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Star (Christchurch), Issue 636, 7 June 1870, Page 2

The ship Lindsay hauled in alongside the Bcr«w- pile jetty this morning. The schooner 1 Amateur, Captain Hughes, sailed yesterday for Sydney, with a fair wind. The ketches Emerald and Fawn sailed yesterday, the .former for Wellington, and the latter for Patea. . The s.s. Maori, Captain Malcolm, sailed for Dunedin via intermediate ports, at 4.15 j>.m. yesterday. Thb brig Spec will complete her loading, and haul off from Peacock's Wharf this day. The brig will sail for Melbourne with a full cargo of grain to-morrow. The schooner Foam, Captain Aschmann, arrived in harbour on Saturday from Akaroa, with a cargo of timber consigned to Miles and Co. The Tararua was advertised to leave Melbourne for New Zealand ports, via Hokitika, on May 30. She was, therefore, due on Saturday last. Tub Circular Saw Steam Navigation Co's s.s.. Phoebe, Capt. Worsp, arrived in harbour this day, at 10.25 a.m., from the North. J>he left Wellington at 4 p.m . on Monday, arriving as above. The Phoebe will sail to-morrow for Dunedin. We are indebted to the purser for files. The. s.s. John Perm, Captain Carey, Bailed yesierday at 2.20 p.m. for Dunedin. We understand that this vessel on her arrival at that port, will undergo a thorough overhaul, after which she will be engaged in trading between Dunedin and Wanganui. The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, in a recent letter, made the following remarks : — We have lately been visited hj a rather mysterious craft in the shape of a pretty little schooner, of about 90 tons, named the Water Lily. She had on board a crew of 12 men, and her cargo consisted of firewood, fresh water, a quantity of provisions, and a condenser. What her destination was at once became a matter of conjecture, especially as the object of calling J here was announced to be a desire to obtain a fresh supply of water, and to procure a whaleboat. The most probable conjecture j was that the Water Lily was going to the Auckland Isles in search of the General Grant's gold, but this the persons on board j denied, and stated that the destination was Starbeck Island, an uninhabited island in the neighbourhood of the Equator, and supposed to be rich in guano deposits. The Customs authorities demanded an explanation of the use of the condenser on board, when it was explained that the expedition was in-; tended to establish a station on Starbeck Island to work the guano, that a few of the men were to be left there, add the rest return with a cargo of the guano to Melbourne; but that as there was neither wood nor water to be had on the island it wad requisite to take a supply of wood and the means of making water for the support of those Robinson Crttsoes who were to be left on the Starbeck. This explanation satisfied the Customs, but nautical men are rather puzzled to guess what brought the Water Lily so far out of her way as this port when sailing from Melbourne for an island almost due north. The Water Lily sailed for Starbeck (or elsewhere), on May 26.

The following from the Gestong Advertiser, may throw some light on the above :— An expedition is now being fitted out in Melbourne for the exploration of the Auckland islands, and arrangements are so well forward that it will probably depart in a few days. It will be composed of fifteen persons, and its object is to search for gold. Among the explorers is the clerk to the captain of the ship General Grant, which was wrecked on one of the islands. Under his directions a diver will be employed to make an attempt in recovering the gold which went down with the vessel. Another gentleman who accompanies the expedition is the discoverer of some of the richest alluvial workings in California, and he will direct prospecting operations. The adventurous party purpose to remain from six to nine months on the islands, and they hope to fall in with seals enough to secure them against loss.