POET OF HOKITIKA..

West Coast Times, Issue 244, 4 July 1866, Page 2

POET OF HOKITIKA..

Hran Watee This Day :— 2.52 a.m. ; S.SS p.m. AEEIVED. July 3. — Mary, brigantine, 120 tons, Duncan, from Melbourne. Spence Brothers, agents. Gothenburg, b.s., 806 tons, Mackie, from Melbourne. Henderson and Bonar, agents. SAILED. July B.— «South Australian, s.s., Paine, for Melborune. J. B. Bushel, sohooner, Buxton for Christ ohuTch BNrEEKD IS. v Bruoe, p.s., Kerley, from Okarita. OEBABED OUT. South Australian, for Melbourne. Passengers — saloon : Mrs Edgar and family, Messrs M'Queen, Moeiler, Blake, Brook, Davis, Schadare, and 48 in the fore cabin. Princess Alexandra, Carmichael, for Melbourne. Passengers — Bteerage, 6. Bruce, Kerly, for Okarita. HXFEOTBD ABEIVAX3. Alma, from Melbourne, daily. Florence, from Melbourne, early. Moyne, from Melbourne, early. Duuedin, from Dunedin, early, s Isabella, from Dunedin, early. I Jane Lockhart, from Sydney, early. Esera, from Dunedin. Claud Hamilton, from Nelson, to-day. PBOJECTBD DEPAETtTEES. . Auckland, for Melbourne, sth inst. 1 Gothenburg, for Nelson, sth inst. vsasEia in poet. Bohoonert.— -lona, Elfin, Isabella Jackson, Blixabeth Curie, Princess Alexandra. Steamers — Yarra, Lioness, Challenge. IK THE BOADSTEAD. Gothenburg, from Melbourne. IM2OBTS. Per Btace, from Okarita— looo ozs. gold, Sank of New Zealand ; 10530zs Bdwts 12grs, Bank of New South Wales ; 1 case tobacco, Turnbull. EXPOBTS. . Per Bruce, for Okarita— 2 kegs port wine, 2 boxei candles, 2 bags bran, 1 qr-cask brandy, 2 kegs butter, 4 bags oati, Chine & Co. ; 6 gunnies sugar, 6 boxes tobacco, 1 case sundries, 1 Keg nails, 1 parcel, Mace & Cameron ; 1 cate boots, M'Cracken ; 1 doz. wheels, Sharkey; 30 kegs butter, Alcorn & Co. ; 1 box, order ; 42 sheets iron, 5 bdls ridging, 1 pkg. nails, Barrett & Co. ; 4 pkgs drapery, Byrne & Co. ; 2 doz. buckets, Chamber & Millar ; 14 bag! potatos, 6 cases steel, 10 do brandy, 8 kegs butter, Mace & Cameron ; 6 cases boots, 4 casks alp, 6 kegs butter, 4 cases brandy, 2 boxes tobacco, 1 case hams, 8 cases shovels, 3 do cheese, 4 do champagne, 1 qr-cask brandy, 4 cases stout, 1 qr-cask brandy, order ; 6 bags bran, Mace & Cameron ; 1 qr-cask sherry, 4 boxes tobacco, 2 cases whisky, 2 do brandy, 4 do geneva, I do treacle, 1 parcel, Loutitt & Eeid j 1 tub butter, Eyrie 5 1 bale saddlery, .Bamiay & Clarke j 8 pkgs, 2 cases, 1 iron wheel, 1 copper plate, 1 bottle quicksilver, Wflliamß & Kennedy; 6 half-chests tea, 5 cases brandy, 2 do whisky, 5 do stout, Barrett i 2 doz shovels, Clune & Co. ; 1 case axes, Ido spades, Chambers & Millar ; 12 boxes candles, 6 cases brandy, 3 half-chests tea, 4 cases salmon, 4 do jam, 2 boxes tobacco, oredr; 20 bags oats, 10 do flour, 12 do coals, Cole & Scully ; 12 bags coal, 2do onions, P. • Kelly ; 14 bags pptatos, order ; 1 bag corks, M'Carthy ; 6 bag« oats, J. O'Donnel ; 5 bales chaff, 8 bags, 1 do bran, Police Department ; 1 tin kerosene, M. Price. Per South Australian, for Melbourne — 10 02s gold, T, Kyan ; 3J ozs gold, T. Kennedy ; 30 ozs gold, A. Inglis Pet Princess Alexandra, for Melbourne — 8 hhds wine, 11 qr-casks wine, 14 cases wine, 25 cases wine, 16 cases glass, 14 barrels beef, . 1 case, 85 cases colonial wine, order.

f- By the following paragraphs it will be seen I that the s.a. Barwon has met with a most serious disaster, and that it is more than probable she will never sail the seas again. We regret the loss of this smart little steamer which has so many times visited Hokitika. The Melbourne " Argus " of Monday, June 25th, informs us that <f the steamer Barwon, which left Hobson's Bay on Saturday, for I Newcastle, ran ashore in Lonsdale Bay at four o'clock on Sunday morning, The steamer is high up on the beach, and swinging on her port bilge amidships on - a ledge of rocks. It was low water at the time of her striking, and her position is about 1000 yards W.S.W. of the lower lighthouse. It was at once apparent that she could not get off unless lightened, and extraordinary exertions were promptly made. The weather was rather overcast, with drizzling rain, but the leading Tights were burning brightly when she ran ashore. The steamer Reliance, which was at Queenscliff, went at once fSthe assistance of the Barwon, but was powerless to bring her off. The state of matters was telegraphed up to the port, and the Government steamer Pharos, with ■ the steam-tug Resolute, at once proceeded to tho scene of the disaster. The Reliance came !«*» in tho course* «f tho afternoon to coal, and it down again,; and the steam-tug Sophia, owed showy after. By their combined oa power it Is to be hoped tho Barwon>will jot oft." )n the 26th, a telegram was forwarded to " Argus," from Queenseliff, as followg : — he probabilities of the steamer Barwon ig got off are more remote. The weather been extremely boisterous all day, accomied by a heavy rolling surf, which has ran the steamer higher up on the beach, i now lies inside of where the main force of breakers expends itself, and quite safe n damage. The steam-tugs Resolute and >hia are waiting smooth, water to lay out a vy anchor and .chain. Captain Mathewß, representative of the underwriters, visited stranded steamer to-day for the purpose lolding a survey, 'he 5.6. Gothenburg, Hugh Mackie, comlder, left Melbourne at 4 p.m. on the 27th , and made the land of New Zealand at 1 i. on the 2nd insty coming to an anchor off dtika the following morning. During the across "fresh B.W. winds were experienced, ono brings 150-tons of cargo and a number of 1 passengers. The Gothenburg leaves for Nel*ios on the sth, and for Melbourne on the 13th bit. The brigantine Mary sailed from Melbourne <m the 23rd ult., with strong northerly winds and fine weather. When clear of the straits the breeze hauled into tho S.W., and hence to f the land strong westerly galea and a high sea I were experienced. The Mary sighted Bold I Head on the 30th, and rounded to off HokiI tika on the Ist inst., but the bar being impasI Mble she was kept onteide until the 3rd, when I the Challonge ran out and towed her safely |to the wharf. She brings a full general cargo, Kind reports sighting the Jane Lookhart, bri■faatins, on the evening of the 30th, hove to ■with head to the N.W. I Thb Stbameb Ant.— There is every probability that the steamer Ant, which was wrecked Rat the Barwon Heads a short time ago, will be Bfiot off again and made fit for service. A num■w of men lave been employod in emptying ■her of her cargo, and b\it a small quantity reWains in the hold. Sheisnow in six feet of Pwatejr at low tide. Some eighty empty casks

ai d two Californian pumps' arrived at the scene of action yesterday, and it is intended to clear her entirely of the remaining portion of her cargo, and fill the hold with the empty casks. She will then be hauled further up on the beach, and placed on one of Wright's patent slips, whero, the water having been pumped out, steps will be taken to repair damages and render her seaworthy. Wo are sorry to say that some marauders, having no sympathy with the owners for the loss they they have sustained, have been busy whilst the vessel has been in a comparatively unprotected condition, in despoiling the cabin of its fittings, and have doubtless considered some portion of tho cargo as perquisites for thenown especial use and benefit ; in fact it is believed, if time had been allowed them, they would have torn up and carried away the deck planking. It is almost incredible that such things could occur in a prosperous colony like Victoria, but it is nevertheless true. It is to be hoped that the wreckers will soon be discovered and brought to justice The Ant was, we understand, insured for LSOOO, and tho wreck was bought by her former owners at L 37. Should they be successful in the scheme they are at present engaged upon, they will bo large gainers by what they considered a short time ago to be a heavy loss. Should no further contretemps occur, it is expected to have the vossel on the slip in tho course of three weeks. — " Geelong Advertiser," June 25.

Narrative of Alexander Francis Faw, chief officer of tho Italian ship Napoleon Canevero, on the revolt of the coolies, and subsequent destruction of the vessel by fire, and loss of 672 lives, on the 9th of March, 1866 :— " Sailed from Macao the Bth March, at 8 a.m., with a crew of forty, all told ; 400 tons cargo, part of which consisted of 8000 boxes Chinese fire-crackers; and 663 coolie emigrants, bound to Callao. Twelve noon fresh breeze and at four p.m. the Ladrone Islands bore N. % E. ; distance about twenty miles. At six p.m. the interpreter reported to the chief mate that the Chinese cooks had placed poison in the water intended for the captain and officers' tea. "Upon this being reported to the captain, he immediately ordered the interpreter to find out the parties implicated in the affair. Four of them being discovered, they were laid across the main hatch gratings, and flogged with small Indian bamboo cane, and whilst these were undergoing punishment it was discovered that 200 of them had made and signed an agreement to revolt, and, if possible, capture the ship. The ringleader having been found, he was placed in irons, and fastened by the cabin door, and twelve of the Cavecillas, who also signed the agreement, were placed in irons, and it being dark at the time they were confined in tho hospital till the following day. At ten a.m. of the 9th Captain de Morro ordered them to be brought on deck, at which time the storekeeper reported to the captain that six of them were innocent of the offence of which they stood charged, and, in consequence of this, the six wei'e released from confinement and the others ordered to be sent below in irons. This was accordingly done, the captain at the time not being desirious of inflicting any punishment till the affair was clearly understood. At twelve noon, lat. 18*30 deg. N., long, 114 deg E., wind moderate, and barometer indicating favorable weather, the ship's company being employed stowing the starboai'd bow anchor and cable. At four p.m. the interpreter reported to the chief mate, Mr A. F. Faw, that the coolies intended to revolt at five o'clock, at which time abouff fifty were generally allowed on deck to receive tho provisiona for the coolies in the between decks. This circumstance was immediately reported to the captain, who waited till the time arrived, when all the coolies who were on deck were ordered to' stand in line, and the captain, through" the interpreter, asked them if it was their intention to revolt, when they all denied having that intention. Two witnesses were called, who overheard their plans of revolt, and reported it, but were now unable to single out the principal instigators in the affair. The coolies were then allowed to draw the provisions for themselves and the others below. At this time eight of the crew were at work in tho between decks stowing away the cable, whilst the remainder were on deck Betting light sails, as the wind was gradually dying away. Four of the crew were always on duty, armed with cutlasses, keeping guard over the coolies — two at the main hatch, and two down the between decks. The two after main hatch gratings were triced up, so as to allow of only one person coming up at a time, whilst tho rest of the gratings were secured with padlocks. At a quarter-past five p.m. the coojies gave -a terrific yell, and in a body made a rush for the main hatch, the eight men below escaping uninjured, whilst the two on guard below were knocked down, disarmed, and severely bruised, but at length managed to gain the deck. The captain and officers now being fully aware of the state of affairs armed themselves with revolvers, and the crew were also supplied with rifles, pistols, and' cutlasses. The captain and officers went immediately to the main hatchway, and succeeded in closing tho hatches, and thus preventing any more gaining the deck, but not before some fifty or so had already succeeded in getting up on deck. Part of these the chief officer at once secured and placed in irons, and some having gone forward for the purpose of secreting themselves, these were called upon to surrender, some obeying willingly, and others who offered violence and resistance were shot. The crew were now engaged endeavoring to prevent the coolies obtaining the deck, they having already broken up the sleeping benches, into which they had driven spike nails, using them as weapons, together with four iron spades, several knives, and the two cutlasses taken from the men on guard, and trying by every possille means to get on deck. The captain now ordered the crew to cease firing upon the coolies, at which time some thirty of them had been shot, and calling upon them through the interpreter to surrender, wh«n they all declared they would not, using the native word ' Satter-talla' (or similar word) , which means that they would either kill the crew and capture the vessel or die ; they again made another rush at the hatches, the crew firing upon them, and thus keeping them in check, when a cry of ' Fire' was raised, and smoke seen to issue from several parts of the vessel aft. The fire-engine was at once got ready for work, but whilst some of the deck lights were being lifted for the purpose of putting down the hose in the between decks where the fire was, one of the coolies severed the wrist of the seaman engaged in handing them the hose, -with the cutlass obtained from one of the guards, the consequence of which was that the man, in less than twenty minutes, died from loss of blood. To all appearance, the obiect of the coolies in sotting fire to the ship was for the purpose of getting the crew below, they thinking the fire a more serious affair than the revolt, and that the crew in all probability would at once go below and endeavor to prevent the fire making any further progress in the vessel, but in this they were disappointed. A second time they were asked to surrender, and they again replied they would not. The fire rapidly increasing, the captain ordered bread and water to be placed in the boats, and the latter to be got ready for immediate use. The cook, assisted by the steward, placed in the gig, which was hanging on the starboard Bide of the ship's davits, two barrels of bread and a small keg of water, containing about six gallons. The cook got into the boat, and whilst tho steward was lowering it down the tackle rope parted, tho boat was capsized, and the cook drowned.

The captain now ordered a longboat to be lowered, and whilht in the act of lowering it the tackle rope of this also parted, and the boat was swamped. A third boat wbb lowered in safety, which was immediately filled with some of the crew, and put off from the ship's side. The ship now being fore and aft one mass of flame, the remainder of the crew left on board, which consisted of the captain, first mate, European doctor, interpreter, supercargo, storekeeper, chief stoward, and one sailor, were compelled to throw themselves overboard, and swim towards one of the swamped boats, the captain, mate, supercargo, and sailor alone reaching the boat, the others having perished in the attempt. After being in the water twonty minutes or more, still holding on to' the swamped boat, and calling to the crew in the other boat for assistance, they came at length to our rescue, and we got into the boat, which now contained thirty-ono men, the remainder of -the crew, nine in number, having perished. The weather at this time being calm, an attempt was made to bale the water out of the longboat, which was swamped, and having succeeded in doing so fifteen men were placed in it. Having only six oars, two were given to the smallest boat, and the latter was towed by the largo one — still keeping within a mile of the burning ship. At nine p.m. the mizenmast fell, and at .ten p.m. the vessel blew up, the fire having reached that part of the hold in which the 8000 boxes of Chinese fire-crackers were stowed. The course was now steered west, and a good look out kept for any assistance, the ouly provisions in tho boats being Bix pumpkins, which remained fast to the boat after they had been launched frojn the ship. The chief mate serving out about half an ounce twice daily to each man, and tho only drinking water was the Bait sea water. "We lost sight of the vessel at about two a.m. of the 10th, at which time sho had burnt to the water's edge, and after being in the boats for forty -eight hours, with scarcely any food and no fresh water, a sail was discovered about five miles distant, and, after using every exertion .possible, succeeded in reaching her. She proved to be the Hamburg barque Madeira, from Hongkong, bound to Saigon, Captain Pollock receiving us on board and treating us with every kindness, as the necessity of the case required. On the 17th March we arrived at Saigon, and were then put on board the French admiral's frigate, and on tho 27th March, left Saigon in the steamer Far East, Captain Henry Jone3, bound to Hongkong."— " Hongkong Overland Trade Report," April 15.