FLOATING OF THE 'BALLARAT.'

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 287, 13 October 1864, Page 4

FLOATING OF THE 'BALLARAT.'

Our renders will remember that this fine steamer was "stranded about three months ago, at a phice called Te Hari, about a inile and a half south of the Mahia isthmus in Hawke's Bay. A few days afterwards, the wreck was sold by auction in Auckland, to Mr. George j Beddoes of the IS'ortli Shore. At the time of ! the sale we believe that few enter! ainecTthe idea | that the vessel could be again floated, and that all that could be done was to try and save the boiler and machinery. Mr. Beddoes, however, appears to have been more sanguine, for that gentleman immediately chartered the schooner ' Mary Thompson,' (Japt. O'Connell, and left Auckland on the 3rd August, with Capt. Short, Mr. Alex. Crawford, .Engineer, and sixteen shipwrights and labourers. The schooner had strong head winds all the way down, and did not reach the Mahia until the 16th. On landing Mr. Beddoes found the 'Ballarat' high and dry on a small table land at the mouth of a gully, with the bow edge into one bunk and the stern high up on the opposite bank. An enormous mass of clayey loam, stones, .and sand, had accumulated round the vessel, reaching to tho paddle boxes. To clear away this immense heap, cost three weeks of hard and incessant labour from the whole party, during which, they had not more than lliree or four fine clays. The vessel was found to have sustained but trifling damage—a few plates on her bottom being all the repairs she required. Some thirty or forty trees having been felled in the neighbouring forest- and prepared for ways, the vessel was made ready for launching on the loth September. The distance to low water mark was about 170 feet, and the vessel on being started on the ways glided smoothly down for aliout 25 feet, "hen some forty or fifty Maories. who had come from the neighbouring settlements to see the launch, made a sudden rush to the stem whilst the vessel was moving and pushed with all their might. This was kindly meant, but it proved a most unfortunate affair." The sudden impetus given to one end of the vessel caused her to slew round on the ways stern foremost, to tear off the ribbons, and then settle quietly down. It is the firm belief of all pi-esent, that if the natives had kept away from the vessel, or had distributed themselves along her broadside, the vessel would have gone straight into the water. All attempts to float, her into the water failed. She was now ia a worse position than before, for had bad

-sreather set in, slic would, in all probability, have been seriously damaged, if not broken up. Portunatety, the weather kept fine, but the vessel hrul to be raised four feet on the ways to keep clear of the mass of sand which was heaped round her by every tide, and then screwed down foot by foot into the water. A fortnight was spent in this laborious and harassing work, during which time the ways were frequently washed up by tho surf, and dashed about the beach. The vessel floated in the afternoon of the 29tli September, and was safely anchored ofl' whilst taking in coals from the '"Mary Thompson.' The party were making preparations for leaving. A south-easter springinn- up. however, it became necessary to get up strain and put to sea. The last boat from the diore was unable to reach the steamer before slu' was obliged to start, and, to make the matter worse, this boat was capsized in the surf in tryin< r to return ashore. Fortunately all escaped wkh a good drenching. The vessel run in under .Lous Point for the night, being piloted there through the darkness l)}' Mr. Campbell, a highly respectable settler of Kini Kini. who with his neighbours, Messrs. Smith, (i-reening. Hartley and Morris, behaved in the most kindlv and hospitable manner to Mr. Beddoes and parly during their six weeks' stay amongst them. Having picked up the remainder of the party on the following morning, tliesteamer, under the command of Captain Short, went on to Napier. As the * Ballarat' was drawing only Sit. (iin.. with some 50 tons of coals as cargo, she was enabled to steam close into the wharf at lowwater —a performance which suggested to several .'.•utleinen in papier the desirability of se;7urjti<r her for the trade of the harbour. At Mr. Beddoes' request, a survey of the vessel took place, which resulted in a highly satisfactory rcport. The Superintendent of the Province and several members of the Provincial Council afterwards visited her. and we understand she is likely to be purchased for the use of the harbour. She been newly registered under the name of the " Napier.' and remains in charge of Captain

Short. r. Beddoes speaks in the highest terms of the engineer. Mr. Crawford, and of the patience, constancy. and good conduct of all the workmen tinder the very trying circumstances in which thev have been placed. The " Ballarat' is the first instance of a wrecked steamer being again floated off the coast of New Zealand, and we heartily congratulate Mr. Beddoes upon the success which has attended his spirited undertaking.

Cjiamukk or Commkiick. —The adjourned mectimi of this body, is advertised to take place this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Takanaki. —We republish in another place the extra which we published yesterday afternoon on receipt of the intelligence from Taranaki. which arrived by the ' Alexandra.' It will be seen that the Mataitawa Pa lias been taken, and that without loss of life on our side. Two Maoris have been killed, and ahalf-eastc wounded, on the side of the enemy, who appear to have made but a very partial resistance. ThePkovisci.vl CousciLsat yesterday. The business of the day was a series of motions, most of them in connexion with the claims of individuals to land orders. Before, however, the order of the day was called. Mr. "Wynn rose and siid that he had ceased to hold the otlice of Provincial Solicitor. He considered that he had been treated with great want of courtesy and candour bv the Government in not being consulted iroon the appointment of Captain Paid v, who left "for England, as Emigration Agent, hte moved also that his name be taken oft" the l\epresentation Committee. The Provincial SeereTarv replied that the appointment had been made under ilie express direction of the Council, that tho clauses having reference to the creation of the office had been "considered seriatim, and as to the opinion of the Provincial Solicitor not being taken, it was not thought that he desired it. or that any offence would have been given. It was also a question as to claim, which he put in to be consulted upon every appointment the Superintendent or the Government might make. At all events, no slur or slight -was intended. Mr. "Wynn deprecated the notion of impugning the conduct of Captain Daldy, who. ot course, took the appointment when it was offered to him.

Bank Notes.—Caution. —Fifteen or sixteen years ago the Governor, on reecipt of instrucv'ons from the Home Government, established a hank under the title of " The Colonial Bank of Issue of IS"ew Zealand," and a quantity of books, each one containing 200 notes for £5, were a portion of the paper stock on hand. Tliese books, the notesof which were of course unsigned, were packed in boxes which have been, it seems, h'ing about in some of the Government lumber rooms from the day of the winding-up of tlie Colonial Bank of Issue to tlie present time. Lately, however, a case which should contain five dozen of these books, each containing 200 unsigned £5 notes, has been found open, and but tour dozen of the books remaining in it, and lately one of the notes was changed at the Greyhound Hotel, and the full change of .£5 "btnined for it. The notes are, as we stated, all for to. and are printed in red ink on white piper, the numbers of the note, on either side ilie Government arms, being printed in black ink. Great carelessnessmust have been exercised in receiving the note changed at the Greyhound, as not only is there no " Colonial Bank of Issue " in New Zealand, but tlie note itself contained no signature in the right hand lower corner. The notes, of course, having, at one time at least been genuine are quite correct in their appearance, and the paper used is, of course, the regular Bank note paper, bearing the water mark of the at one time Colonial Bank of Issue. As there are in all probability some £12,000 of these £o notes ready to be passed upon the unsuspecting, we take this opportunity of cautioning the public of 2s ew Zealand and the other colonies. A clever imitation of the Colonial Treasurer's name at the foot of them might lead the unsuspecting out of IN'ew Zealand to believe that at the present time the 2S"ew Zealand Government had resorted to the establishment of £ Bank of Issue to raise money for carrying oil the Government expenditure. Another attempt was also made to pass one of these notes by sj dark complexioned man elotbwl in soldier's dress uniform (blue shirt, and trousers with red stripe), who called in at the shop of Mr. Gittos and, having purchased some two shillings' wortl of goods, offered the note to change. Mr. Gittos' son, however, declined to receive the note as there was no bank of that description in Vuckland. The man stated that he had received it from a frieni in the barracks.

The Place of Meeting of the Assejiblt.— esterday a petition addressed to His Exccllency, praying that the coming Session of the Assembly may be held in Auckland, was signed by upwards of 1000 persons, and it is expected that a considerable number of signatures will be obtained to-day. We are informed that a gentleman connected with the getting up ofthe petition having waited on His Excellent*} to ascertain at what hour he would receive the deputation with the petition, was inforired that it might be presented, to the Colonial Secretary to-day at one o'clock, and forwarded through that gentleman to His Excellency in the usual way. Mh. Lewjsson's Grand Mammoth Gift Raffle will take place on the 24th instant in the Theatre Koyal. There are twenty-five prizes, varying in value of from £70 to £5, and 400 shares. The drawing will take place under the management °» u c '. Jmrn 'ttee of shareholders. The jewellery, of which the prizes consist, is on view at jVIr. -Lewisson's shop, Queen-street. A man of the name of Patrick Mahoney \ jumped off the wharf yesterday afternoon in a stats ot drunkenness, in order to recover a hat which had blown into the water. Upon his arrival on terrafirma he was taken into custody and conveyed to the look-up.

Discothky of iDkad Body itkaji thk Qukkn Sthket Wh abf. —An inquest was held yesterday, nt Palmer's Royal Hotel, on a dead body that was found about 11 o'clock in the morning of tho sumo day near the Queen-street wharf. It appears from the evidence that the corpse, which seemed to be that of a labouring man, had been under water for somo eight or nine days. The face was in a state of decomposition, and disfigured by fishes, and the hands decomposed. Sergeant Chrystal and a constable in the Water Police believed the deceased to be a man named Callanan who formerly resided atJS T ewmarket, and was a sub-contractor. The jury returned a verdict " that the deceased whoso name was unknown, was found dead oil' tho Queen-street wharf, without marks of violence, on October the 12th instant." Subsequently to the enquiry the Coroner identified the deceased from his general appearance, and more especially from his fractured leg, as being the missing man Callanan, whom he had frequently attended during his life time at the Provincial Hospital. Esciai'e iiiOM this Stockade.—A convict, named James Eeily, managed to effect his escape yesterday from the Stockade, where he was confined for having committed a robbery on board a vessel in this harbour. It appears, about two months ago, he had escaped from the same place, and in consequence of which he was heavily ironed. The following are the circumstances of the ease:-—Yesterday aftoruoon, immediately after the hard labour gang's work for the day was done, Reily secreted "himself in the cesspool of the gaol closet , which spot he chose in order that he should not be heard at work, and having by somo means or other obtained possession of'a cold chisel, it is supposed from the tool box of some carpenters who were employed in the Stockade, he successfully filed the shackles ot' his chain but was compelled to leave the rings round his ancles. II e then scaled the wall and was for a short time a free man. The prisoner was mis-fd by one of the turnkeys shortly aftenvaiels. and the police immediately communicated w itli. Information was at once given to the various out-stations, and the result was that he was captured at Onehunga Yesterday morning by constable Hastie and brought over to Auckland. The fugitive had at the time of his apprehension a pair of light trousers and a blue jumper upon him, and it is supposed chose Onehunga as his favored spot of escape from the fact of his having been a seafaring man, and probably having friends in that place. NnsANCF, ix Frkhmax's Bay.—Two men named Duncan Kerr and John Chute were fined £'10 and costs in the Police Court yesterday, for having committed a breach of the 17tli clause of the Harbour Regulations, by depositing a quantity of night-soil below the high water mark in Freeman's Bay. The Commissioner of Police stated that the accused had frequently been guilty of the same offence, and had even carried on the practice after the present information had been laid against them. His "Worship remarked that the court had power to inlliet a fine of £20. There was no excuse whatever for the conduct of the accused, who. it appeared, had been carrying on the practice for some time. Such eases were always fully reported in the public prints, and the authorities were determined to put. a stop to such disgusting nuisances. Tub reported robbery at the Royal Jwchange Hotel. Onehunga. as published by the iSottihcm Croxx of yesterday, is entirely without foundation. and as it reflects upon the manner in which the house of a most respectable hotel-keeper is conducted, we willingly give the benefit of our more extended circulation to the contradiction of so unfair a fabrication. It appears that a person who had been playing billiards during the evening mislaid his pocket-book, which he afterwards found. Mr. Mills, however, is too well known, and so is the character of his house, by the numerous travellers and residents in the neighbourhood who frequent it, to be likely to be seriouslv injured by such unfounded and unjustifiable report. Tfte cofiin. with its contents of human bones, found by two men on Tuesday last embedded in the sand of the Glenburn Beach, Freeman's Bay. the particulars of which appeared in our issue of the lltli instant, was interred yesterday afternoon, in the Church of England cemetery, bv order of the Commissioner of Police.

"Ix the Police Court yesterday, the caseigainst Henry Probert, charged with a breach if the 14th clause ot' the Building Act," 1858, _>y having commenced a building in Sliorthmditreot without giving the usual 24 hours' notice, .vas adjourned by consent of the accused until Friday next. Civil Cases.—There are only twenty-five •ases set down for hearing in the Resident Magistrate's Court this day. A fewer number :han have been for many Thursdays previously. The Peujuuy Cask.—Some considerable ex•itement was evinced in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, in consequence if it having been announced in the columns of :he Hkkald that Allen Stewart, formerly a cap:ain in the. 3rd Waikato Regiment, and his wife. Elizabeth Stewart, had been apprehended iii a charge of perjury preferred against ;hem by Ensign Blakemore: and the prisoners ivould "be brought before his Worship that morning. The Court was densely crowded. The particulars of the capture of tin; gallant ;aptain being somewhat remarkable, added greatly to tlie interest displayed by the public in the case. The alleged perjury arises out of a civil action late brought by the male prisoner ■igainst iinsign Blakemore, a subaltern formerly under his command, for the recovery of the sum of £49. being the amount of a cheque stated lo have been lost through the negligence of the defendant. The defendant in that case is the prosecutor, and the plaintiff the prisoner in the present charge of perjury. Mr. Fenton appeared lor the prosecutor, and applied for a remand, which was granted until Friday next for Captain Stewart, and for Mrs. Stewart until next "Wednesday. Mr. Leary on behalf of both the prisoners made an application to the Bench for them to be released upon bail. After some consideration, bail was allowed Mrs. Stewart in the sum of £600, by three sureties of £200 each, or two sureties in £300, —and the application oil ' behalf of the male prisoner was refused. Stealing a Saw.—A. man named Rammell, a private attached to the 68th regiment, was apprehended late last night on a charge of stealing a saw. Tbe.accused was found offering the saw for sale in the city, and will be brought before the Resident Magistrate this morning. Phixce of "Wales Tin: at he.—There was a fair attendance at this theatre last night, to witness the " Dream Spectre," and the " Dead Shot," and both pieces were received with unbounded applause. The spectral illusions incidental to the "Dream Spectre" were most successful. Tiieatbe Royal.—The bill of fare at this place of amusement last night comprised the " Bonnie Fishwife," " Cool as a Cucumber," and " Cinderella," and the performances were well received by a good house. " Hob Hoy" will be produced to-night, with Miss Juno as Helen MacGregor.