NARROW ESCAPE OF THE STEAMER WELLINGTON.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 1761, 22 June 1877, Page 3

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE STEAMER WELLINGTON.

[lIV TELEGRAPH.] Auckland, Jum 21. Captain Lloyd, of the steamer Wellington, reports that the vessel very narrowly escaped being wrecked on the Manakau bar -when she attempted to enter last Sunday. At one o'clock the signal " taku the bar" was made from the look-out ■tation, and Captain Lloyd immediately set the topsail, and steamed for the south entrance. On approaching the bar, it was found that the sea was very heavy, and the tide had begun to ebb. When the steamer was ri^ht over the first break, a tremendous green wave struck her on the port quarter, completely filling the deck to the rail, and m addition to sending the vessel on her beam ends, causing her to broach m a very dangerous manner. The sea carried away one boat and its davits and smashed two others. It store m the stern j>osts, filled tho saloon, smashed the main and poop rails on the starboard .side, and the iron railings on the top-gallan ftorecastie, carried away one of the iron catheads, filled the deckhouse, »nd inflicted other damage. Captain Lloyd was on tho bridge at the time, and on seeing the »ea coming laid hold of the fltern of one of tho boats on the starboard side. This boat was one of those smashed and the captain had a most miraculous escape. Tho forward portion of the boat was carried away, and the remainder swung around, the only part which remained firm being that which Captain Lloyd had hold of. The force of the sea knocked him <I>>wji, and lie was only prevented from slidingoff into the sea through tho gaps where the boat had been by coming with his mouth against ono of the belaying bits. A German named Andrew, who is one of the hands on board, saw the captain's danger, anil with praiseworthy promptitude scrambled to his assistance. He managed to get within reach of him, and taking hold of one of his arms, he drew him up into safety. Meanwhile the vessel was m a very unpleasant predicament. She was right m the trough of the aea, and it was obvious that if another sea struck her she must founder. Captain JLloyd did not lose his presence of mind for a moment, but determined tc try and get her head to the sea, and run out again. This was accomplished with considerable difficulty, as th« water had brought the steam down m tho boilers to about lllbs. Captain Lloyd expresses his conviction that not one steamer m twenty would have done it m time to meet the next sea head on, and her fine lines alone saved h«r. She was got round safely when only about twice her length from the bank and steamed to sea m the face of a heavy westerly gale which had now commenced to blow. The steamer behaved magnificently and rode out the gale like a duck for three days. The signalman hoisted the ball for the Wellington to enter too late, so that she encountered tho ebb tide when on the bar.

Public Meeting. — A public meeting will be held at Wa ; mate this CTening, but for what purpose we are not aware. Scaffoldings. — Our attention has bee;i directed to Jbe careless way m which many scaffoldings m the book street* of tho borough are left without lights burning at night. As the practice it a dangerous .one, we hope offenders will be prosecuted m future. Assbsbmbnt CoxTBT, Waimatk. — An adjourned sitting of tke Atiessment Court for hearing appeals against the valuation of the Waimate County Council will be held to-day. Benevolent Bociety. — The amount collected at St. Mary's Church, Timaru, l«»t Sundar> m aid of the Benevolent Soriety, amounted to £17 IB§ ; and at the Wesleyan Church. £3 16s. The offertories from the Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and PritnitiTe Methodist Churches have yet to come io. Gbaik Stocks. — There is a very heaTy amount of grain still stored m Timaru, and the total quantity of wheat alone must exceed one hundred thousand bushels. Great difficulty i» experienced m obtaining vessels, and at least twenty c >uld be loaded at the present lima without trouble. Nominated Immigbation. — The following is the list of nominated immigrants left with Mr F. LeCren for transmission by the outgoing San Francisco mail : — England 5 adults, Ireland 11 adults. Scotland 1 adult; total, 17. They are described as follows : — 1 maeon, 2 ploughmen, 8 laborers, 1 housemaid, 4 general servants, and 1 married woman. TiHAßtr Harbor Board. —By the San Francisco mail, which arrived on Wednesday evening, the Chairman of the above Board received a reply from Sir John Coode with reference I o his undertaking the Timaru Har bor worts. We publish it m foil elsewhere. A specinl meeting of the Board will be held on the 28th instant, to consider the letter. Post Office Lbttkb-boxhs. — Another row of fifteen letter-boxes was ndded yesterday to those at the Timaru Post Office. While on this subject, we think that some ether time than the business portion of the day might be found for doing such jobs as this, and thus prevent people frequenting the letter boxes or Telegraph Office being put to inconvenience through the passage being lumbered up with bricfei, mortar, wood, and to>li. MJkJsSebvicE3. — The following tenders have been accepted by the Postmaster-General for the conveyance of mails m this di«trict : — Between Orari and Waihi Bush viti Geraldine, W. Kennedy and J. Mund> 11, £25 ; Geraldine and Pleaaant Valley, David Denoon, £'19 10s ; South Rangitat.i Bri Ige and Peel Forest, James Watkins, £70 : Geral line and Hilton, O. Q. Bradley, £18; Temuka and WaitoM Fla\ David Cunningham, £20 ; Opawa, Burke* Puss, and Lake Tekapo, John Crnmond, £135 ; Post Office, Timiru, Railway Station and banding Service. Henrr Thomas, £75 ; Lake Tekapo and Pukaki Ferry, Donald McLeod, £75 ; Pleasant Point and Raindiff's Station, R. Worthington, £62 ; Timaru, P*reora, and Kingsborough, Thomas Priest, £90.

Entertainment at Gbraldinr.— The first of the series of winter entertainments was lu-ld m the Geraldine Literary Institute on Tuesday eToning, Br Fish being m the chair. It was a success m every way, the amount received for admission beirg very satisfactory. Every praise is dua for the excellent programme provided, mid we cannot refrain from giving a few details. Tho proceedings were opened with a brilliant pianoforte duet by the Mistes Fish, the elder of the two young ladies precining at the piano during the evening. Mr Bell rendered three capital tongs, and also gave a solo on the Madagascar fiddle, which crested great nmusemeTit. Mr Mitford'sreading of " Iri»h Huutors " was well received, as was also another by Mr Slack. Mr Bailry recited a well-selected piece, and Mr Krlly render? d several »ong» very nicely and pleasingly. Mrs Williams' song was one of the gems of the rveniug, the lady's voice being one of the best m the neighborhood. - We wish the Committee tin equal success at each of th'ir subs<qu«nt entertainments. Kiflb Volunteer C6rps. — A meeting of those interested m the formation of a Rifle Volunteer Company m Timaru was held at Turnbull't gymnasium last evening, about forty persons bring present, including Lieuts. 'WsrtVll and Jackson, of the Artillery Company. The last named gentleman having been voted to the chair, and the-objrets of the meeting explained, the intending members present Attached tbeir names to a requisition to the officer commanding the district, asking him to forward their petition to his Excellency the Governor, with the request that their services might be accepted. Messrs Turn bull and Ford •wvre appointed a deputation to wait on Major Lean (who is at t: resent m command of the distriot) during bis visit of inspection to

fiman nt the lalter end of the month, and prou-nt 1 1 c r< quisiti >n above alluded to. The Ci'iii'i i lee. v». re further instructed to convene a l" npial int'Hii:ig of members aftor their i'.le iie.i» «ith Majur Lean, and report to the fame Amongst those who appended their name, 'o tic requisition woro many old memkrj cf Hi flu Corps, both Regular and Volunteer. The customary rote of thanks to the Cliiiirnvjii c .ncludei th« proceedings.

Tun Late Cask op Abduction. — Tbe ca»i« of abduction, which wa* recently remanded from Christcliurck to Dunedin, was finally, and, it is belieri-d, satisfactorily disposed of by tho Bench of the City C<>urt on Saturday. The prisoner, says the Guardian, apoeared m the dock under the mmc of Frederick Degrouchy, mid was charged with haying, on the 13th April last, taken away a young unmarried girl, 15 jears of age, named Mary Ann Bonier, against the consent of her mother, Mary Ann Billette. Inspector Mallard stated that since the prisoner had been brought from Ohristchurch he had c miented to marry the girl, and he understood the mother now desired to withdraw the charge. The Inspector also said that, from what he had ascertained from the. girl, it appeared doubtful whether she had been taken away against her consent. The mother was placed m the witness-bi.x, and, as she stated m reply to the Bench that she wished to withdraw the charge, thft prisoner was acquitted. Both mother and daughter, who were dressed m black and tolerably well reiled, as if better prepared for a funeral than a wedding ci-re-mony, disappeared from the Court apparently well p eased at the. proclamation of the auspicious termination of love's trials; whilst Degrouchy, smiling complacently, disappeared through the prisoner's entrance.

A llot Sccfflb. — A desperate encounter between two alleged horse-stealers, named James Wilton and William Maoly, and a police constable took place near Kianr'ra, New South Wales, on the 31st ult. A telegram to the Sydnty Morning Herald thus describe the occurrenco : — "ln consequence of information receired, Constable Smyths gave chase and followed the men for some distance, nnri at laet overtook them. When he proceeded to arrest them they offered a most determined resistance. Both men upon being clinllei ged, rushed at the policeofficer. Wil«on, -who is a very powerful man, struck the constable a terrible blow between the eyes, and m the scuffle he managed to get hold of a brass candlestick, with which he commenced pummelling Smythe about the head, inflicting some ugly wounds.

from which a yreit quantity of blood flowed. Smythe drew his revolver, but it mi«sed fire, whereupon ho tried a second shot, but this iniassd the man. Two cirilians, named Chapman nnd Thomas, hearing what was taking place, went to the constable's assistance, and rendered valuable service m arresting Wilson and Manly, who, up to the lost, offered the most determined resistance, but are now safely lodged m the louk-up."

Revolutionising Scbmamnb Cablbb — For many months past experiments have been conducted by electricians m England which, if brought to a successful issue, will go far towards revolutionising ocean telegraphy. Cables, as at present laid, have to be constructed m a very roilly manner m order to secure perfret insulation, and to prevent that dissipation of the elrctrio current whicli would otherwise take place. The idea, however, is now entertained that this insulation mny not be necessary, and that with instruments of a very delicate kind, the current transmitted through the uninsulated wire may, notwithstanding the dissipation m the transit, yet be sufficient to record the message. Should this theory be brought to any practical result, insulation might bo dispensed with, and cables consisting of nothing but the copper wire could then be laid at a greatly reduced cost. How far those experiments have proceeded, and with what prospect of ultimate success, we are not. m a position to say, but a communication has been received by the Government from South Australia, suggesting the desirability of withholding any deGnite uelion on the question of duplicHte cable communication until the results of these experiments have been ascertained. Ik is pointed, out that if cables can be laid down m the manner suggested a great reduction could be made m telegraphic charges, and the rates reduced from 10s 6d a word to ss.