AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 899, 4 March 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PER WAKATIIT AT WELLIN'OTOX.) Sydney, February 28,

The following are further particulars of the loss of the brig Raymond : —She left Newcastle on the 14th, commanded by Captain Evans, and was bound to New Zealand with a cargo of coals. During a heavy gale on the night of the 15th, her sails "were blown from the bolt ropes. The staysail was set to keep the vessel before the wind. At daylight on the following morning the fore hatch was stove in. All hands were constantly employed at the pumps. Two anchors and a quantity of cable were let go to lighten the ship forward. Owing to the heavy sea running, the decks were constantly full of water, which rapidly gained on the pumps, Cape Horn was sighted at 4 a. m. on the 17th. The crew were greatly exhausted by their exertions. The vessel was quite unmanageable, and was gradually settling down. She was beached three miles north of the Heads. In landing, one boat was capsized, and three of the crew were drowned—the first mate, J. C. Leniorgnan, and two seamen named Fergusson, and Sawyers. The body of one man was recovered, and buried on the beach.

A curious discovery was made on board the Nautical School's ship Vernon. On the assumption of the mate, a girl was discovered who had worn a disguise for eight years. She had been arrested at Lambing Flat as a vagrant, and on conviction was consigned to the Vernon for a term of years. The girl in disguise was handed over to the boatswain for the usual routine bathing, hair-cutting, and purification. A scene occurred. James Gould, aged 15, refused to strip, blushing and crying greatly to the amusement of the boys around. The boatswain appealed, and it was only when Captain Neitenstin ordered her to" be stripped for punishment that her sex was discovered. Her mother died at Lambing Flat, and at her deathbed she swore always to wear boys' clothing. Thus she had earned a precarious livelihood about the diggings. The girl knows no name but "Jim." It is interesting to know that she has preserved her purity of mind. She was sent to the Industrial School.

The unveiling of the statue of Captain Cook has been completed. The ceremony was altogether worthy of the occasion. The scene was most magnificent. A holiday by the townspeople was generally observed. The city was decorated with flags, and the procession was composed of the whole strength of the naval, military, and volunteer forces ; and large bodies of Friendly Societies wended their way through the streets. The windows and balconies were crowded with spectators. Arriving at the ground, the members of the societies marched into a portion of Hyde Park, which was fenced off on the northern side of the park. The members of the procession wearing their uniform defiled into the enclosure on the south side. The stands were crowded. _■ A choir, composed of children, stood in front of the company. A stand was erected for the Governor, Lady Robinson, and other distinguished personages. The spectacle was viewed from the western stand, tho occupants of which enjoyed the magnificent scene. Ross' Domain, and the harbor, with the North Head in the back ground, was grand, and will long be remembered, the mass of human faces alone extending as far as Wooloomooloostreet, in the direction over the greater part of Hyde Park ; 80,000 people were present, and at half-past four o'clock the Governor arrived. He was cheered, and spoke lialf an hour, principally on the history of Captain Cook. He said he was glad to perform tho ceremony before his departure Near the close of his speech he said the great progress of Australia in the last hundred years is notliing to be compared to the future, The resources of the country are almost boundless, and its capacity for extension practically unlimited. In the next centenary of Cook's discovery, the population will probably not be less than forty millions. You have yet to establish that party Government —

a machine of most exquisite delicacy. It can be made a permanent success with a legislature formed upon strict principles, and checks and safeguards of our mixed and nicely-balanced Constitution. It can withstand the predominating influence and encroaching tendency of universal suffrage. You will'have some day, and I hope before long, to provide for the federation of the Australian province* into one dominion, —(Applause.) At the close of the speech the statue was unveiled amid cheering.