TYPHOON IN THE CHINA SEAS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 59, 23 January 1862, Page 1 (Supplement)

TYPHOON IN THE CHINA SEAS.

("From the China Overland Trade Report, Oc-

tober 31.)

A severe typhoon lms again been committing ravages in the China Sea, off the south end of Formosa, about 19th October. We-subjoin an account of the weather experienced- by the Ziugara, taken from the Hongkong Shipping List. As the accounts received from the other vessels tally with that of the Zingura in their principal features, it is useless publishing them:—

The Zingara sailed from Hongkong on the 24th September, b.mnd to shanghai; experienced very heavy weather with heavy seas ; blowing a succession of gales from north to east; split sails, tore our main and nmin topmast, stay-bit and other damage. On tin; 18th October, in latitude 21 north, longitude 124 east, encountered a very heavy typhoon, commencing at north and veering by the westward to south ; barometer down to 25..30, aneroid ditto, 25.25 ; blowing from 8a m. to 6 p.m. with terrific violeive with n tremendous sen; 8 'iO, main topsail sheet parted, blowing clew out (if new main topsail ; impossible to set a stitch of I'Hnvns ; several sails blow to pieces out i.f t!iu gaskets, although doubly lashed ; lost fore topmast, main tti]un:ist, main top-gall.mt mast, and bowsprit, with everything attached; quarter boat blew all to pieces; sprung mizen-inast head, main topmast, enxsjnek, and fore-yards, rudderhead, &c ; started house-stnuneheons. opening covering-board, water-ways. &cT, taking in great quantities ol^rutur. During the height of the gale, wnler gained on both pumps ; had from four to five feet water in hold ; Chinese passengers working both pumps, a:id at II pm. succeeded iv freeing the ship; moderating fast, but very heavy sea. At daylight, 19th instant, got sail on ship, and kept away from Hongkong, ship making xi srood deal of water. October 2.5 th, 9 a.m., took a Hongkong pilot abreast the Nine Pins, proceeded through Lye-moon Pass, and anchored in Hongkong Harbor at 1.30 p.m.

The trial of Cumin, the cabman, who was charged with perpetrating- the atrocious assault on Miss Jolly (noticed in our October number), lasted four days. The interot which it excited was nearly as great as that which the Yclvcrton case created. The who'c city was in a ferment, not only during the trial, but for days and almost weeks before and after it. Cumin was identified by Miss Jolly as the guilty man, und there was some, but rather inconclusive, circumstantial circumstantial evidence Mg.iinst him. The indictment charged him with assaulting Louisa Murthsi Jolly, on the 27th Sepfi'inbcr hist., with iritoit to violate her person. There were other: counts in

the indictment varying the offence, charging him with assaulting Miss Jolly nnd attempting to kiss her, with assaulting her with intent to do grievous bodily harm, with un indecent assault, mid with a common-assnult. The jury found n verdict of" Guilty "on all the counts of the in-

dictmont, nnd the prisoner was sentenced to two years' penal servitude. — Home News.

Drbadfui, Accident at Sea.—ltisourpainfill fluty to record an accident resulting in loss of life, which took place on board the Oregon, American barque, while on her voyage from San Francisco to this port. Among the passengers were included Mrs. Wilson, the wife of the captain, her daughter, a young lady aged 13 years, and v niece afred 10 years. On the evening of the 23th October, they were sitting in the cabin together with Captain Wilson and Mr. Holland, also a passen<rer. and previous to retiring for the night, Captain Wilson desired some spirits to be placed on the table, a customary usage on board ship; the decanters beincr empty, the young ladies hurried into one of the state-rooms, in which a ca«k of rum and other stores w.'re kept for the purpose of drawing some spirits off, taking with them a lamp; after enterine: the state room it, became necessary to move some small ea4is, &c, to reach the spile of the casks, and they aeeo-dingly closed the door, placing against it the articles they had shifted. Captain Wilson was sitting with his back close to this door, when he was alarmed by a sudden explosion, and turning round.to his horror he saw flames issuing from the upper portion of the panel ; foarinc same dreadful accident he, with great difficulty broke open the deior, when he discovered his niece lying on the cabin floor, her. clothes on lire; seizing her by tin: feet lie dragged her out: hut for upwards of three minutes [hs was battling with the flnines ere he could extricate his daughter, whom he could plainly see at the further side of the state room, a mass of fire from the burning spirits with which her drcs> was completely saturated. When at length he had succeeded in dragging her out, and a proper examination could he made, a most, fearful sight met the eyes of the horror-stricken parents. Miss Martha, the eldest, had received a terrible blow on the face, which had cut through the nose and upper and lower jaws, lacerating the face in a shocking manner, one of her arms was also broken, f!-nl hor body fearfully burnt. The appearance of his d.mghter was still worse, for having been longer exp.';;cd to the flames "her flesh was literally roasted. All that affection and unremitting attention could sug-arc-t, was attempted, to alleviate, if possib'e, the horrible panes of the suffering gir's, but with no favourab'e results, and they gradually sank till death happily released them from tortures ton excruciating to contemplate. Miss Wilson died in eleven hours, and Misw Martha in about thirty-six hours, both retaining their senses to the last. From the unfortunate young ladies' account, it appears that ? after drawing off a port !• m of the spirits, the light in some unaccountable manner iirnited the rum, and the explosion imraedimv'y took place. Vowing the headof the cask out and sc.i-t.oring the burnlns liquor In every direction. The re ;\ains were brought on to Sydney, and will be interred on Thursday ; fortunately tliere was no powder us- other combustible material at, hand or the ship night have been totally destroyed ; as it was the ; flames were trot under with much difficulty, as they i had communicated with the adjoining cabins, and also with the upper portion of the main saloon.— S. M. Herald, Dec. 18. We have received three specimens of auriferous quartz, found on the shore of Lough Swilly. It is considered to be exactly similar to that of the goldproducini: countries. Thy specimens in question were taken from (Jovernrasnt lau-l, which is not likely to be explored by minors, but there is little doubt that plenty of the same kind of rock v; to be found in the bold heights of that neighbourhood, and probably remunerate those who have tiuie and moans to . search for it. The locality where the imartss was found was within 10 miles of this city. The vein from which t'i9 specimens were taken was from 9 to 12 inches thick 20 or 30 feet high, and running through a lil wk- of hon 'land of considerable depth. It. will Vie singular i", some time or other, there wil;|,be gold.digI gings in Donegal,

The Italian policy of the French governrrient has continued during; the past month to foe. as actively discussed us ever. A few weeks ago a | visit was paid to the emperor by M. Katazzi, I'residenc of the Turin Chamber of Deputies, and leader of an important section of. Italian politicLuis, understood to be opposed oa several- points to the premier, Rieasoli. UiuasoH, wo may mention is accused of retarding the development of the Italian question by the aUitude of suspicious re.serve which he maintains towards France. On the other hand, it is affirmed that Katazzi is the right man to foe placed at the head of the Italian ministry, as the mere fact of his frank and firm reliance on the Emperor of the French would give la strong' impulse to the movement for a united Italy. The value to be attached to these views will soon be made apparent in the course of the debates which have just been opened at Turin. Meanwhile we may here state the results of Katazzi's interview with the Emperor Napoleon. These results were recently communicated to the government of Victor Emmanuel, and we cannot but think they will raise up increased difficulties when the\' shall become generally known to the Italian people. Napoleon 111. states that he will be only too glad to withdraw his troops from Home. He says he has never ceased to indulge the hope that Pius IX. will enter into an amicable arrangement with King Victor Emmanuel, and consent to remain in Rome on such conditions as, whilst guaranteeing the spiritual

independence of the Papacy, may satisfy the pa-

triotic Hspirations of the Italian people. But the Pope turns a deaf ear to all advice and remonstrance, to all entreaty and to all menace. Whenever the Emperor hints that he may be compelled to withdraw from Rome, he is coolly informed, he says, that the sooner he goes the better. The evacuation of the city by his troops will become, it is added, the immediate signal for summoning to the rescue of the Papacy, Austrians, Bavarians, and Spaniards ; all, in short, whom Popish fanaticism is strong enough to mace them believe that, in fighting for the revenues of Cardinal Autonelli and his brethren of the Sacred College, they are doing battle in defence of their church's freedom and independence. The French Emperor, we are told, does not wish to encounter the hazards of a purely religious war, which would keep alive a moral contest in each department of his own dominions. Such are the grounds upon which Napoleon UI. defends his prolonged and involuntary occupation of Home. [It grows more and more probable evt-ry day that this delay in surrendering to the Italians their capital, nnd still more the reasons on which the delay is justified, will I'reaie "much larger difficulties for the final and pacific settlement of the Papal question than any to be apprehended from the epsedy transfer

of the Italian capital to the Italian king. There exists at pn-sciit throughout all Italy a deep feel-

ing of discontent with !he Papacy on account of ics despotic and anti-national tendencies. But

this feeling has by no means passed, up to the present time, whatever it may do hereafter, into, one of general rebellion against the spiritual au-

Ihority of Home. The word schism has been whispered and muttered by some energetic politicians, and by a few conscientious and fur-sighted priests—as Passaglia, for instance, but the ideas suggested by that word are far from familiar to the great mass of the Italian people. But if the wit of man could devise one mode by which, more than any other, the Italians should be compelled to throw off their religious allegiance to their church, it would be the line of argument and the character of remonstrance employed to dissuade them from claiming the possession of their capital.]

The peasants of Huntingdonshire are proverbial for th.t'ir boorishness. One day, a lady, riding througa the grounds of a friend.to whom she was on a visit, found the gate closed which was the outlet from the fields to the high road ; a peasant boy stepped forward, and' bowing, opened the gate th t she might pass. ' What is your name?' asked the lady. • Tummus,' said the boy, with smother boy, with another bow.—

' Ah !" rep ied the lady, giving him a shilling, ' [ see y-ni are not 11 Huntingdon boy—you are so so civil.' To wliiuli the urchin rejoined' ' Thee'rt v liar I '.ie.'

The Paris journals have all been occupied with speculations on the measures that M. Fould will resort to in order to meet the great financial deficiency. Seeing that the army expenditure has been clearly the prime cause of the deficit, attention is naturally directed to it as the quarter in which the greatest economy could be effected, and accordingly the 'Constitutional ' hints at a reduction in the forces, asserting that M. dc Perstgny has submitted to the emperor a project for disarmament, but which would maintain the actual organisation. If, however, a disarmament does take place, it will only be in consequence of an understanding between France and the other Great Powers who are themselves armed. Meanwhile, in order to show what credit we attaci[ to such reports, an order has just been issued for the construction of another iron-plated frigate. The only new taxes spoIccn of are tho.se on stamps, pianos,, and lucifer matches. But the people clearly see what is looming in the distance in the shape of heavy taxation and a large loan. Under the circumstances, it is impossible to understand how a loan can be dispensed with, and accordingly we find that people are beginning to talk of it. as a matter of necessity. The only question is as to its amount, it lining variously stafed at from 750 to 1000 million.* of franc*; and whether the government will be able to do without further supply of funds in the shape of extraordinary credits until the meeting nf the Corps LekrMatif. On all sides it is confessed that the difficulties -against which M. Fould has to contend are immrns<-, and that if he succeeds in

lilaßinjr the financial administration on a pood foot:;i!.r. he will be entitled to the gratitude of Europe as ■Ay!! as lViiricit. What is to be fi-ared is that his aid is called in nieridy to patch up the rotten edifice of French finance, mid tb:>fc once achieved the former system will he rc.-c-r.:! t>. His plan, however, has this advantage, His\t it ci'.n only he carried out by a free Chamber and a free press, and if the papers and the Lcris'atnre arc not p'acd under a wholly different regime his eiforrs must neciissariiy fail. It remains to be seen whether Imperialism can stand this strong dine of liberty, an 1 whether, once the Chamber has pot the control of the purse-strings, the empire will hot be made to suft'er for the 10 years of silence and oppression wlii h have led the country to the verge of bankruptcy.

SiNfiULAR Discovery.—A correspondent of Smolders' writes as foil >ws :—" Ballinosloe, Sept. 13.—1n the month of July last, I sent you the particulars of some ancient regal ornaments which had been found by a countryman, and purchased from him by the Messrs. Hynes, of this town. They have since been publicly exhibited in the collection of the Dublin Society, and much admired by those who relish antiquarian researches. The Messrs. Hynes offered the countryman a handsome douceur if he would point out where he found the relics, but this the wily native knowingly declined to do, no doubt expecting that other articles of value misrht yet be discovered in the same locality. H« has, however, at length, divulged the particulars. The man resided at a place called Skea, near the celebrated ruins of Clanmaenoise, on the brin.T of the Shannon. In the course of some agricultural operations he removed a large flag which opened the passage to a spacious cavern, in which were found the crown and collar, together with some ancient bronze weapon and several utensils used for culinary purposes. The discoverer of this singular labrynth kept it concealed from the knowledge of any ona for a considerable length of time, but at length he has induces to show it to a very few individuals under a promise of secrecy ; and, as he is about to leave this country for Australia, he intends for a consideration to lead the way to this curious subterranean chamber, evidently the retreat of the ancient monarchs who reigned in the locality. The discovery of this wonderful cavern throws much light on the legends of Bryan O'Donoghue, and to this means of retreat from his enemies is no doubt due the story of his compact with the Evil One, from the consequences of which the Abbot St. Kieran is said to have released him.

A Giant Stone Tkre.—The Maysville (California) Democrat pives an account of the most gigantic vegetable petrifaction ever discovered. It was found by Captain ,T. Stevens in a desolate district near Hugh Rock Cannon. It is a tree partly buried in the soil, which measures 600 feet in length, and about 90 feet in diameter. Tiiere is a complete forest of petrefied trees found in the vicinity, evidently the remains of antedelurian ages. The tree lies where it fell centuries ago, the nntunie.l roots are in the position they would naturally be and the trunk has not yet been disturbed. Specimens of the tree clipped off at 200 feet jrom the base, are exhibited at the Maysville. There was a law in Boston against smoking in the street" A 'down.caster ' strutted about the city one day, puffing a cigar Up walked a constable. 'Guess you're smokin,' he said. You'll pay two dollars, stranger.' 'I ain't smokin," was the quick response; 'try the weed yourself, it ain't alignt.' The constable took a pull at the cigar and out came a long puff of white smoko. ' Guess you'll pay me two dollars,' said the down-easter, quietly. 'Wall,' replied the constable, 'I calculate you're considerable sharp. S'pose we liquor.'

A free passaure to New South Wales ha* been obtained for 150 of the persons lately evicted from their holdings on Derryvoae:!), county Donegal—so men nnd 100 women, between the ages of "15 and 40, whether married or single, provided they be healthy, and strong of their npre. A married couple, haying one or two children, may pro out. Each must have two suits of clothes, but. new ( bedding with cooking utensils will be pi'ovided'onboaivlj and will be given to the cnvgrant on landing, if well conducted./ Such is the tenour of a notice extensively circulated bythe Mcreiaries of tb,e Derryveagh Belief Committee.1 -