Maritime and Military Record.

New Zealander, Volume XVII, Issue 1569, 1 May 1861, Page 2

Maritime and Military Record.

The ship African, 774 tons, Gibson, sailed from Deal, on 2na February, for Auckland, with drafts for I2tn, 14th, 40th and 65th regiments, and 20 men of the Hospital Staff. Went into Portsmouth on the 6th, and took her departure thence on the Bth.

The Waterlily, ship, 594 ton.?, Captain Bolt, sailed from Gravesend for this port, on the 9lh nf February ; —from Deal on the 11th;—The Mersey, 828 tons, Captain Smith, followed her from Gravesend on the Kith February.

Through Messrs. Uidgway & Sons, i nder date London 26th February, we are advised that the following detachments for Regiments serving in New Zealand were then held under orders to embark, viz:—Lieut. Crawhall and 149 men of the 12th—-Lieut. Beamish, and 164 men 2nd Battalion 14»h : Ensign* Stack, Phillips, Simeon, and Ducrow, and 163 men of the 40th:—Ensigns Barton, Powell, Powys and 110 men of the 57th: —Major Mulock, Lieut Cay, Ensigns Bally, Grealwood, Whidborne, Cuppage, and 70 men of the 70th— in all 15 officers and 656 men.

The Whalers: From our Russell Correspondent we have the following :— Sailed; April 23rd Gazelle, ship. 340 tons, Baker, New Bedford ; Seine, barque. 281 tons. Smith, New Bedford: April 24th, Belle, barque, 320 tons, Brown, Fairhaven, for the fisheries; April 25th Illinois, ship, 413 tons, Potter, New Bedford, for Mongonui, to obtain three of his boat steerers who deserted and were arrested at Mongonui upon a warrant issued at Russell. The men were taken away by Yates, master of the cutler Vision of Auckland, who has been fined for the offence

Launch, —The vessel designed foa a steamboat to replace the Emu, aud which has been for some time in construction by Mr. Carr, of Official bay, was put in the water on Monday evening. She has, we believe, been named Phoenix, in consequence of the Emu’s machinery being to be fitted on board her. She is a sightly craft, and we hope may turn out a profitable one to her enterprising builder.

H.M. Ships Niger, Captain Cracroft, and Miranda, Captain Glynn, returned from the Waitara, yesterday forenoon. Niger dropped down from Onehunga on Saturday, but, in consequence of the threatening appearance of the weather, brought up below Poponga for the night. Both ships, accompanied by Fawn, Captain Cator, proceeded to sea, in company, on Sunday morning. Niger had scarcely crossed the bar when some part of her long tried and well worn machinery gave in, and she made the best of the difficulty, under which she was placed, under her fore-and-aft canvas. Miranda, by signal, proceeded on her course, and in about an hour and a half Niger’s intelligent and indefatigable engineers had the ship again under steam, enabling her to fetch Waitara at 9 - 30 a.:n. on Monday morning, Miranda following shortly afterwards. Both vessels were prompt and energetic in faking their troops on board, Captain Glynn affording every possible assistance. Niger embarked forthwith Colonel Leslie, and 473 officers, non-commis-sioned officers, and soldiers of the 12th and 4()lh regiments, Miranda finding accommodation for nearly an equal number, with whom they arrived in the Marukau, all well, yesterday shortly after noon. The troops were at once disembarked, and pitched their tents at Onehunga, from whence two companies of the 651h regiment, in command of Capt. MacGregor, marched into Auckland yesterday morning. This trip will, we understand, be the last of poor old Niger under her present commission, now within a few days of five years duration, eighteen months of which have been devoted to the service of New Zealand. The ship is much in want of an overhaul, and her machinery has been pretty well used up. She will leave us for England, much to the regret of our universal public, in the course of a few days. Lieutenant Garforth of the Pelorus is about to join the Niger, whilst Mr. White of the Niger is about to be transferred to the Pelorus. Fawn was going into Waitara as Niger left. She will, we believe, bring up the Royal Artillery. The /Oth regiment from Calcutta had sailed and may be immediately expected to arrive; and it is further said that the 13th regiment are also on their way hither. These troops, together with those arrived from Waitara are, we are told, to be encamped in the neighbourhood of Auckland, and we are happy to learn that rhe men are to be placed not under canvas, but in suitable, healthy huts. Three sites have been spoken of for this Camp—One Tree Hill—the base of Mount Eden—and the Peninsula on Bishops’s Cieek, Remuera. To our thinking the latter is much the preferable position, the soil being dry and porous, the situation healthy and well sheltered, ample scope for an encampment, abundance of spring water on the spot, and readily approachable, at an easy distance from Auckland, both by land and sea, as well as in immediate contiguity to the bridge about to be thrown across the creek to connect Auckland with the lower Tamaki. By employing the Military labour at the disposal of the authorities huts may be constructed and occupied in a very short lime.