgment, it was a great blunder of our marine authorities to place two lights precisely alike on Iho same coa9t within forty miles of each other. Ilad one of these lights been coloured, or one revolting, so that they could be distinguished from each other, the wreck of the City of Newcastle would in all probability not havo taken place. Immediately news of the wreck reached Wellington the N.Z.S.S. Company liberally gave the services of the Rangatira, to go in search of the missing boat, and the men left on board the ship when the Captain abandoned her. Captain Johnson, of the Marine Board, aud Mr. Hack worth, Collector of Customs, were passengers by the Bangitira, as also several friends of the persons who were in the missing boat. The Rangitira returned to Wellington on Monday, with intelligence that four of the six men left on the wreck had been saved through the intrepidity of Mr. Hurail', the first mate, who swam on shore with a line, by which three of the men reached the land, but Mr. Abbott, a pussenger, aud Burrows, the ship's cook, were less fortunate, and were drowned in making the attempt. Tho names of the ladies placed in the first boat that left tho vessel were Mrs. Fox, wife of the first clerk in the Constabulary Office, Wellington — an invalid tnking a sea voyage for the benefit of her health, Mrs. 11. J. Pilcher, Miss Cameron, and Mrs. Jones. The last-named lady had a little boy with her, who was the only child given in the list of passengers. These five passengers and a crew of three men there can be little doubt wero all lost, aud with the two men drowned in attempting to reach the shore from tho ship, make a total loss of life of ten persons. The want of proper means for lowering boats at sea, so often a subject of complaint in cases of emergency, was experienced in this instance. The largest and safest boat was lost in an attempting to lower it, and but for that accident, all tho lives on board might have been saved. The boat in which the captain and a portion of the crew made their escape was totally unsoaworthy, and it is a wonder how she kept afloat until picked up by the schooner Canterbury. The official inquiry will no doubt disclose facts of which we at present are ignorant. The City of Newcastle was for several years used as a hulk in Nelson harbour by the Panama and Now Zealand Steam Company, and when no longer wanted by that Company was towed to Wellington, where 6he was newly masted and rigged, and at the time of her wreck was owned by Mr. Dransfield, Mayor of Wellington, and was insured by tho New Zealand Company for £1,200. Mb. Curtis and his Constituents. — Our readers will perceive that his Honour the Suporiutondent has called a meeting of his constituents for this evening, in the Provincial Hall, at eight o'clock. Collingwood Coal-Minb. — We are glad to learn that tho Colonial Grovernuient havo agreed to give tho Company the sum of £500, to assist them in opening up their mine by the new drive recommended to be made some time since by Dr. Hector. We understand that Dr. Hector went over last night to Collingwood to inspect the present state of the works at the coal-mine, as well as to spend some ' days in examining the other mineral resources in the locality. ' Accident in the Pelorus Sound. — On Thursday last, a man named Thomas Lopez, well known iv Nelson, shot off one of his hands, and had to

undergo amputation of the arm below tlio elbow Lopez had placed his gun against a log, and wae lifting it by the barrel, drawing it towards him, when something caught the, hammer, and the charge struck and shattered his hand. — On tho day following, a man named Ilorton, working at Dives' mill, while chopping timber, indicted a serious wound on one of hislegs. Thepatients are now doing well, though at first both wounds wore rather a serious aspect. Pbovincial Government Prize-Fibing. — The competition for the Provincial Government prizes commenced on Monday, at the Maitai butts. The following scores above twenty were made on Monday and yesterday, five Bhots at each range, 6 by 4t target at 200 yards, standing; and 6 by 6 target at 400 and 500 yards, uny position :—: —

A 'New Governor for New Zealand.— The English telegrams of the 9th of November, received via Java cable and Australian overland wire, inform us that Sir George Bowen, whose period of service in New Zealand has expired, ia to be succeeded by Sir James Fergusson, Bart., tho present Governor of South Australia. Sir James Fergusaon is a man of good Scotch family, and has personally distinguished himself both in the army and iii public life, having sat twice in the British Parliament, and held office as Under-Secretary. Tho following brief notico of him is from "Dud's Peerage, Baronetage," &c. :—": — " Sir James Fergusson, son of the fifth baronet, by the second daughter of the Right lion. David Boyle, and grandniece of the third Earl of Glasgow, was born in Edinburgh, in 1832 ; married in 1859, Lady Edith Christian, second daughter of the first Marquis of Dalhousie. [Lady Edith died in South Australia.] He succeeded his father in 1849 ; was educated at Rugby under the present Archbishop of Canterbury ; appointed lieutenant atul captain in Grenadier Guards, 1854; retired from the army 1855 ; lieut.-colonel Royal Ayrshire Rifles, 1858'; deputy-lieutenant of Ayrshire, 1853 ; was wounded at the battle of Inkerman ; was M.P. for Ayrshire from December 1854, to April, 185^; Hguiii elvcted October 1859. The first baronet was a successful Scotch Advocate, and the second was a Jud^e of (lie Court of Sessions under the title of Lord Kilkerran." Sir James Fergusson is a man of undoubted ability,aml i<s greatly respected by all who como in contact with him. Chinese Labour for Railways.— A late telegram from Otago states that Mr. Brogden is about employing 200 Chinese upon the Clutha line of railway. SaleofThohoughbued Houses at Canterbury. —The Press says :—": — " The annual sale of blood and racing stock at Tattersall's, took place on the 12th instant, Mr, J. 11. Bennett officiating as auctioneer. There was a good attendance, but the prices realized were not large. The first to show on the tan was a grand colt, Papapa, by Ravensworth, dam Waimea, by Sir Hercules. He is in the Derby of 1873. lie was started at £230, and soon ran up to £310, at which price he was purchased by the Hon. William Robinson. Another grand colt, Teranga by Ravensworth, dura Phcebe, was put up, but did not realize up to reserve. The same was the case with Kakupo, by Diomedes, dam Toi-toi ; Dead Shot., by Ravensworth, dam Certainty ; and Awatea. Reliance, by Diomedes, out of Constance, dam Regulia, was bought by Mr. H. Prince for £50— a very cheap lot. Renga, a three-year-old filly, by Diomedes, dam VVaimea, was not sold, £220 being the highest figure reached for her. A buzz of expectation, and out came the grand mare Peeress, looking as fine as a star, and well worth taking a good survey of. She went off at £300, and by short stages run up to £425, at which price sho was passed in, her owner's lowest price being £450. Defamation was bought in at £120. The following were the prices reulized by Die other horses in the sale : — Dragon, by Rtivensworth, dam Ladybird, £33 ; Adonis, by Mai ton, dam Ada, £31; Batsman, by Ravensworth, dam Lady Jane Grey, £45 ; Brunswick, £36 ; The General, £30 ; Tarndale, £35 ; Slanderer, £i 0; Wing, by Towton, dam Moth, £31; Gossip, by Traducer, dam Gitana, £77 10s. ; Toi-toi, £25 ; Fawn, by Towton, dam Cassandra, £25.

200 Yds. 400 Yds. 500 m-fi Yds. Total< Sergeant J. Burn . Privute Guy . Private Grossman Captain Sinclair . Lance-Corporal Clouston Private H. Moore Corporal Finney . Lance-Corporal Murfin Private Niohol Private C. Moore . Private W. Grarrard Sergeant Otteraon Ensign D. Burn . Private Godfrey . 14 17 12 16 12 13 7 33 13 9 14 12 11 11 14 15 14 13 18 10 13 7 12 12 6 9 8 10 16 44 11 43 16 42 11 40 8 38 12 35 10 30 8 28 3 28 5 26 4 24 3 24 4 23 2 23