AMERICA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 383, 16 July 1877, Page 2

AMERICA.

The Fishery Commission met at ( 'Hai fax on June 15th with clos'id 'J.wrs. 'flit case of Great Britain was filed. Tlit i Americans have several days to put in a answer. It is understood that the claim • for canal fisheries, embraced in the as> filed by Great Britain, amounts to about 20,000,000 dollars. American letters from persons desirous of eliciting information on emigration to Australia and New Zealand, appear in the San Francisco papers, and una voidi ably untruthful replies are given, ia orderto discourage immigration. The Pacific Mail Company's splcwliJ steamer City of San Francisco was totally wrecked near Acapulca, on the count ui Mexico. The steamer left Panama fur San Francisco on May 11th, having V,l~ passengers and ,100 oilicers and crew on board. On Wednesday morning, May 10, the day being bright and the atmosphere clear, the ship struck upon an unknown reef, cutting into the hull a length of sixty feet, the water rushing in with fearful velocity. Though evidently sinking, not a cry was heard from the passengers. There was little confusion, but silent and anxious waiting. The boats started for the shore, not a passenger being allowed a pound of luggage of any kind, and when reaching the shore each boat was overturned in the surf. Every life was preserved, and all landed on tlio Mexican shore. Fortunately a stream of fresh water was found in going between the mountains. The capta'n sent some officers to Acapulca, eighty miles distant, but fortunately the boat fell in with a gun-boat from Mexico, and although under orders to get provisions for Bcstegda City, the inhabitants of which were starving, the captain steamed to the relief of the shipwrecked passengers, and they were all taken off safely. The ship now lies partly submerged. The details of the disaster and the destruction, caused on the South Pacific coast by the earthquake and tidal wave of May, are now published. The towns of Arica, Iquiquinai, Portabelli, A bos, Pabellon, Depica, Chenavga, Huanillos, Tocopilla, Cobya, Mejiilones, Debolena, Artepagasta, and Charnailli were nearly a'l destroyed. Six hundred lives were lost, and the destruction at Pabellon in estimated at 20,000,000 dollars. Villages 23 leagues inland were ruined. Tho snipping of guano from the south deposit* will be indefinitely suspended, as all facilities in the way of launching chuts, wharves, water condensers, and buildings of all kinds have been swept away. The destruction of shipping has been very great, and has been attended by serious loss of life. At Mallendo the railway was torn up by the sea. At Aric immense damage was done. The United States ship Wateree was lifted bodily, and floated miles north of her old position. Merchandise from the Custom-house and stores was carried five miles distant. Tho earthquake levelled a large number of public buildings, prirate dwellings, etc. The people passed the night on the hills. An alarming uprising of Jndians has taken piace on Comas Prairie, Idaho Territory. News arrived at Portland, O-rpgon, on June 19, which states that the settlers had been killed in all direc-

««aw^»«——»»;—— ———— f ions, A body of troops and settlers, 270 strong, marched to chastise the Indians, but were outnumbered, surrounded, half the number killed, and the rest were still encircled, and lighting against great odds. The Indians engaged in the fight number 2000 effective warriors. Thei-e lias been a general uprising of savages, and the whole country is wild with alarm. Indians are massacring women and children i:: Comas Prairie, and settlers are fleeing in all directions for safety.