Correspodence.

Colonist, Issue 4, 3 November 1857, Page 3

Correspodence.

RETURN OF THE EXPLORING EXPEDITION TO THE WEST COAST OF NSW ZEALAND IN THE SCHOONER ANN. ; . 'To the Editor of Xhe Colonist. :V; Sir,—lt is with much regret I have to send you the following melancholy statement of the circumstances connected with the loss of Captain Ayers. The Ann sailed from Nelson on Wednesday, the 28th October, about .5 p. m., with a light easterly breeze, which very soon increased to a brisk gale, and by 4*30 a. m. on the following morning, it being -just day-break, Separation Point bore South and the Head at the Aorere bore S. W., giving the vessel a position of about 4 or 5 miles from land. The wind being due South East, the course N. W. Captain Ayers was at this time standing on the starboard side, abreast of the companion hatch, the main boom being over to poi*t. Upon his giving the order to the man at the tiller to keep the vessel a point more to the Westward, the man called out to Captain Ayers to look out, as the mainsail was jibing, upon which ;he stooped to let the boom pass over him, but not stooping low enough, the boom strnck him on the back, and knocked him overboard, his heels being seen as he fell over the rail. ; The noise of the jibing of the mainsail brought Captain Smith to the deck, who jumped up the main hatch as,the man at the tiller was calling out " a man overboard." He immediately .ran aft, got the life buoy, and threw it in the direction of Captain Ayers, iwho called out "all right,' in a very cool and distinct manner. By,this time all hands were on deck, which could not be more than one minute from the time of his falling overboard. Captain Smith immediately ordered the helm to be put down; the vessel rounded too within about 80 yards of Captain Ayers, who was seen struggling in the water by Mr. Baillie, and heard by that: gentleman to call out "put the boat over," which was by this time being done. Not more than 3 or, 4 minutes elapsed till the boat was in the water,

maimed by the two seamen, who -pulled towards Captain Ayers, Captain Smith remaining on board to manage the vessel. In a few minutes the vessel tacked to the Eastward, to pass over the place where he fell—the vessel passed about 20 yards to leeward, of the life buoy and boat. In about live minutes more, the vessel tacked to the Westward, and this time weathered the boat and life buoy, but Captain Ayers was not to be seen. The sea being very heavy, and some danger of the boat swamping^ she ea:rie alongside, and the vessel continued tacking and heaving down upon the spot .'for about an hour and a half. . The life buoy was picked up about half-an hour after the accident, and the boat taken on board about two hours after. All hopes of recovery being now abandoned, the vessel shaped her course lor Kelson, but from heavy weather, had to run for the Tata Ronds^ from which place she sailed for Nelson, and arrived at the anchorage behind the Arrow Rock on Sunday Morning. *•" ' . • The above statement was made" to me this niornitig by Captain Baillie, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Maedonald, and Captain Smith, who were at the time on board the vessel. In addition to the life buoy I gave Captain Avers five portable India-rubber.belts, the whole of which were found lying on his bed. *'**.; This melancholy accident in the mean time puts a,stop to the exploration of the West Coast, as the pentlemen declare their intention of abandonthe enterprize. ~ .* • ■'■■■: I am, Sir,"youT obedient servant, WILLIAM AKERSTftN, ; Owner of the: Amu 2nd November, 18-57. ~,■.. .; To the .Editor of'the Colonht. : ■', Sin, —Allow me, through the medium of tho Colonist^ to direct attention to the fact, that in cases of any fire breaking out in Nelson, we liaye no means at hand, either in the shape of fire-engine or brigade, consequently, should such a calamity happen, (which we all dread) what caiwedo? Nothing at all. Is this, Shyto continue ? Nelson has many times been in imminent danger; indeed, within a short period, we have had no less than five escapes of fire, in parts of the town where the houses are thickest, and I am not counting the danger arising from the firing of foul chimneys. Therefore, it is much to be feared that unless timely measures' are taken without delay, the inhabitants of this town will have cause to regret having delayed obtaining some suitable apparatus to meet the contingency. Procrastination may cause Nelson to be a mass of ruins. Yours, Xc, NECESSITY. Nelson, October 31st, 1«-57. TothctiditorvftliGVoionid. ' Sih, —It is an old saying that after a storm comes a caljn; We have had a storm of harsh words, and bittei and uncharitable expressions. GeritlemeiV have indulged in a variety of invectives of the vilest description during the speeelufyings of the recent elections, which, now that they have a little breathing time, they may look back upon with a blush (if it is ever known for such people to blush.) Class feeling has been exhibited to such a ridiculous extent, as though they had made an important discovery, that one class was no longer ne.ses.sary to the existence of the other, but that the employer and the employed, the money capitalist, and he whose labor is his capital, were two distinct species, the separation of which was a hew feature in social science, the sooner achieved tht better. The question may be asked, Has the storm passed over, or are the elements merely taking rest to break out with more fury ? Are the future Acts of our Provincial' Council to'be disregarded and laid aside as--waste paper.?—the Province put to a useless expense because a working man occupies the situation of. Superintendent. who has been honestly'and duly elected? Are we to he sacrificed to the caprice of those who make a great boast of their desire to economise, but when to gratify personal or class feeling, are willing to make the. most. iniquitous waste of public' money? Is it possible that those who make a boast of their intelligence but who have no. charity; for Mother people's ignorance,: should require to be told, even in the nineteenth century, that in most cases the more a people are persecuted the stronger they become? Has not the late election proved :it thus ? Are six hundred and eighty-one electors ,to be insulted with- impunity, although many of them Blue shirts ?, .They have shown themselves at least above dinners and nobblers, or intimidation-'of any kind. Yes. Although the Blue shirt may have disgraced itself in some cases, still the number is considerable who have shown themselves proof, insult on the one hand, and bribery on the other. Is it to be supposed that the opinions'of six hundred and'eighty-one who have dared to be free, to hive no weight in the balance of public opinion? I presume that the Constitution Act places, us all on one 'common footing, as far as the conditions of that Act go without enquiry as to whether we finished our education in the school of Athens, or in a hedgeschool in the Emerald .Isle.. But perhaps those gentlemen who waited upon the people /of the Wauneas, and who were so anxious in promoting ■ ; our glorious free Constitution, and impressing upon the minds of the people."the golden '.harvests to be derived therefrom,, wcro then as they appear to be how, of a different opinion. They appear never to have thought that all electors would think themselves free, that any of them would think themselves eligible to fill,certain offices, if thought worthy by a majority of the electors".* ■No ; this is a piece of presumption that was never thought would enter the heads of those men they were addressing. No; one would think by present appearances, that their ideas were of a much ; loftier kind. They no doubt thought that thesepeople will vote us into office {■■■when we get in we will help ourselves? then help onr friends. The old song of the curly-headed plough-boy to a new ■tune. ". " . '•-. •• ..-' *'" A iid now a few words to We electors generally, or I may rather say to those \vho: have to earn their bread by the sweat of their brow; whose industry and perseverance is the root of our settlement's, prosperity, who have - t subdued the forest, drained our swamps, and made our barren; ■'hills' yield corn. We have entered upon air hnportant epoch in the history of this our.adopted country. When a new joiir|&l has^entered the field, we .'hope, honestly and 'fearlessly. '■ to serve the community, and when on the other hand every attempt is being made to deny you the rights' aiiid brivileges given to you by our Constitution Act/*; Bt. Monro tells: us of'the force of numerical ascendancy.' But ask the friends of the unsuccessful candidate, what has been spent on the late Occasion, arid I think it will j>rove that you are morally in the ascendancy. Yes, they have had a piece of good fortune which I hope may ever happen to those who have so much money to spend on these occasions. They have had the fiddler to pay, without having had the opportunity to dance, which I hope will be a lesson in morals, if it teaches; them nothing in politics. [ But this is a digression. The time will shortly arrive wljen our Provincial Council will be called together. The several questions likely to come before that Council should be well dis-• cussed by you but of doors, as by such ;being done it would enable the members to arrive at, or near the wishes of their constituents; for it is much to be regretted that the time of the Council should be occupied, which has been the case, in framing and passing Acts, which for want of enjoying a necessary share of populai-ity, afterwards prove i useless, at least to some of the districts. If the ! public neglect to discuss matters out of deors they must take a share of the blame of any unsatisfactory measure that may be passed by the Council. The question of Education is one that should be as early settled as possible, that the public may be receiving the benefit thereof. It would be well if the objectional features in this measure were well talked over—that something: of a permanent and solid structure may lie .obtained. I think that few of you, after the taunts you. have received from the very sarfc of the earth, will be backward in trying to promote the education of your children, when you see men of this boasted class, take their work- ; men to the poll without a blush., when you hear '< of men threatening to discharge the laborer from his employment if he dares to vote contrary to his wishes. Will vo\\ rearyour children, to be dupes I

likewise ? No. You will educate them that they will look upon such petty tyrants with suspicion and contempt, as only wanting a change of circumstances and an extent of power to incarcerate you in a dungeon, or send you to the guillotine Do not think that I wish to encourage class feeling as widen the hreach that already exists ? No. I would wish that every working man should feel it is his duty to give'a fair day's work for a fair day's wage, and that the employer should appreciate and look upon the laborer as an indispensable and useful member of society. We have all certain duties to perform according to the social position in which we are placed. But our political privileges belong to the public, held by us in trust, and we have no more right to barter them away, either for private friendship, HUwill, bribes of money, beer, or dinners, than we have a right to our neighbor's cow ; but we are in duty bound to give our votes tv that man who we think most likely io honestly and fearlessly serve the community. You ought not to value you privileges less because you have obtained them without a great struggle, but rather watch over them with jealous care, and fearlessly defend them with even' constitutional means against any one who shall dare either directly or indirectly to rob you of the least of them. Public opinion* has done much for the old country, and public opinion wiH'do something for this, and it remains by your exertions to make it.productive of the best and happiest results. Fearing to trespass longer upon your patience, I beg to subscribe, ■ Yours, &c, COSMOPOLITE;. Waimea West, October 2Gth.