HAMILTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 747, 24 March 1866, Page 13

HAMILTON.

(from a correspondent.) March 19th, 1865. The Cricket Match, which has been for some time on the tapis, betweenfrom Mount Ida, and eleven of Hamilton, and district, is arranged to comeoffher-e on Wednesday, the 21st. The Hamilton team includes the names of two or three players who took part in the late match ia Dunedin, with the Canterbury playera.- » The managing ' Committee here have taken great pains to make the event pass- off as pleasantly to their visitors as the resources of the township will admit.- The day will be observed as a general holiday ; and if tbe weather proves fine, I have no doubt we 'shall have many visitors from Mount Ida.- The following are the names of the Hamilton Eleven :— Messrs Fulton, Murison, -Borton, J. M'lntosh, Jno. BremneryJos. Bremner, Greatorex, R. Howe> J. Ranger, Burris, W. Groom ; emergency men — Messrs Broad, Cooke, Bateraon, and Barrett; . r , Yesterday morning, rather suddenly and unexpectedly, preached in the church: here, Bishop Selwyn. The discourse was delivered extempore, and was listened to with deep attention. The Bishop expressed a regret that so few diggers were present ; but perhaps he was not aware of the fact that three- fourths of the welldressed people who formed his congregation, were working diggers with their wives and in their customary church or Sunday apparel. The Bishop's visit was so unexpected that I had not time to inquire whether he is making a tour of the gold fields, or whether he. is merely on a visit to Captain Hamilton.' He preached at the Sowburn in the afternoon, and at Captain H-imilton's- station in the evening. The Rev. A. Dasent will preach here next Sunday and celebrate the communion. Yesterday week we had Mr Flamanck (Westeyan), and on the previous Sunday the Rev. Mr Christie (Presbyterian) preached here to a crowded churchy and held a public baptism! Mr Hislop, the Inspector of Schools, purposes visiting Hamilton during the week,' with the intention of inspecting our school, the Education Board havinggranted an allowance of L 75 per annum for a side" school, I believe that the School Committee intend distributing prizes ta the children on the occasion. In fact, the people here .deserve great credit for their unflagging interest, in the cause of education. They might furnish an example to much older and more favored educational districts. . -, The supply of water for sluicing • purposes still keeps up for the use of all. Yefc many of the companies are beginning •to prognosticate a general scarcity thatnecessary element in about a weeki when I anticipate "a thorough washing up. ,1 hope they are not meeting difficulties halfway. A rush has taken place near the Sailor's Cutting, about six miles from Mr Wayne's ' Station"; on' the road to Macraes. There are about' SO men at work there, and one or two stores. The gold is described as coarse' and nuggetty ; the pinking from two to eight fe"et. I believe that good burning • timber is obtainable in some of the adjacent ' gullies'. I have not personallyvisited 1 the rush, although I• am well acquainted with the locality, yet my informant as to the gold news can be relied on.' '"'."'--, , V i A money or,der 'office is opened afc our Post Office, Which will prove a great boon, to those having small sums to transmit ta the " neighboring colonies, or the United Kingdom, 'which the diggers will gladly avail themselves ot after it ha 3 become more generally known. , The weather at present is genial ; but dur'gairdens suffered severely a Fortnight ago from a severe frost. lam fearful that the crops of potatoes, which previously looked very promising, are materially injured.

{Continued from page .9) of a lady whom he knew, but not seeing her, and knowing that every instant was precious, he said to a young girl, "Will you go ? " She did not refuse, — therefore Mr Wilson seized her and took her to the bulwarks; but when she looked over the rails and say? the distance which she must i spring, she said, in despair, " Oh, I cannot j do thaf." There was no time for persuasion or pailey, and Mr Wilson was obliged to drop the girl and jump from the steamer to the boat, which he fell into safely. The captain, just before the boat put off, had thecon-ideration and presence of mind to give those in the boat their " course." He told them that it lay E.N.E. to Brest-, which was correct, and he is stated to have added that the distance was 90 miles ; but the boat's company believe that King, the steersman, misunderstood the captain as to the distance, inasmuch as they were 190 miles from the French coast. Before the boat could be got off it was in great danger of being sucked down by the ship, which was rapidly settling beneath the water. The swirl of water round the stern that preceded the foundering had already begun to be excessive, and the boat was therefore hastily cut away. At that moment those in the boat were piteously called upon by a lady about 23 years of age, who, with a face which was, it is stated, livid with horror, shrieked out an offer of "a thousand guineas if you'll take me in." But in that solemn hour millions of money would have been accounted valueless, and to return must have resulted in destruction to all. One of the Feamen ha 9 stated that when the boat was pushed off, and the captain had wished those in her " God speed," the men resolved that no danger must be allowed to accrue to them from further crowding, and that sone of them drew their knives with the determination oi cutting off the hands of those who might lean from tlie ship and endeaTour to cling to the boat's gunwales. It was also stated that long before this, when it was first made known that the vessel must go down, a passenger brought on board a carpet bag, and that on doing so the captain gave a short melancholy laugh, and then smiled, as one of the passengers expressed it, "at the preposterous idea of the man's thinking at such a time of his property." Down into the waves, with 219 others, has sunk Gustavus V, Brooke, the tragedian, who was bound for the country which had been the scene of a reverse of fortune to him, but previously of many brilliant successes'. He was accompanied by his sister, and had, when taking his passage, omitted part of his name, in order to obtain privacy and that repose during the voyage which was necessary to recruit his health. Mr Brooke will be well remembered as a tall man, of powerful build, and he is stated by the rescued passengers to have exerted his strength to the utmost in helping to keep the ship afloat. The Dutch portion of the crew, 21 in number, refused to work, and, according to the English s-ailors who were saved, these men went to their berths and remained there, so that the passengers had to work at the pumps weariedly for many hours with the English seamen. Mr Gustavus V. Brooke exerted himself incessantly. Attired only in a red Crimean shirt and trousers, with no hat on, and barefooted, he went backwards and forwards to the pumps until working at them was found to be useless; and when last seen— about four hours before the steamer went down — he was leaning with grave composure upon one of the half- doors at the companion. His chin was resting upon both hands, and his arms were on the top of the door, which he gently swayed to and fro, whilst he calmly watched the scene. One of the passengers who saw him has said — " He had worked wonderfully, and, in fact, more bravely than any man on board of that ship." To the steward, who made himself known, Mr Brooke said, ulfu lf you succeed in saving yourself, give my farewell to the people of Melbourne." The rescued men remember with gratitude and respect the efforts put forth by the ministers on board. The Rev. Dr. Woolley encouraged the passengers to work at the pumps, in which he was seconded by the stewardess, who had a son on board, and cheered the passengers by her collected demeanour and constant attentions. Next must be mentioned a circumstance, the publication of which may prove to be of great importance. Mr Munro states that a passenger named Eastwood, with whom he had been acquainted prior to the voyage,. said to him, " Well, Jack, I think we are going to go." The answer was, " I think we are, Eastwood." The reply was, "We cannot help it. There's only one thing I regret about it— of a draft for LSOO on the Bank of Victoria, Ballarat. I only received L2O, which I gave to the captain in the office of Money Wigram and Co. I should have liked my poor father to have got the balance." The speaker -was amongst those who perished, but fortunately and singularly enough his communication was made to

one of the three surviving passenger?, and a 9 the deceased Mr Eastwood's father is known to live near Liverpool,. the probability is that his son's wish will bs fulfilled — a wish that was so fervent that Mr Eastwood shed tears as he expressed it.

The scenes on board the ill-fated ship as the last moment approached were agonising in the extreme. The torture ot suspense had been so long maintained that on the la-t day the passengers were perfectly quiet and unexcited, and a surprising degree of resignation was exhibited throughout. Miss Marks, of Old Kent Road, London, was at first almost frantic; yet, when the boat left, she stood calmly on deck bare headed, and waved an adieu to Mr Wilsm. Mr Grant, one of the officers, was lively throughout, and encouraged many to toil at the pumps — a work rendered by the wind highly dangerous and difficult. Miss Brooker, from Pimlico, was heard to say, as she wrung her hands, " Well, I have done all that I could, and can do no more." She then became outwardly calm. On the night after the passengers had been alarmed by the shipping of water, Mrs Price, Mrs Wood (who had with her her husband and five children), Miss Brooker, and Miss Marks read the Bible by turns in the second cabin. It was on that night that, after the sea had poured down the hatch, the captain said, "Boys, you may say your prayers." At 12 o'clock on the following night Mr Draper held a general prayer meeting in the saloon. An extraordinary fact deserves to be recorded. A poor old couple who had three children with them had tried in vain three times to go upon their voyage. First in a vessel unknown, and which was wrecked ; next in the Duncan D unbar, which also was recently wrecked ; and, lastly, Gardner, the steward, saw the poor wife washed overboard from the London, to leeward, her husband following her presently beneath the billows. Amongst the passengers were two stout old people, who had become favo'ite on board, and who had been sent for by their only son. The poor creatures, en learning that they must drown, took a small quantity of brandy and went below to die together in their cabin. Mr Bevan. a wealthy coach proprietor, and his wife, of Melbourne, who had been enjoying a tiip in Europe, Mr Lemon, ironmonger, Bourke street, Melbourne, Mr M'Lean, owner of extensive Baths, opposite the Albion Hotel, Melbourne, who had brought his son to be educated in England, and Mr Barnett, Russell street, Melbourne, were amongst those who perished. Mention has already been made of the Rev Mr Draper's exhortations to the unhappy people in the chief saloon. The women sat round him reading Bibles, with the children, and occasionally some man or woman would step up to Mr Draper and say, "Pray with me, Mr Draper" — a request that was always complied with. Up to the time the ship went down the reverend gentleman ministered to those amorgst whom he moved constantly. He wa3 heard to say repeatedly, " Oh, God, may those that are not converted be converted now — hundreds of them." Several revolvers were seen in the hands of passengers who did not conceal their intention of shooting themselves when the last moment came, preferring to meet their death, when inevitable, by a bullet rather than, drowning. The steward, indeed, overheard an offer by the owner of a pistol to a friend that he would shoot him if he desired. The well-meant offer was at that time declined ; and whether these intentions were carried into execution is not known, but no reports of firearms were heard as the steamer foundered. About an hour before the vessel sank Mr Wilson met Captain Martin under the main deck aft, and asked him if it would be of no use to help in carrying out the water on the second deck. He replied, " I will see," and walked to the engineroom, into which he looked down, when he . turned about, came back, and s aid, "You may do it, but I think it is of no use." He then walked on to the poop, and silently observed what was going on. It is stated that the emigrant steamer had no less than 50 tons of coal on deck, which, being washed about, stopped up all the scupper holes, and thus rendered the escape ot the seas which swept her deck all but impossible. The masts of the ship were of iron, and thsrefore could not be used for rafts. The fallowing is the list of those saved : — John Greenhill, engineer ; John Jones, second engineer ; John Armour, third engineer ; Thomas Brown, fireman ; W M Edwards, midshipman ; D T Smith, boatswain's mate ; William Daniels, quartermaster ; John King, AB ; Benjamin Shield, AB ; Richard Lewis, AB ; James Gough, A B ; Edward Quin, A B ; William Crimes, OS; A G White, boatswain's boy ; William Hart, carpenter's mate ; Edward Gardner, second-class steward ; D C Main, passenger ; John Munro, passenger ; J E Wilson, passenger. NABBATIVE OF THE SUBVIVOES. The following narrative has been collected from the statements of Messrs

Munro and Main, two oi the survivors who are now in London. Messrs Munro and Main were passengers on board the London, and they say that on Tuesday a kind of gloom prevailed amongst the passengers. That was the day on which the masts were torn away. Some said from this time that they would never see Australia again. As matters became worse, they all grew more resigned. Early on Thursday morning, husbands and wives and children assembled in the saloon, listening to the Rev. Mr Draper, aud praying devoutly. A complaint was made that the married men were prevented by thtir wives and children clinging to them from working at the pump 3; but the answer was, " How can I leave them ?" Mr Munro says it would be impos ible to describe that harrowing scene. Money, watches, chains and valuables of all kinds, were lying about. All was dust now. The catastrophe was now near at hand, and at this point the narrative of the boat begins : — At a little before 2 o'clock, the hour at which the vessel went down, the ladies in an insensible state were floating about on the poop of the ship, and at this time both Mr Munro and Mr Main, looking out upon the little boat that was being tossed like a cockle shell — now close to, and anon 20 yards from the vessel's side— remarked that if they had a chance they would not get into her, believing it impossible for her to live. But, suddenly they felt the big ship leave as it were their feet, and then it was that they resolved to take chance in the small craft. As soon as Mr Munro got into the boat the doctor's assistant offered him LSOO if they would take him in To this offer one of the sailors replied, " Keep your money and look after yourself." To this the assistant answered, " I am your doctor, and you are bound to take me with you." All this time they were pulling away from the ship, which five minutes afterwards sank beneath the waves ; and although at this awful moment the small craft was some considerable distance off, still it is the opinion of the sailors that had they been one minute later in leaving the ship's side the boat would have been tucked down in the vortex. It is a matter of great surprise to those who fortunately took refuge in the boat that she should live in such a sea, and that too with seven persons more than she was built to carry. All the now wearied crew had with them were three bottles of brandy, one bottle ot champagne, some fresh water, and a bunch of raw carrots They had not started long, however, upon their dreary journey before their fresh water was destroyed by the constant seas that broke over them. They consumed the bottle of champagne and two I ottles of the brandy during the Thursday night, and the third they could not find, so that they were left almost at the outset with but a few carrots for sustenance. Leaving the scene of the wreck, they put the boat's stern to the sea, and drifted due south dead before the wind, in the very opposite direction to that which they desired to make, but to have attempted to steer the boat would have been instant destruction. They continued thus at the mercy of one of the most terrific seas that ever rolled in the Bay of Biscay till about twelve o'clock at night, expecting every moment to be swamped. At this hour the wind somewhat abated, and veered to S.S.E., but so black was the night that they could not see each other even. They all prayed for daylight, and as soon as dawn was seen breaking in the east it seemed to impart to the sufferers fresh life and a confidence that they would be saved ; for, to quote Mr Munro's words, "I felt convinced that, as our little craft had lived through the dreadful night, she would live through any sea she might encounter." As the morning advanced the wind decreased in violence, and the black clouds that kept sending forth drenching showers descended almost to the sea. They saw the first vessel about four o'clock, but owing to the wind and tremendous sea over which they were being carried, it was impossible for the vessel to find them. About seven o'clock on the Friday evening they saw a schooner on the port side, and held a consultation as to whether they should pull towards it, but Mr King objected, and shortly after that one of the men in the boat jumped up and exclaimed, •' There's another ship, boys " King still objected to facing the weather, upon which one of the crew swore that it was their only chance, and that if King refused to make for it, he would "stave the boat in." King then said, "Well, I go;" and they accordingly pulled to the vessel that rescued them from their perilous position, and brought them safely to port to relate the sad disaster that has thrown a gloom over the United Kingdom. Mr Munro, from whom a portion of this narrative has been derived, is a native of Montrose, which he left some time ago to go to Australia, where he had business connections with the gold diggings.

We annex a list of the passengers of the ship : — First Class : Rev Mr and Mrs Draper;

Mrs Owen and child, Mr and Mrs GFP Urquhart, Mr J Patrick, Mr G V Bsooke and Miss Vaughan Brooke, Messrs J Alderson, P Benson, Mr and Mrs J Fenton and two children, Mr and Mrs Chapman and two children, Mr G M Smith, Mr and Mrs Clark and son, Mr F Lswis, Mr and Mrs J Bevan, Dr J Woolley, Mrs and Mrs Debenham. Miss L Maunder, MessrsJ Robertson, T M Tennant, Mrs Trail and child, Messrs G- Palmer, T Brown, Mr and Mrs Amos, Messrs E Brook?, J R Richardson, Rev Mr and Mrs Kerr, Mrs and Miss King, Mr and Mrs Thomas and two children, Messrs A Sandilands, E Youngmau,. H J Dennis, E A Mark«, D F De Pass, Master W D Burrell, Dr J Hunter, Miss. D'Ovoy, Miss C M'Lachlan, Miss Cutting, Mr M'Millaa. Second Class : Messrs Kaye Eastwood, F Stone, Mr and Mrs White, Miss H> Price, Mr J L WHliams, Mr and Mrs^ Graham, Messrs B G Rowe, J E Wilson (saved), Mrs Morland, Miss G Graham, Messrs I Dothie, C Gough, A Bruce, J Woodhouse, G Cross, W Day, D W Lemon, Mr and Mrs Giffett, Mr G Chen>nels, Mr and Mrs Wood, Master aDd Miss Clayson, Messrs Thomas Wood, Godfrey Wood, Miss E Wood, Mr B Bevan, Mis 3 S Brooker, Messrs Davies, T O'Hagen, H W Harding, F Frjer, J Munro (saved), D C Main (saved), C Johnstone, P Fenwick, Mrs and Miss Meggs, Mr G H Campbell,, Miss E Marks, Mr E G Trevenen, Mr and Mrs Hickman, two sons and two daughters, Messrs A M'Lean, and Davis. Third Cabin : Messrs W Passmore, H Miller, C P Chandler, B Hay, Miss E Jones, Mr and Miss Simpson, Mr and Mrs Hanson, Mr and Mrs Graham and threechildren, Messrs David Graham, M'Vittie, Mr and Mrs Sercombe and three children, Mr G Rolwegan, Mr and Mrs G Flick and four children, Messrs R Trevurrow,. D Block, J Gerken, Zulec Morris and Zulec Barnett, S Bolton, T Skeggs, Mr and Mrs D Smith, Mr A Umphray, Master Spring, Messrs A lio)eim, J Walls-, W Barron, Mrs Lampes and two children, Messrs Algernon L Otter, John Little, H M'Covey, Miss F Batchelor, Messrs J Kirkwood, W Clifton, R Reynolds. [The above list of names has been carefully collated, and is, we believe, accurate. We should observe that the names of Mr G V Brooke and his sister were entered as Mr and Miss Vaughan.] Mr Justice Chapman, anxious for information as to his wife, son, and daughter, arrived at the Telegraph Office before ten o'clock. A message from the Bluff was at once handed to him, and after doing little more than glancing at it, he staggered and fell moaning to the ground. The message announced the loss of all those dear to him, who had taken passage by the London. His Honor was raised and attended to by those in waiting at the office, and a medical man was speedily fetched. His Honor slightly rallied, and was then conveyed home. The sitting of the Supreme Court was adjourned by Mr. Justice Richmond as soon as he received the melancholy news. It was reported yesterday that Mr Main, one of the three passengers saved, is a brother of Mr D. F. Main, barrister.

Malayan Executions. — The kris i 3 common to a'l nations of Malay extraction,, except the New Zealanders, and throughout the Malayan Archipelago takes the place o£ our gallows. Their mode of execution by its means is curious and characteristic. The criminal is led unbound to the place of execu'ion, and takes his seat quietly man arm-chair, usually chewing peuang to the last moment. The kris used oa such occasions is about eighteen inches long, and quite straight. Grasping this instrument, the executioner steps up gently behind the prisoner, and thrusts it in to the hilt between the left shoulder and the neck. The heart is pierced instantaneously, the criminal leaps up from his chair, and fallsdead. Datjghtebs and Servants. — If parent 3 of small means would train up one of the daughters to undertake the cookiug of the family, another to do the housework, instead of keeping an over* worked, incompetent maid of all work, it would be far better for the girls themselves, and for the comfort of the family, than to let them go out into the world as second or third rate governesses or music teachers. We have seen the comfort of a house in which the daughters had been trained to do all the work of the family. The young ladies were as refined, and. their hands as nicely kept, as if they had done nothing but the desultory uselessness which seems to preside over female employments. The more refined and lady-likea woman is, the neater and quicker she transacts any household work she undertakes. In colonial life, where there is a general dearth of servants, and both ladies and gentlemen turn their hand to any work that may be needful,, without any thought of indignity or degration, their best and most hopeful faculties, are developed without any loss to their love of self-improvement or to their intrinsic refinement. — Atkenceum.