Maritime and Military Record.

New Zealander, Volume XVII, Issue 1544, 2 February 1861, Page 3

Maritime and Military Record.

By the last advices from England, intelligence has been received that four of her Majesty's steam ships have been commissioned for service in New Zealand, and are now on their way hither. They are all screws: and the names mentioned are—Charybdis, 21 guns, 4(K> horse power, at Sheerness, a ship similar to Peloru*, except that she is of larger dimensions, has a spar deck, consequently has her main-deck guns housed, the only guns on her upper deck, being her '.)» cwt. 10 feet bow and stern pivot guns. It is said she will be commanded by the Hon. George D. Keane, a son of Lord Kcane's. Desperate, II very heavy guns, 4no horse power, at Devonport. Harrier, 17 guns, 100 horse power, at Portsmouth, a fine ship of similar class as Fawn, And Miranda, 15 guns, 2. r >o horse power, at Sheerness, This ship was conspicuous for her services in the White and Black Seas. It was whilst in command of her that the son of the late Lord Lyons was killed. We have been informed that the Admiralty are clamorous for return of Iris and Niger ; —the former is not to await the arrival of her relief but proceeds on her homeward voyage in the course of the next ten days having been upwards of four years in commission. Niger which has worn the pendant some six or seven months longer will speedily follow Iris, Ami Cordelia upwards of three years and a half in commission will, it is supposed, be replaced by Harrier,

That portion of the 57th regiment at present stationed in Auckland are to remain foi some time longer. And we have been credibly informed that, in addition to the ti-Uh, other regiments may be ecpected from India.

WRECK OF THE BRIG SHAMROCK

[l-'rom the " Wellington Spectator," January 10". ]

We have to recoi I the melancholy intelligence of the total wreck of the brig Shamrock, of Auckland, Thomas Dixon, MastT, on the Leach ;■. Wangaimoana, about two miles east f the Wairara >a Lak •, Palliser Bay, on Wednesday last, theilh instant. She left oyttelton on Monday, the 17th inst bound for Otago, with a cargo of timber, and the following passengers, Mr. and Mr 3. (J. Graham, Mr. Goodfellow, ami two Miss Heaphys. On the evening of Monday they experienced a very heavy gale, which increased next day, blowing away all her sails, and she drifted at the rate of about 3J mile.- an hour. Captain Dixon finding himself in Paliser Bay and i liable to get out, ran her on the beach and succeeded in safely landing his passengers, when they were most kindly received by Mr. Robert Russell, who did everything in his power to relieve their distress. Captain Dixon came into town on Monday night, ;.ml has kindly furnished us with the following particulars;— January 7. —Left Lyttelton with a light wind from the S.W.; at -I p.m. hard squalls from S.W., close reefed the main topsail. At 9 p.m. gale At I.', midnight, a perfect hurricane, the sea running mountains high.

January n—Wore ship to W.N.W., making very heavy weather, Heavy squalls with sleet at internals. At II a.m. saw the land ; the ship making very little way through the water. At 1 p.m., saw the Kai Koras Peninsula, bearing N.W. At 1) pm., got Close in under the Peninsula, but finding such a heavy swell rolling in, was compelled to wear ship, and stand to sea, MI) p in. terrific gale, sprung the mainyard ; set the close reefed mainsail, and handed the main topsail. At 10-30 p.m. the mainsail was blown clean out of the bolt ropes. Set fore trysail, which stood for about an hour when it was also'/blown away. At daylight set storm maintrysail, but it was of very little service, ship labouring in the Hough of the sea. Fearful seas broke on board, sweeping the decks t\i U a.m. run her before the wind, at the rate of 11 and a half miles an hour, under bare poles, the sea topping fearfully at the time. At II a.m., saw Cape Taourakira, tried to haul the vessel! on the wind, to weather it; but the sea was no high that it drove her to leeward at the rate of 3\ miles per hour. Finding 1 could not weather the Cape, woie ship and stood to the Eastward, Had the lee clue of the foresail aft, and close reefed main-top-sail; but the sails did not stand any time. Finding the ship getting embayed in Palliser Hay and would not go out, I thought it prudent (for the purpose of saving the lives and property on board) to endea vour to beach her, every cflort having been previously used to keep the vessel offshore, and all her sails having been by this time blown away. Was fortunate enough to run her on a sandy beach, and by great exertions, under the most trying difficulties succeeded in saving the lives of the passengers and crew. After getting on shore we weie all treated with the greatest kindness and attention by Mr. and Mrs. Russell, who did every thing in their power to comfort us under the distressing circumstances* I have been to sea for many years, and although having weathered many a gale, I never remember having witnessed such a hurricane as the present one. To show its great strength, 1 may state that the beach in PallLer Hay was literally strewed with Albatrosses, Whale Birds, and Porpoises, which were lying dead on the beach.

Tnii Ur.ir, "Shamrock."—The hull, gear, and cargo of this ill fated vessel were sold by auction by Messrs. Smith and Co., on Thursday. The hull, &C, brought £45, and the timber, shingles, brandy, and bacon, je's. This seems rather a low figure, but we understand that she is a complete wreck, and the cargo all adrift— lb. lit.

This Steamship AIRRDaIb. —This vessel, which left Sydney on the evening of the 17th instant with the English mail, arrived in our harbour on Thursday morning, thus making the run in little over six days, though she encountered a succession of head winds on her passage.