Alaritime Record.

New Zealander, Volume XVI, Issue 1486, 14 July 1860, Page 2

Alaritime Record.

11. M. steam sloop Cordelia, n' guns, Commander Vernon, which sailed from the Manukau for Taranaki on Saturday last, ami which was to have again returned thither in the course of yesterday, appears to bane been illustrating, if not emulating, the quaint legeml of a certain King of France and his twenty thousand men. On the occasion of her former, as well as of her present, departure, she carried upwards af 20(1 seamen and marines, chosen men, in the highest state of discipline, and burning with desire to retrieve the tarnished lustre of the British name. Why they should ha”c been carried to Taranaki merely tit be brought back again we are unable to stale. 1 he movement, we have been credibly asutred, created a very powerful sensation on board the Cordelia, so much so that we are glad to find that her gallant band are once more on their way to a spot where some of them have already honourably distinguished themselves, ami where others, we hope, may have the opportunity of making their prowess seen and felt. They do not go one hour too soon, since we learn that the Southern tribes have warned the camp at the Waitara to keep a good look out as they mean to teir down the (lag there, in payment of that captured by Captain Cracruft, at the storming of the Waireka pa. It has been stated that the hands of Colonel Gold were tied. If so, those fetters arc now absolutely and unconditionally withdrawn, and full permission granted t » fight it out to his heart’s content. We may consequently look shortly to have stirring tiding*. The " Ngapuhi" with a cargo of timber, was ready to put to sea from llokianga, on the first favourable opportunity. ATROCIOUS MURDER OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER. By the arrival of the West Indian and Pacific mails, we have intelligence of the barbarous murder of Captain Lambert, commander of her Majesty’s ship Vixen, at Lima, The following are the particulars from tire Lima correspondent of the VnnamU Star : " Lima, February 12. " I have to record that another victim to the attocious neglect of this Government Ira* been added to the list of assassinated foreigners, headed as it is by II B.M ’s late char fit d’ ajf'aift ■« here, Mr. Sullivan. Capinin Lionel Lambert, commander of ILILM.’s war steamer Vixen, left in perfect health his hotel at 3 o’clock in the afternoon to take a hath in lire river. His friends were expecting him to dine, out Ire never returned; he must have been murdered between halfpast 3 and 5 o’clock. Tbe body bad been washed down from (he spot where the deed was done at least half a mile or more. He was not ir. uniform, but on his peison a closed dispatch, addressed to Captain Miller, was found. His rings and watch were stolen, of course—the miserable bootv of the murderers. The deceased, it was evident, had not died without a severe struggle. In the /mt-mortem examination it was found that, besides the fracture on the back of the head (caused, it is thought by a stone), bis forehead was fearfully cut. and both his wiisls were black from the struggle in which be lost his life. The deceased was a brave officer, having distinguished himself during the Crimean war. He was young ( (i years) for tbe responsible office which he held, but not 100 young to inspire confidence ami esteem in nil who knew him; and his loss is not only deeply lamented, but will be severely felt by all friends of the circle he bad formed in Lima. I ho remains were interred yesterday in the English burial-ground of Rcllavisu. The funeral was attended by the members of the foreign diplomatic body, the officers of the various men-of-war, and of the other vessels lying in iho harbour. by.,'.l the English merchants in Lima and Callao, and an nmonse concourse of sailors and English artisans former*/a long procession from the I reach to the cemetery. The usual honours were observed when the body was lowered to it* final restingplace-’* Tiik (11.4N.VK1 Fi.bki.— rite portion of (hr. Channel fleet anchored at Spithead, which recently relumed from Lisbon, appears to have suffered considerably bull and machinery. The Mersey will nm be (it for foreign service without a large outlay. The Duke of Wellington 1.11 gnus, i* not lit to be sent to a foreign siaiion for a three years’ cruise. The! Tmit.i remarks tba' from the desci iplion given of the condition of rhe squadron it appears evident that they sufford not merely as ships but as steam-ships. The vibration of (lie screw ,i* said to be more rtesi Mirlive (ban that of the paddle, ami £ lew days at sea in heavy weather is enough to send back our stoutest vessels with

fresh demands upon the resources of our yaf »• ' but may be saved by improved principles and man!, k . we shall never altogether escape the large expem i evitable waste which steam power involves, .. Mutiny ok Board a Coo.uk Ship- We have brief deU.ls of a tragedy ou board an American vessel, w 11 eoolier. i from Macao to Havannah, with a’cargo of a t ous , on board. When she had been five days at sea a ™ y s out among the coolies, who attempted to set fire o two places. The mate, who was on duty, rushed to the hatches, which those confined beneath were attempting and began the struggle. The crew, the larger par , was aloft, was seized with a panic, and attempte to the boats and get clear from the vessel: but I e thfjt threatened to shoot the first man who made a move direction, and they were obliged to desist. Ft° in sl!t , at night until daylight next morning the terrific tom a ’ : and then, after 30 coolies had been killed and 90 woun e ' ’ ; rest consented to give up the arms in their possession, a ; than submit to the alternative which the captain o «.re , ! he threatened to cut away the masts, set fire to the s tp, leave its living cargo to the mercy of the flames. During conflict a lady passenger and her child died from frig >t. Thk French Navigation Laws.—The Paris correspon - of the Times says It is believed that the governmen taken into consideration the proposition for a treaty ° na . gallon with Great Britain. The government is likewise actively engaged with the construction of railways in A gena. It is proposed to contract with public companies for the completion of three lines. 1, From the sea to Constantine. 2. From Algiers to Ulidah. 3. From St. Denis-du-Sig to Oran, with a continuation to the port. The capital not to excee M.OOOiOOO f>i of which the government wiH advance 6,e00,001 • as a bonus to the contracting company. The government wi further guarantee 5 per cent, on the capital to commence ten years after the date of the concession. V e government will moreover, grant a lease of !H) ycats l» the contracting company. The Thadk ok Franck.— There has been no improvement in trade, either in Paris or in the departments, during the last week, nor even a favourable symptom. The manufacturers pursue the same prudent system of wating the course of events. The stock of goods on their hand* was never so light, and were buyers to present themselves they would have to pay an increased price, hut purchases arc few, everybody feeling it to ho his interest not to hurry himself, hut to wait to see the effect produced by the treaty of commerce with England, The protectionists are now arming themselves to make battle against the proposed treaty of navigation between Great Britain and France, Their organ, the fljnniteur Industriel, says, •< Should Mr. Lindsay’s motion produce a reciprocal convention with France, it would, in our opinion, strike a mortal blow against our maritime power—it cannot therefore fail to find us among those who oppose it. What Mr. Lindsay demands, and what the London Cabinet pretends to negotiate, is a profound revolution in the entire existence of our commercial navy. Let it he marked, moreover, that it would be a flagrant derogation from the treaty signed last January, which expressly reserves the maintenance of the differential rights in favour of France. This, then is another immense concession pretended to he obtained after those we have already conferred, and for which we were repaid with such strange gatilude.” The Karnak had arrived at New York from Havannah and Nassau, with Sir W. Gore Ousley. As she was leaving the latter port a pilot fell overboard from her boat, in which he was being towed. The ship was stopped, and the boat instantly left for his rescue, while two lifebuoys were thrown from the ship. The boat got close enough to give him the end of an oar, which he took, and cried, ■■ For God's sake, save mel" The men were about to haul him into the boat when he was carried down by a large shark, which came up at the moment taking tfie oar with him.

Two French frigates have just sailed from Brest for New Caledonia, and the destination of unothci frigate, nearly ready for sea, is the Pacific Ocean. New Ships-ok-Wak. —ln addition to the vessels now in progress at Chatham Dockyard, Admiralty orders have been receir%d at the establishment directing six line-of-battle and other ships to be laid down as soon as vacancies occur in the building slips now occupied. The vessels ordered to be built will include one !)l-gun line-of-battle screw steamer, to be named the Pitt; one 51-gun screw frigate, to be called the Pomona ; one 22-gun steamer of 400-horsc power, which will be named the Menai ; and three other ships, including a 22-gun screw corvette of 400-horse power ; a 17-gun screw steamer of 200-horse power ; and a 4-gun steamer of 2of)-horse power, not named. The aggregate of the six vessels ordered to be built will be nearly 20,000 tons. Testimonial to Rear-Admiral Sir M. Seymour, K.C.B. —Whatever may be the opinion entertained in this country of the services rendered by this gallant gentleman during the war in China, as Rear-Admiral and Commander in the Chinese and East Indian waters, it is quite certain that the British inhabitants and merchants of Hong Kong and the other possessions value them very highly, for during the present month they will present him with a testimonial valued at 2,0001., which was last March unanimously voted to him- It is in silver, and consists of a centre piece, four candelabras, two of seven and two of five lights i a large salver, two soup tureens, two dessert stands and various other pieces of plate, in all about 40. Around tile shaft of the centre piece, which is decorated with Chinese ornaments are four figures—Britannia, China, Commerce, and Navigation. At the base, four dragons, modelled from an imperial standard, and views of Victoria, Hong Kong, Nankin, and Pekin, the tea plant or orange forming the ornaments. The whole testimonial i* from the renowned atelier of Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, .New Bond-street, ami is a most beautiful and unique specimen of classic taste and exquisite workmanship.