ARRIVAL OF THE STURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1345, 9 March 1868, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE STURT.

The Colonial Government p.e. Sturt, Captain Fairchild, arrived in harbour early yesterday morning from Napier, Opotiki, and Tauranga, bringing, as passengers, the Hon. Col. Haultain, Captain Stack, and several others. The Sturt left Napier on the 2nd inetant, with the officers and men of the mounted constabulary force, and after landing them at Opotiki proceeded to Maketu and Tauranga. Returned to Opotiki on Friday and left again same day, calling at Tauranga, and arrived in harbor at 8 a.m. yesterday. The Sturt will in all probability be plaoed on the patent Blip at the North Shore during the present week, to undergo a thorough overhaul, and will most likely remain here until the arrival of the Governor oh the 12th instant. Thh Coquette.—The sohooner Coquette, Captain D. Mathieson, left Napier on the 3rd instant at 1 p.m., and had light airs and calms till the following morning. Since then experienced light B.E. winds, and on Saturday called in at Omaha, arriving in harbour early yesterday morning. The Coquette is in ballast. On the 4th inetant passed the schooner Bose Ann off Portland leland. The Joanna.—The schoonor Joanna, Captain Norton, left the Buy of Islands on Tuesday last, and on Thursday called at Wangarei, leaving again on the following morning. She brings 21 boxes apples, 3 tons gum, and 8 passengars. The ship Fraps Schartau, of Gifle, Funch. master, from Cardiff, with 1500 tons coal, for the Panama Company, arrived here last night.— Wellington Evening Post, March 2. The barque Harriet Armytage has been detained from sailing until to-morrow. The b.b, Star of the South, was advertised to leave Napier on Monday last. She may be expected to day. Thb Late Votagb of the Kaitjma. —Aβ much anxiety was expressed regarding this vessel during her five weeks' absence from this port, it may be interesting to some of our readers to hear something of her extraordinary exploits. It appears tha! the owner, who is an excellent jeweller but no seaman, engaged as captain for the voyage a man named Joseph Bower alias Peed, who knew as much about navigating a ship as the owner hin.self, although he with the alias represented himself as fully qualified for the position. Having cleared the Wanganui Heads the captain was found to be no seaman, and the question was which way to steer. Of coarse everything went wrong, and when spoken to or advised regarding the course or safety of the vessel, the now commander would become fightable and threaten to thrush all hands. By favour of the wind the vessel was driven across the Straits, and after some weehs' wanderings up and down th 6 coaet of the Middle Island, and getting eight or nine times on shore —to inquire the road perhaps managed to reach Mahakapawa with a large hole in her bottom. Our readers must bear in mind that, during the three weeks' wanderings, the vessel encountered the severe gales that swept the coast of the middle ieland last month, but how she weathered those storms our informant saith not. It is said that the new commander -was so constantly " drowning sorrow in a bowl," that many favorable opportunities of leaving Mahakapawa were lost. At length she once more put to sea, but the hole in the bottom kept all hands at the pumps night and day, and required almost superhuman exertions on the part of the mate and crew to keep her afloat until she knocked up against Kapiti, where she remained for eome days". After once more putting to sea, the captain's dignity would not admit of his lending a hand at the pumps, but who navigated, or how the vessel ever found her way back to VPangunui we know not. She is now drawn up on the beach, and the rent in her bottom will be quickly repaired ; but we hope this will be a warning to all landsmen who fancy that they understand navigation. How came the Kaiuma to get a port clearance if the master was so totally inoompetent ? There ie something in the history of thia extraordinary voyage that requires explanation.— Wanganui Times, March 3.