THE MONTH.
Tl*eP-.N.£. and A.R.M. Co.'s s:?., Claud ilton, G. Ponsonby, commander, left'Nelso i ror Greymouth at 2 p.m. on the Ist ult., ,<Rid after a pleasant ruij, arrived in that roadBtead the following day at 4 p.m.. Remained there during the night, and steamed for thisport noxt morning, arriving off the town at 10.30 a.m. Alter' being tendered by the Tarr.i she ran back to Greymouth, there to ship, go^d and passengers .for Sydney. - Tho Claud Hamilton returned to Hokitika andt sailed for Sydney the day after. The M.A. and N Z. S.S." Company's s.s. Alhambra, John "VPLetui, commander, left Sandridge Pier at 3.80 p.m. on the 6th inst., ■with westerly winds and cloudy weathtr. That night she encountered a very heavy gale in the Straits, aud at. 4 a n>. the next dny— the weather not having abated — a heavy sco broke on board, smashing itv^forty feet of her bulwarks, and bieakitfg the stanchions short off to the covering board. This,mishap compelled her to run hvo Refuge Cove, where she repaired damnges, and sailed again at 6 p.m. on the 7th. Experienced wet, disagreeable •weather during the passage, and anchored off Hokitika, at 2 p.m., on the 13th ultimo. The Alhambra brings 350 passengers }j but no cargo. Tho P.N.Z. and A.R.M. Company's ,8.3. Tararua. R. H. Ferguson, commYmder, left Hobson's Bay at 4 p.m. on the 7th ultimo, ■ but on arriving at the Heads found so heavy " a sea running outside, that she was compelled to bring up under the lee of the, land for the night. At 9 a.m. the next morning she cleared the Heads, with light variable winds and a high, confused sea. Cleared tha Straits on the f>th, and, after a pleasant -run of five days nine hours, came to an anchor off Hokitika at 6 p.m. on the 13th. The Tararua brings fifty passengers, and thirty-five tons of cargo for this port. She left again on her c6ast U ur, via Nelson, on the 14th ult. After a fortnight of almost incessant labor, during which time we never saw more dogged determination displayed in fighting against a succession of fortuitous circumstances, the p.s. Lioness was launched, into the river and towed up to the wharf by tlte Challenge, at an early hour of the 16th ult. In our issue Of the I Oth ultimo we commented upon her extraordinary escape from the position-of imminent peril she was placed in by the floods arid gale of the preceding Saturday, and stated there was good reason to believe she would be re-launched in a day or two. Since then gangs' of -men — under the immediate supervision of the overseer, Mr Hackley, Captain Leys, and the agents, Messrs Carey and Gillo8 — have been at work round her night and day, and the old boat would have been' afloat days ago but for the sea at high-water undoing the work effected at low: She is, however, at laßt in her proper element, and securely moored alongside the wharf ; and, notwithstanding the very, severe shaking she lia» received, makes but very little wnter. Truly the Lioness was faithfully built, or she must have 6uecuinbed to the fearful ordeal she has but just passed through. Whilst lying upon the spit the damage to her bottom - was patched and repaired as well as circumstances v ould permit, and after a few necessary rep:iirp to her upper works are effected , Bhe will be despatched to Dunedin, there to undergo that regeneration we have befoie alluded to. We trust to see her return, a new boa*, in loss than three months. The P.iiiama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Company's steamer Kaikonra, Captain Machin, arrived in Wellington on August 25, at 1.30 a.m., w ith the English mail of the 2nd of July. The following are the passengers per the Kaikoura : — For Wellhfg- , ton : Messrs Ritchie, Hay, and Elliott. For Auckland : Mr Wragg. For Otago : Mr and Mrs Renshawe. For "\foii«--.«-.~» . f! B ptain Hutehin^on, R.N., Mrs Hutphunwi orsd child, Mr and Mrs Kyte, Mr M-i-Jn -,.! TVTv TulF. For Syrfi'C-y: Messrs Pi>-..-ii. " - and Potts. For Brisbane: iYIW*-,^ 'Vh* Kaikoura It-It Panama at»«< «»-■» 9W«i ult., and met with favorable S"¥l. ♦«'•»'» rjtl the 19th inßt. Since when she has experienced strong SW. weather ; increasing on tin 20th to a gale, and the vessel being very light coaled made but little head against it. The outward passage was performed in 27- days with ease ; and on her arrival letters of congratulation were addressed to the commander' and officers ns to the pleasurable nature of tlie voyage, and the comfort enjoyed by the numerous body of proceeding homeward by her. The mails, per Kaikoura, would rench London, in' all probability, by the 12th August. x The passengers for America met the Henry Chauncev, padille-steainer, which would rench New York abouth 30th July. The R.M. Bteamer Tyne was waiting for the Southampton passengers. The voyage of the Knikoura has been a complete success ; - and the passengers express themselves in the highest terms of the rourtesy and attention which they have experienced from the captain and officers, as^well as the thoroughly comfortable accommodation of this noble ship. While lying at Toboga, Sarah Griffiths (late nurse to the' family of Mr CroweW fell down ' one of tho bunkers and was killed. The homeward passengers, were conveyed across the Isthmus to Colon, on Monday, July 23, and left the same evening at 11, for St. ♦ Thomas, there to join the Southampton steamer. The English mails arrived at Colon on July 21. — -"Wellington Independent," Aug. 25.
The P.N.Z. k A.R.M. Co.'s s.s. Lord Ashley, James Hagley, commander, sailed from Auckland at 2.30 p.m. on lhe 12th ult., and arrived at.Ti Papa Tauranga at 8.40 a.m. the following day. Landed mails and passengers, and again at 9.45 a.m. ; and on the JL4th, at 6.25 p.m., arrived at Napier. Found a'heavy sea running iv the roadstead, which, increasing towards midnight, , the steamer parted her rable, and was obliged to put to sea. Stood in again at 5.45 p.m. next' day — a heavy sea still running ; shipped passengers and mails" by the. aid of a lifeboat, and immediately sailed for Wellington-, where she arrived at 2 p.m. on the 16th ; sailed for Nelson at 5.15 p.m. on the 17th, arriving there next day at 9.40 a.m., and found business in town nearly suspended owing^ to the interest j evinced in the trial of the Maungatapu mur-l derers. After transhipping passengers from I the steamers Rangitoto and Pho?be the Ashley j sailed for Hokitika on the 20th at 8 a.m., and j arrived in the roadstead at 10 a.m. the fol-fl lowing day. She' sailed again for Bluff Harb^or and Dunedin on the 22nd. The prompt despatch ofcthe s.s. Wm. Miskin 1 on the 24th ult. is one of fhose^incid^nts that 1 it is pleasurable to comment upon, as afford- 1 ing proof of the excellence of the port arrangements. She arrived nt the wharf at 8.30 a.m., and at 6 p.m. was again ready for sea, having in tho meantime discharged ninety tons of cargo, and received on board ten tons of cargo for Greymouth and ton tons of ballast, sailing for Nelson, via at 9 p.m. A smarter day's work we have not had the pleasure of recording in the columns of this paper. We may mentiou that whilst in Dunedin the Miskin underwent a thorough overhaul, and received such trifling repairs as the mishap which attended her previous visit to this port rendered necessary. She was strictly examined by the Government engineer, who passed a most satisfactory, verdict and *renewed her certificate." There was a sudden and unexpected rise in the river on the morning of the Bth ult. so totally disproportionate to the rain fall of the preceding day, tjiat we can only account for it by supposing a large quantity >of the lower lying snow drift on the mountains roust have washed down and flooded thetiumerous creeks which form the head waters of the Hokitika. On Friday evening the river changed ita clear tint for one of a more muddy hue, and during the night rose steadily but slpwly, and at eight o'clock on Saturday roorjiing was moderately high, but without evincing any defiiro to*, overflow the whjirf.' But" in the sborfc «pa«« of half-on-hour.. it jumped up l*y*wJ f*»t; Mi Ttry won tlw vrhoU o( #ib»
son's. Quay 'from 'tin' Custom lloiy • to Wharf strot't was under water, whu-h found its vay up Sowi-11 and Tani-rod-strects, tluus flooding Wcl.'l-tivot to nn t'vtent we never before ?nw I'MTLvled. As we ga/.ed upon the extensive, if not oniaiiK-ntul -heet of water from the windows* of* our oflLv, wo observed with much interest a boat skil.fully manoeuvring some fifty yards distant, whilst several " gamins " were deriving much apparent satisfaction from | the navigation of a large goods case iv the shallow part of, the lake. For a short, time the residents of the above localities were cut off from all communication with Revellstreet, and some' few of them who had proceeded thither to, obtain their morning's meal found, on attempting t& return, that the way was blocked in a manner they little expected it would be on leaving home. The Camp reserve in Rovell-street was flooded, nnd Tancrell-street, of course, completely submerged, and the lower 'floor of many, houses laid under water The flood,' however, receedecf almost as rapidly as it rose, and by two o'clock in the afternoon tlie highway was again passable. This flood is a. gentle hint to whnt we may expect during the next month or so. - ♦ ' Tho very interesting and impressive ceremony of consecrating the new Jewish Syna- 1 gogue in Tancred-street, was performed on . Sunday, the 30th .ultimo, in the presence of as many of i our citizens as could be accommodated with standing room within the building.. The members of the Jewish persuasion arc entitled to great credit for the energy and prpmptitude which they have displayed in establishing a suitable temple for divine worship, and we are extremely pleaser! to notice that their efforls in accomplishing that object have been ab'y seconded by the members, of every other denomination in the town. The choir, under the ( direction of Mr Moss, rendered the sacred i music with beautiful and solemn effect. A . .considerable sum of additional subscriptions I was collected on this occasion — sufficient, it issupposed, to defray all outstanding liabilities on the building. '
At 11 o'clock on the morning of the 13th ult.. the Telegraph gave notice that communication with Christ church wa9 once more restored, and the telegraphists at each end of the line at once proceeded to transmit the numerous messages which had accumulated on their hards. This time the damage was very extensive, as the wire was broken at both the lower crossing places of the Otira, and at the big crossing place of the Tercmakau. Several poles were also washed away in the vicinity of the PaddocW. Tho repairs, however, were smartly executed, and very great credit is due to the line men and others who effected them.
A very sad accident, which, was all but attended, with fatal results, occurred on the 15th ult. to a fine little boy, the youngest child of our respected townsman, Mr J. R. Anderson. It appears that the little follow, who is only one year and ten months old, was playing in front of his father's house, Hamilton-street, and unfortunately strayed into the roadway just a« a dray was pasting* and not being noticed by fhe driver, was knocked down by the wheel, which passed over his right arm, barely missing his- head. The child was immediately picked up, and, Dr Acheson being sent for, pronounced, after examining the arm, that it was not broken', but bruised very severely. Under his skilful treatment, wo are happy to say, the little sufferer is progressing favorably towards rpcovery. For some time past there has been a .singular immunity from sudden and violent deaths in the district, especially amongst that class whose business leads them to trnvcrse the couxitßj- in all wcatheiv. This, in a great measure is attributable to. tho lessons gained by dearly bought experience, and the greater care exercised by travellers in crossing those rapid and dangerous streams, in which so many valuable lives have been lost. We have, however, again to record a lamentable accident, which resulted in tho death of a packer named Michael Shanahan, who was drowned on j the 11th ult. when attempting to crols the Arahura river. -The, unfortunate man left town' in the morning with two packhorse^ heavilyladen, and made for the upper ford at the Arahura. On arriving there, he found the river in a Btate of high flood, but urged on by a mysterious fatality, absolutely attempted to swim it on the back of one of the loaded horses. This top weight was more than -the animal could support?, and, on reaching deep water turned completely over, and precipitated his rider into the stream immediately above the rapids, down which he was swept and> drowned, without once rising to the surface. A boat laden with passengers was crossing the river at the time, but could render n» assistance, the current being too strong. The body was not recovered. Both horses swam ashore, and were brought into town by Constable Perry, who witnessed the occurrence. At a late hour von the ' night of I the '20lh ultimo. the inhabitants of the lower end of Revcll street were alarmed by the sound of a tremendous ru*h of wind, which shook ev#y hquse to its foundation, and was attended by a fearful crash, amidst which co.uM be plainly distinguished the sound of breaking glass and the splintering of wood. A squall had passed over the town, and as it was accompanied by thunder and lightning, it was at first imagined that some building had been struck by the electric fluid. This, however, was not the cas«, as the damage was solely occasioned by ( the wind, which must have been vortical, as the large front of Mr Munro' s store was torn completely aw^iy from the building, and carried some distance down the street. The whirl then passed diagonally over Gibson's Quay, demolishing rnnny windows, and playfully Stripping a few sheets of iion off the roofs of the different buildings it crossed ? and so powerful was the gust that one of these sheets, six feet in length, was deposited upou the deck of the s.s. Beautiful Star, much to the ■alarm of the night watch. We regret to bt.ito thjit the loss to Mr Munro is very considerable, as the windows were of plate-glass and very handsome, whilst a great quantity of» I mercliandise was more or le6s damaged.
The officer in charge at the Kanieri reports that on the, 18th ult. he visited a new rush, which had set in to a terrace, about a quarter of a -mile beldw.t-he Three-mile Creek Township. There were about. 800 miners on the ground, the majority of whom were only shepherding, although a great many shafts were being sunk. Three claims were on gold, which -vas not very plentiful, as the prospects ' obtained ouly amounted to from 5 grains to 10 grains the dish out of washdirt 6 inches in thickness. The depth of sinking is aboht fifteen feet, but as the gold promises, to run into the terrace, will soon be much doaper,/ and in all probability reach 60-feot. We are happy to state that the Ho Ho lead, which was lost near Tucker Flat, has again' been picked up by a party of enterprising Scotsmen, who, after many week's prospecting, struck gold in a sixiy-foot shaft which adjoins .the last payable claim on the lead. So far the prospects obtained are not very brilliant, the best we have yet heard of, not giving morn than ten grains tx> the dish ; but the discovery is important, as it proves beyond doubt that the lead continues, and mny yet be traced for miles. There is a fine ranee of country ahead, containing many likely hills a'nd^gullies, which we have every confidence will be yet proved- auriferous. A heavy rush resulted from the Scotsmen's discovery, and the supposed line of lead is marked out quite half-a-mile wide. The M.A. and N.Z.S.S. Company's s.sn Omeo, Edwards, commander, anchored ofTthe port at 10 a.m on the 30th ult., after a long pas-, sage of ten days from Melbourne. She cleared Port Philip heads on the 20th, but ht-nvy easterly weather kept her in the Straiteuii.il the 25th, when she succeeded in rounding Wilson's Promontory and stood to sea. After a pleasant run of four days, during which light breezes and smooth water prevailed,M&unt Cook waa' sighted on the 29th, and tlwoadftaad^eftchod ar above,. The Owep
b'-in 'h 15 saloon aiul 10U steeuigo pus.-cngu-s, aud IJO tons < if cargo. <• The p.s. Keer-t. J). Joyce, commander, arrived in the rondsiead nt'lO p.m. on iho 27t1. ult., after nn excellent run oi'2 iln\s 21 hourfron'i DuncdiH, which port bho loft ai 1 a.m. on the-25th. During the passage she experienced light plcasnnt weather, and brings ! - full general cargo and 19 p-issengers. v Tin Keera reports tliat, when off Bluff Harbor, slu passed the s.s. Lord Ashleyi hence to Dunedin, aud in Foveaux Straits the schooner Isabella, from Dunodin to this port. Through a succession of Unusually low tides, theiveera was 'delayed three days in Dunedin after she had completed her loading. The Bay was very shallow, there being only six feet and a half of water at Dunodiu wharfs at higlrtide. The p.s.- Bruce was to leave for this jport yesterday. Tlie N.Z.S.N. Company's s.s. Taranaki ar-" rived in the roadstead from Nelson, on the. 27th ult., and aft qr lHuding her passengers, and receiving in exchnnge between twenty and' thirty others, sailed direct for Melbourne* This line steamer -on her first visit to this port, has been -punctual to time, and we sincerely trust that her career in the Melbourne trade will bo a successful one. The brigantine Jane Lockhart cleared Sydney Heads on the 15th ultimo, at six p.m., with strong westerly winds and a heavy sea, which attended her until, ihe 24th, when tlie wind hauled into the N.E., and hence to the land variable easterly weather prevailed. Bold Head was made on the " 25th, and the roadstead reached next day ; and in tow of the Challenge the Lockhart crossed the bar safely the following morning. She brings a full general cargo, and six passengers. The P.N.Z. & A.R.M. Company's s.s. Otago, >T. Randall, commander, left Hobion's Bay at' , 3.30 p.m. on the 26th ult. ; and after a smart ■ passage of 4' days 22$ hours, during which ! strong westerly winds and a heavy cross sea I prevailed, anchored oft' Hokitika at 2 p.m. on the Ist instant. The Otago brings 270 passengors, 170 of whom are for this port ami Greymouth, the balance proceeding to Nelson and Northern ports. She is also full of cargo, of which 20 tons o*'ly was shipped for Wostland.
■ Mr Alfred Sheath, telegraphic engineer, makes the following' suggestions in his recent report : — The union of the West Coast of the Middle Islanu with the existing lines 'on the East Const, 19 a matter of so great importance that I should be inclined not only to reconimend'the Government to purchase the existing West Coa,st line from ' the Canterbury Province, but. alsp to adopt measures to secure an uninterrupted communication by erecting a new line from Nelson along the West Coast. The present West Coast line is very liable to interruptions during the winter months, owing to the heavy snows ; and the, rivers have proved themselves frequent sources of inter-, ruptiou during th" season of freshes. A great amount of business is transacted on the Wesf Coast line, and the lines of the General Government derive much of their support from this source.
On Tuesday; the 4th ult., a miner named Bradley, lately arrived in town from tho Scandinavian rush, attempted to poison himself by swallowing a quantity' of red precipitate. He was-suffering from the effects of a late debauch, at the time, which, causing 'a derangement of the brain, induced suicidal proclivities. Medical assistance was at once summoned, and antidotes administered, which so far recovered him that he was able to bear removal to the hospital, where lit* is now doing well, under the skilful treatmen* of the house surgcrn.
The following are th* District Gaol returns for the week ending Saturday, September I, as supplied to us by the gaoler, Mr Dale :—: — Admitted, on committal for' the Supreme Court Sittings, 1 male ; under sentence of imprisonment, 1 male ; debtors, 3 males.., Total. 5 males. The number and classification of 'the eonfinees on the above date are as under: — Committals for trial, 3 males ; hard labor gang, 27 males ; imprisonmeiit only, 2 males ; debtors, 10. Total, 42 males. On Friday, 31st ult., Mr Schaw, the Kanieri warden, granted a prospecting claim to a party of miners who had opened new pa3 j able ground about ten miles from the Kanieri township, up the river, The prospect was obtained ,out of a terrace, and ampunted to 3 grs .to the dish, with from five to six feet of wasli-dirt. The adjoining country is pronounced^ as " likely looking." v A considerable rush set in to it from the Kanieri and Hau Ilnu diggings.
A return of the cost of Provincial Governments throughout the colony, recently, laid before the Houses of Assembly, gives the following results f — Auckland, 153 officials, employed at a cost of L 22.602 14s 9d ; Taranaki, 22 officials, cost L 4.772 ; Hawke's Bay, 25 officials, cosf LSHO ; Wellington, 76 officials, uost L15^017 *'9s ; Nellon, 45 officials, cost LB3OI 15s ; Mm-lborough, 9 officials, cost L2O/0 ; Canterbury, 74 officials, cost L 21.833 j Otago, 123 v ofllcials, cost L 38.535 ; Southland, 31 oiiiciuls, cost L64b'O. The yearly cost of 55 !• official* under the Provincial Governments is L 124.709 18s 9d.
Hotel extension is quite the order of the day iv Hokitika, and soon the town will be able to boast of accommodation for travellers which, in extent and comfort, will be uusurpassed by that of any other in New Zealand. We notice that Mr Osbor'ne, of the Empire Hotel, is erecting a fine two-storied building over the house in which, for many month' s, he has driven jo excellent a trude. Its area at the base will be forty feet by thirty-four feet, and (from the known enterprise of ihe pro* prietor we feel sure that, when finished, the house for completeness of accommodation w 11 bo second to none other in town., An extensive addition is being made to .the back of the Hotel de Franco, consisting of a double range of bedrooms, which will vastly increase the already extensive accommodation jto be found at that establishment. The hofel known as Hamilton's, in Revell street, immediately .opposite Temple Court, is also undergoing hn-' provements, which will make it a first:class house.
Wo hear that quite a thriving litflo community is locatod at Fox's diggings, which are situated some 17 miles from towu, between | the Waimea and Grecnstono districts. The j place was nearly inaccessible twelve months ?,ago, owing to tlje absence of tracks ancl the i impenetrability of the bush ; but since the ['formation of the Christchur.eh-road it is easily i reached by following the highway along for about 15 miles, then turning off on to a rough bush track, which followed for two miles leads ; to the principal (or Fox's) gully, wjicre there is the, semblance of a township, consisting of several minors' habitations and one store, a butchery and bakery. The diggings comprise several gullies aud terrnces, and the population, which is much scattered, is roughly estimated at about 200 only, but all are getting more or less gold, whilst some few, vvho have water at command for sluicing 1 , obtain very fair returns indeed. We believe much gold is i yet to be extracted from the earlier opened and carelessly worked diggings in Westland, amongst which- Fox's may ' certainly be classed.
In no part of the world is the Sabbath more strictly observed than in Hokitika— so far as outward semblances go— the day being marked by a total cessation of work of all kinds, whilst at, certain hours the streets are thronged- by the well dressed of buth sexes, wending their way with decorous sobriety either to or from the several places of worship erected by the different religious denominations which have taken root here. A pleasing quiet reigns over .the town, which is a vast relief from the bustle anrl turmoil of the working week. In honor of the day the shipping at the wharf dress in holiday attire, sails being carefully stowed, decks scrubbed, ropes hauled taut and coiled down, whilst as profuse a display of bunting is made as the ships' lookers will permit of. There was a time when the fourth comirandincut was legs implicitly obeyed ; but since then the Customs authorities have issued stringent regulations against the pursuance of ■shipping business on the day set apart for yeit, WJth# )ip\vavdri ft p»P exceptional pvo»
vino m caso^ of need, which sometimes aritn iv jioi-t, whi'u the advantages to bd cUtivcU from ■i »o<m bir and fine Mo.itlusr dare not bo lost -ight of. -\_n nihtanco of the kind 0.-t-urrclon he iiUth ult,., through the arrival of Lhe steaiu.liip OinVu, with between 40Q^inrl 500 pusjngers, the laudiijg of whom was a work of bsolute necessity, and G b3on's Quay in con-jqiiL-nec presented a most unusual nppi-ar-nce, thronged as it was with the new comers and the crowd which assembled to witness their debarkation." Thrice did the Persevere run alongside the transit shed, and each timo landed' from 90 to 150 passengers, tho greater part of whom, as they filed out of the shed in heavy marching order, we should imagine, from their appearance, belonged to tho species miner. There was a less proportion of fern lies uud children than we could wish, as tho sexesarc far from- being evenly balanced, in Westlaud ; and wo were aLo sorry to note the arrival of many questionable characters, of whom not a a few were recognised by t,he sharp-eyed deteutives as .old offender^ elsewhere. * They, however, will be well attended to by our vigilant police as occasion demands ; so, on the whole, this largo influx of- population is most gratifying, as it indicates the high estimation this district is hold in, abroad*. Tho order kept throughout the day'was^most pleasing, as not a single disturbance, or even tlie semblance of a squabble, took place. This is in a great measure due to the excellence of the port arrangements for the reception of immigrants, and tho, close supervision exercised at their landing by the Collector of Customs and his staff. • ' ■ \
The O.S.S. Company's s.s. Albion, E. Kidney, commander, left Port Phillip Heads at 1 p.m. on the 12th ultimo. During the run. 'she experienced moderate vS.E. winds and fine jveathor, arriving at Bluff Harbor on the 16th, at 10 p.m. Left the next day, at 4 p.m., with light northerly winds, and off Port Chalmers at early <morning on the 18th. Lay there two days, and sailed for Lyttelton, with strong S.E. breezes and thick weather, and reached that poijt at 9.30 a.m. on the 2lst, leaving again the same day at 6.10 p.m., arriving at Wellington at noon on the 22nd. Put to sea again on the 21th, at 5.15 p.m., and during her trip aoross the Straits to Nelson encountered a very severe S.E. gale. She arrived at Nelson at 5.15 a.m. on the 251h, and k*ft the next day, at 9 a.m., for the West Coast. During the run she experienced strong westerly weather, and anchored off Greymouth, at 10 a.m., on v tho 27th. Transhipped j passengers and cargo into tile Persevere, and left for this port at 11.45 a.m., bringing up in the roadstead at 1 50 p.m. . The P.N.Z.' and A.R.M, Co.'s -s.s. Claud Hamilton, G. Ponsouby, commander, left the Company's' Wharf, Sydney harbor, at 1 p.m. on the 20th ult., and anchored off H_okitika at 5.50 p.m. on the 26fch. Throughout tho passage easterly gales aud a, heavy beam sea prevailed. A very melancholy occurrence happened on the day after h,er departure from Sydney, as one of her passengers, named , Henry Maud, a native *>f Leeds, Yorkshire, deliberately jumped overboard, and was drowned The vessel was going full speed at, tha tinitj, but a life-buoy was hovo close to him as he passed under the co. nter, and the eugincs wore stopped immediately, a boat lowered and manned, and iv charge of the chief officer (Mr Banks) pulled in the direction of the spot where the unfortunate man was last seen. But without avail, as no sign of him could bo discovered, although the buoy was picked up. There can be no doubt' that this was a case of determined suicide, as the deceased d°d not mal^e the slightest attempt \o grasp the life ►buoy within his reach. This niolancholy episode in her otherwise agreeable passage, cast quite a, gloom 'over the Claud Hamilton, and is tho first instance of loss of life which "wo have had occasion to record, in connection with either of the Company's Viessels. Tlip Claud Hamilton brought thirty passengers for this port, and forty-five for Greymoulh. She transshipped the former into the Yarrn, p s., and left for Greymouth to land the latter, which effected, she will proceed on her voyage to Nelson. , An inquest upon the body of Michael Shanahan, who was drowned in the Arahura, was held by Dr. Besvick, the distric! Coroner, on the 15th ult., at the Carrier's Arms, Auckland township. The facts elicited, touchihg the circumstances of his death, were similars to those we have already made, known to i\\Q public, and a verdict oosf s Accidcnta Drowning was returned. The Shakespeare Hote) has again changed hands, as it was Bold by private treat v to Mr Cassius (Cassius and Comiskey)' for the sum of £800. This is £2QO in advance of the former price paid for it, and is an illustration of tho worth of street property in Hokitika., -We are glad to observe that the hard labor gang are very usefully employed extending the'Sewell-street drain across Weld-street, and along 1 the boundary of the police reserve, at the corner of t^e two streets. Although t,his is done for the-purposo of draining the reserve, the work will be most beneficial tq that section of the town Avhich, through its muddycondition, is almost impassible. - The body of tha unfortunate man Shanaliau, who was drowned in the Arahura on the 13th ult., was found lying upon the beach the next morning, about tuo mile-, to the northward of thai, river. Informatiou was at once forwarded to Inspector Broham, who despatched a mounted sergeant to take charge of the body, which was removed to the Carriers Arms Hotel, where it now lies awaiting the inquest to bdjield upou it to-day. No property was found upon it. We believe that Shanahau was not an experienced Westland packer, having taken to the occupation only about ten days ago, when lie purchased two valuable horses, and up to tho da^- of 'his. death was employed carrying godds between -town and the Waimea.
A. public meeting waß, held on tho l#th tilt., Ut the Cafe de Ijrauce, for the purpose of devising means to, in the event of fire, to compensate those persons whose, premises should be sacrificed in the attempt to stay its progress! Mr Munro was voted to the chair, aiid the follow- . ing resolutions, wore carried :y-J.st. Proposed by Mr Burilj seconded by Mr C. Williams — "That this meetiug, looking forward with fear and apprehension to the consequences that .may ensue upon a fire taking place in Hokitika, deems it desirable to take such precautions as may" be reasonably expected to confine such a calamity within the narrowest limits." 2nd. Moved by Mr Z. R. Anderson, seconded by Mr Muncl^auseu — " That as, in carrying out the principles of the previous resolution, it may be necessary to pull down buildings to, arrest the progress of fire, this meeting is of opinion that the owners of such buildings should be compensated, and for this purpose the owners of properties in Hokitika should combine for the purpose of mutual indemnification," 3rd. Proposed by Mr Hankins, seconded by Air Hudson — " That . tho most equable manner of carrying out tho principle of mutual indemnificatio-i would be by a per-centage upon the annual 'value or rental of each building ; such per centage not to exceed 2 per cent., to 'be paid by monthly instalments.""" 4th. Proposed by Mr ,Marks, seconded by Mr Samuel — "That three trustees be appointed, in whose names all moneys shall be deposited in one of the Ho- • kitika Banks." sth. Proposed by Mr Clark, seconded by Mr C. Williams—" That a provisional committee be appointed, consisting of the following gentlemen : — Messrs Clark, C. Williams, Munro, Bladier, Millard, Ecclesfield, Samuels, Anderson, Munchausen, Barlf, M.P.C." 6th. Proposed by Mr Bladier, seconded by Mr Munchauson, — "That a subscription list be at once opened to defray necessary expenses." The list was then opened, and a moderate sum collected. According to the report of Sergeant White, Inspector of Slaughter Yards for the^Hokitika District, 4517 animals were slaughtered for the market between April Ist and August 15tL They aro classed as follows;— s39 Jieod of outtfo, 59 calwp, 3776 »hoep, and 180
p ; g-i. This esLinmto can only bo taken approximately, as numbers of sheep and pigs are slaughtered within the town of which the Inspector obtained no record. Between 7 and 8 o'clock on the evening of .the 4th ult., the town was aroused by the cry of 'Firo !' which was taken up by a hundred voices and accompanied by a violei.t ringing of bells. Such unwonted sounds caused immense excitement, and an indiscrimimle rush to North Revell- street, the locality from which they proceeded, and in an incredibly short space of time oVjr a thousand persons had collected in front of the-Tyrono Hotel, from the roof of which building a large volume of smoke, illuminated by flickering tongues of flame, ascended. Impelled, doubtless, by the most philanthropic motives, tlie crowd made a 'dash at the building, and would in all probability have not only extinguished the firj but the edifice as well, had not tho po\jce (who were promptly on the spot) kept it back, whilst a few energetic individuals ' within burst through a skylight, reached the roof, and by tho well directed application of a few buckets of water, extinguished the firo. In the meantime the Fire Brigade turned out, and with the hook-and-laddor apparatus arrived at the Hceno in less than ton minutes after the first^alavm was given. Every man was in uniform,* and ready for work, and with an alacrity that did them infinite credit the Brigade placed the ladders in position, and in an instant tho roof was crossed by tho ' " red-shirts^-' bucUet tin hand. Fortunately, their services wore not required ; but from the ability they displayed last night, we feel confident that when the evil day does arrive, the Hokitika Fire Brigade will not be found wanting. Hokitika has once more narrowly escaped a very serious conflagration, and this time t thc danger was really imminent, as the roof of the Hotel was in a smouldering flame, which a minute or two, later might haye x burst ( fortk into a furious blaze, that*- wotflfe not have been so easily got under. The fire, was caused by the undue heating of the bar parlor stove pipe, which led up through the roof, and so close to the rafters as to almost touch' them. Ifc was nearly red hot, and on entering tho room the heat fi\,m the stove was absolutely overpowering. As a natural consequence the roof ignited; and but for the prompt action taken by the inmates when the alarm was first given a considerable block of buildings might now bo in ashes. Used in wooden buildings stoves are exceedingly dangerous, and require to be constantly watched and tended to prevent accidents ; for if they are fired up too strongly the' piping quickly becomes red hot, and then tho roof and different partitions through which it may happen to lead are. unless well protected by sheet irtfn, liable to catch fire- in any mo- . ment. Too much praise can not bo awarded to th 6 police for their prompt interference, which, by preventing confusion, very materially contributed towards suppressing the danger. Nor is less praise deserved by the | Brigade for the promptness and energy displayed by theni The schooner lo left Port Philip Heads on the 26th ult., with light northerly winds imd fine weather. Light baffling winds' for two days, which were succeeded on the third by a strong S.E. bre.e/,e, detained her in the Straits until the 29th, when she took her final departure from Flinders Island, and, hence to the New Zetland coast, strong westerly breezes prevailed. Land was made off Bold Head on the Bth instant, but, the heavy N.W. gale which swept the coa9t on that date drove her to sea again, and tho light weather of -the sue- , ceeding two days kept her outside, until the evening of the 10th, when she reached the roadstea'l, and next morning, in- tow of ths Challenge, safely crossed tho bar. The Io brings a full general cargo. » *
The schooner Spray arrived. in the river on Monday the 10th inst , after an unusually long passage from Lyttelton,' from which port she sailed on the 15th ult., with light westerly winds and fine weather. On the 17th, when off the Kaikoras, the wind hauled 'to the southward in' sharp squalls, compelling her to reduco canvas, but driving her Nip to Farewell Spit by the 19lh. Horo she' was met by a strong S.W. breeze, which increased to a heavy gale the nexj; day, and "as there was every indication of its continuance she ran back to ToWauui for shelter. The weather moderating, she tripped her anchor on the 21st, and stood to sea, 4 and until the 23 rd trashed against a strong S.W. breeze, but made so little headway that it was deemed advisable to again run for the friendly shelter of Blind Bay. On the 24th, she once more stood outside, and worked her way up to Capo Fare*well in the teetlii of a smart westerly breeze. Here she fell in with the schooners Phoenix ■and Breeze, from/Dunedhi, bound to Greymouth, and the Charlotto, cutter, hence from Lyttelton, a*d in their .company fetched to abreast of War.gnnui Inlet, but on the 27th the increasing breeze and heavy sea drove them back to Farewell Spit. Here the Spray spoke the Emerald, ketch, from Lyttelton to GreymdTith, ancTsighted the schooner Wallace frpm-Dunedin,' bound to either this' port or the Grey. On the 28th the gale increased, and the three schooners ran for the lee of Totaranui, where they remained until the next day, when the gale having at last expended itself they stood to sea. On the Ist instant, the 'Spray was abreast of Wanganui Inlet, and, after working her' way down the coast against a light S.W. breeze, reached Hokitika roadstead on the 4th instant. The bar being impassable, she remained at jinchor uutil the 7th, and was then driven to' sea by the strong S.W. gale, which raised 'such a sea in the roadstead on that and the succeeding two days ; but on the 10th, the weather having changed, she ran in, was fastened 'to by the Challenge, and towed safely to the wharf. The Spray brings a full general cargo.
'.The escort arrived in town on the 26th ult., from the Waimea, with the heaviest parcel of gold sent down from thab district 'for many months. ' 3300 ounces was the amount, 2300 ounces of which was purchased, by the Bank of Now - Zealand, aud vIOOO, ounces by the Union Bank. This marked increase is tho first 'fruits of the Scandinavian and other late rushes', and we nothing" doubt j will bo followed* by a much' heavier return when \ l washing up " becomes more general. ' On the 2nd inst. a man, whose namo\ we have been unable to learn, but who, we belieVo, is a storekeeper from the Grey, attempted suicide- by leaping into the riyer from the wharf, at the foot of Wharf street. Fortunately assistance was at hand, and ho was dragged ashore little the worse of his dip. The niotfte 1 that inducectthe mad action is reported to ,be irritation ayisiug from business arrangements.
With reference to the discovery of gold in the Waikato country, the " New Zealand Herald" of the 18th ult., says: — " A gentleman who came into town yesterday froni the Waikato confirms in a measure ,our reporter's remarks which appeared in our columns of v last Saturday as to gold having been discovered beliiud the Koheroa ranges. It appears that on Thursday last some men were seen washing gold the Maungatawhiri Creek, and who, on being questioned whence they, obtained it, for some time Maintained silence; but one of them ultimately replied, though apparently with great reluctance, " Behind yoif ranges." Our informant saw tlie gold, but was . not allowed to retain possession of it. Furthermore, we learn v that a party of men wore observed the same day im.mediately behind the ranges, forming packages and slipping them on their shoulders, aud also to stop near the creek. When the news reached the neighborhood it naturally caused much ekcitement,' aud, to say the least, there appears to bo grounds for the report ; but whether gold is actually to be found ,in payable qualities rpinains to be shown. The gold, it is said, was discovered at » depth oL twelve feet. . Referrjug to the •' Survey and Inspection of Steam Vessels," the President of the Marine Board says, in his annual report, !' This branoh of the establishment has been greatly reduced 4uriag the past yeav, U fowwwty <jomprwo4
three inspector* ami two engineer surveyors, lhe' present working s£aff is one inspector (Captain Johnson), who receives salary as Admiralty mail agent ; and two engineer surveyors (Messrs Nancarrbwand Hamilton), who perform tho duties of acting inspectors also when required. Warden and Inspector Robertson having resigned, and Warden and Inspector Kennedy being sent to command the Government steamer St. Kilda, in which capa3ity, I understand, his services on the East Coast and elsewhere have been most useful. The number of Btenm vessels trading on the seaboard and rivers of New Zealand, coming under the immediate inspection of this department, are 37 having low-prossure engines, and 20 high- pressure ; the former requiriug to be surveyed at an interval of six and the latter every third month ; thua makin all about 151 surveys ; be.-ides which many steamers having Australian certificates, running to this colony, undergo cursory supervision. When it is considered that these vessels find employment at ports extending from Auckland to the Bluff Harbor, and both on tho Eust and West Coast, where the inspecting officers, in the performance of their duties, have to visit them, it will bo perceived that the labor, with the present limited staff, is. by no means light. It affords me great pleasure to state that Messrs Nanearrow and Hamilton, upon whom most of^ the duty of survey has 1 devolved, Jiave shown themselves t both efficient and assiduous in the double capacity of engineer surveyors and. acting inspectors. The assistance the}' have rendered in superintending - repairs of lighthouse apparatus, Jias also been of great service. From Captain Gibson, port officer at Lyttelton, who is deputed by Government to supervise "Marine Board duties at Canterbury, I have ever received willing and vamablo assistance." Captain Sharp, President of the Marine , Board, in the course of his annual report, thus refers to the necossity for additional lighthouses :—": — " At the southern entrance to Queen Charlotte's Sound (Tory Channel), a' light of the third or fourth order is much needed, the navigable channel being naVOW, and dangerous after nightfall.' The traffic through this passage is not so great as during the gold mauia at Havelock ; but even now all the subsidised mail vessels calling at Picton, and many other steamers, invariably proceed by that route, it being a saving of, many miles in distaiice. The value and usefulness of a light where proposed will be evident, both as affording facilities to commerce, and lessening the very great risk encountered in attempting the passage of Tory Channel when the dangers are not visible. There Are other lieadlands where lights would be of service, were tlje Government disposed to incur the expeDae of their erection. It has been suggested that, during the long winter nights, the Panama boats might have their passage expedited by lights being placed at Capes Egmont and Pallisor, those two points foriniug tho north-west and ' south-east extremities of Cook's Straits. Of the two, Palliser is of the more importance, a,s being near the terminus of a long ocean run, when the fuel Qn board the vessel will be short, v aud, consequently, every hour savett of moment." The brigantiue Lizzie Coleson has once more fastened to the wharf, after a -fifteen days' passagoifrora Sydney, out of which six d lys were spent on the coast and in the roadstead, her detention outside having been caused by an impassible bar. She left Sydney on the 21st ult., with light N.W. winds and fine weather, but on clearing the land the breeze shifted to the N.E., and until the 24th kept steady but light /from that quarter. Then it hauled into the 5.E,., and blew a hard *gale, which compelled her to reduce canvas to a close-reefed topsail, fore trysail, and staysail, under which she hoad- reached for twelve hours. Gale then moderated, and was succeeded by variable, puffy weather and cross sea until .the 27th, When the wind flew suddenly into the N.W., and steadily increased to a heavy blow, by west to S.W., accompanied by a mountainous, sea and . severe squalls.^ For two days tlie brigantiue ram before it under storm canvas, the barometer in the meantime standing at 2910,- and on the 29th the gale broko, and hence to the Jand light easterly breezes prevailed.The Lizzie Coleson anchored olf tlie port on the 2nd inst,, but owing to a shallow bar was unable to enter the river until the 6th, when she towed iv astern of the Challenge. She brings a full general cargo and four passengers. The Panama steamer\Ruahine arrived at Wellington u'lout noon, on Tuesday last, from Panama, being eleven days beyond her time. From this, however, six days' must be "deducted for the delay in leaving Panama, as the Ruahihe only sailed from that port on the 30th of August, instead of on the 24th, her contract day. But for an accident which befel one of her engines on the" 21st ultimo, iv a heavy gale, the Ru,ahine would have reached Wellington within the stipulated time ; but as she was ouly able, for tho last eleven days of her voyage, to umke u.se of but one of -her screws, the passage was naturally prolonged. The Ruahiue, like the Kaikoura on the previous trip, steamed from Sydney to Panama, and back, with only a few days afforded her at Panama to coal. Such incessant steaming for upwards of two mouths, is too much for any machinery. This, however, will no longer bo necessary, as the steamers on tl\eir arrival at Panama will, for the future, have nineteen days to get ready for the return passage. The j next mail from Panama will be brought by the Rakaia. due at Wellington qn the 21st of November, "there being no steamer from Pauama this month. — " Nelson Examiner," 4th insfc. The p.s. Bruce arrived from Duuedin on the sth inst. after an absence of three months from the port, x during which, time she received a overhaul, and underwent very extensive repairs, necessitated by the rough usage she received on the Okarita bar ill" July last. She returns a most efficient boat in every respect, and her appearance outside, aud in, testifies that no mean sum has been expended upon her refit. Throughout her enthe length the bottom wjia^re-riveted, and nsw plates ltft, in where it 1 was found necessary *to do so, and the damaged angle irons replaced by new ones, w'ery great improvements have been made in her passenger accommodation, especially in the .saloon, where the couches are constructed to fold and unfold, thus forming seats during the day time and sleeping berths at night. A ladies saloon abaft' all has also been added to the main cabin. Her machinery was not neglected, as .engiuo was talcen to pieces, cleaned, and "refitted, and the boiler examined and cleansed. She. underwent a close inspection by the Government Engineer, who passed a ln"gh eulogium upon her condition, and renewed her certificate. Tlie following report of the trip round from Dunediu has been supplied us by Captain Kerley :— The Bruce left Port Chalmers at 6 p.m. ou the 29th ult., in the teeth of 'a strong S.W. gale and heavy sea r and arrived at the Bluff next day at 9.30 p.m. ; put to sea^ttgain at 11 a.m. on the Ist instant, but was met by such heavy weather in the Straits that sho was- compelled to run back to the Bluff for shelter the same evening. Made anothor attempt the following day, and although the gale had scarcely abated, she managed- to push through the Straits, and rounded the West Cape on tho 3rd inst.. and i reached Okarita next day, crossing the bar without difficulty. There she discharged cargo and passeiigors, and left for this port on the ' 4th at»9.30 a.m., arriving off the bar at 3.30 p.m.; entered the river at 6 p.m. TCe Bruce brings seventeen passengers from Dunedin, and fifteen from Okarita, and 2500 ozs. of gold from tho latter port consigned to the Bank of Now Zealand.
That smart little schoouor tlie Spray has egain made one of her periodical appearances at this port, having fastened to the wharf on the Bth inst. She brings a' full cargo, but has .made an unusually loug passage, during which sho was twice driven to seek shelter by heavy weather. The Spray left Lytteltou on tho 24th ult., with light westerly winds and fino weather, but in the oiflng was met by a heavy W.JJ. bJovf, from which ibe took refug«
n 3?ort Levy the same evening. The weather moderating she put to sea next day, and reached the latitude of Queen Charlotte's Sound, when tho wind veered to the N.W. and blew furiously, compelling her, on the 28th ult., to bear up for the safe anchorage under her lea. She remained in the Sound until the 2nd 'inst., and then the gale haviug blown itself out, proceeded on her voyage with light south and S.E. winds. Was abreast of Wanganui Inlet on the 4th, and hence to tho roadstead light variable winds and cnlm3 prevailed. The Spray arrived off the bar on tho 7th met., .but kept under canvas during the night, and at tjide time next morning was towed to the wharf by the Challenge. She brings a full general cargo, and reports that whilst at anchor in Queen Charlotte's Sound the cutter Charlotte, hence to Pieton, abo ran in there for shelter. '
' Sergeant Blain, officer in charge of the Kanieri district, writing on the 7th instant, says that during the past/ fortnight no material alteration has taken place in the number of the population of that district, which may be estimated at about 4000. There wa& a great stagnation in mining matters consequent upon the stoppage of the two engines on-the old flat, but as they have ag"ain commenced pumping, activity is once more the ordef* of the day, the different clajms being in full work/ At Commissioner's Flat several claims in connection with'the different engines there have been giyen up, as the ground was proved to be too poor to pay oven small wages. , Mining on the old terrace has assumed a much healthier phase, the Pioneer Company having at last completed their 'branch race ; and, as it Carrie's a heavy head of water, the Company are enabled to , supply a great many claims. • Notwithstanding this increase, the indispensable element is still at a premium, and double tho quantity could . be readily disposed of, for the'sluiccra geDe~rally are making good wages, and much ground is still unoccupied which, it is believed, would pay well if -water were only available to wjrk it. The Woodstock and vArthur's-Town communities, havo slightly increased in number ditring the fortnight. 'At - Tucker Flat the miners are , principally^ employed working old ground by the. aid of that primitive appliance the cradle, small wages ' being the result. The two companies there which obtained a grant of extended ground, with the intention of sinking to the main bottom, have apparently abandoned the work, as ._ the ground is ,tco deep and wet to be wrought without i the assistance of steam niaclnnery. ' The Ho Ho and Blue Spur leads continue to ' employ a large body of ruiuers, many of .whom succeed in making high wages. About a dozen shafts were sunk at the northern extremity of the Ho Ho lead "in expectation of- striking' the gold again. Only one out of the number obtained any return, and this was so small that [ the others were at once abandoned. The rush to the terrace below the Three-Mile township ' is turning out better than was at first anticipated. Seven shafts were bottomed last week, and all gave fair prospects. The district is very orderly, no crime having been reported during tho fortnight. Sergeant Byrne, officer in charge o,f the i Waimea district, reports as- follows : — The population during the fortnight, ending the Ist instant, has very much increased, and may now be estimated at 5000, exclusive of-those miners who are working" the beaches. At the old Waimea diggings sluicers _are nearly at a stand still, through a scarcity of water, as the different races have run nearly dry, 'owing;" to the late prevailing fine weather. Whilst many miners find profitable employment on much of the new ground lately opened, a great number may be classed as the "floating population, and - are kept very much upon the move by the numerous small rushes which take place weekly. A small patch was hit upon in ihe vicinity of Fox's Creek, and caused some slight^ excitement. 1 The ground, howearer, turned out very poorly, and was left shortly in the hands of the few who first discovered 'it. Another rush set in to a place about midway between Stafford Town and the Waimea. Several shafts struck gold, and the locality promises to support a moderate population. - German Gully was ako the scene of a - small 'excitement, •which, however, quickly | subsided. The Waimea township is i undergoing great improvements, which will ' very much increase the comfort of the 1 residents. Very substantial buildings have i 'been erected, and tho streets, whioh but i the other day were mere swamps, are being made up and gravelle\J. In that section of the district comprising Waimea Town and wli'at are termed the " old diggings," there are twenty-five places of business, of which eight are public-houses. At the Ballarat Hill rush miners generally are doing well, although many of the claims are neavly worked out by the first holders. Three rushes occurred in this neighborhood during the fortnight ; one to a flat about a mile north of the town, one to another flat about the same distance eastwards of it, and another 1 to" a ten-ace situated on the right hand side of Pretty Woman'B gully. The first 'flat proved a duffer; the second is payable, but of very Jhnited extent, whilst the 1 ten-ace rush turned out very well; a3 several shafts obtained from ldwt. to 2dwts. to the dish as prospects. The of sinking ia forty-five feet, and the ground being difficult to keep up' requires elabbing from top to bottom. The Scandinavian workings are the"hest in the district', and employ many diggers. The seventh terrace iv this line has been opened, and proved payable although not to the same extent as the first and second hills. Many claims were taken up there, but the place is not in high favor, owing to the exceeding roughness of the country, and the difficulty which thereby attends the transporrioh of provisions acrpss it. Several parties are out prospecting, but make slow •progress, owing to the a'bove^cause. The Scandinavian rush is quite overdone with business peopto, and. in consequence, many have left it for other localities. There are thirty/geven stores and shanties, and three public-houses upon the lead. The mining popuiatioc is also in excess of tho capabilities of the lead to . support it, and a decrease .of twenty-five per cent, in the number has taken place during the fortnight. -Stafford Town 'is extending, and promises to become a large and thriving pla^e. Many 1 handsome hotels and btores, which from their' structure must have«cost • large sum's, have lately been erected, and the business people are sanguine that a prosperous future is before them. The town'epntainß 60 buildings, wherein trade is tran.-aeted, 10 of which are hotels. Crime in the district is very much on the increase, many robberies having lately been committed and reported to ■"* the police: It is believed that others, of " which the police received no information,- were ! perpetrated, for, excepting in extreme cases, the miners, as a rule, are chary in obtaining the interposition of the authorities. The establishment of a Police-camp at Stafford Town was much needed, and will tend to check the marauding propensities of the criminal . class. A robbery of 100 ozs.' of gold ,dust was effected on ' the night of the 9th, irret. at Scandinavian Hill, and the circumstances of the case present one- of the most singular ■ instances of carelessness that ever came under our notice. A party of men wlio hold one of the richest claims on the ten-ace were employed during the above day in sluicing a quantity of wash dirt, which yielded between' eight and nine pounds weight 'of gold dust. This was panned off roughly, and then emptied into a bucket, which waa deposited for the night underneath one of the stretchers in the tent. Four men slept there, I one of "whom only was a honafide shareholder, ' the rest being hired workmen. At an early hour next morning it was discovered that the bucket and its contents were missing, and on examination of the ground outside the tent being made, a quantity of gold was found spilt, ns if it had been upset in the hurry oi removal. Tho police were at once communicated with, and two of the hired men arrested on suspicion, who were yesterday brought into towrj, and will undergo examination to-dajr b.ef«r<» tto» Re»i<fcn|: Magiitwto,
The P.N.Z. and A.B.M. Company's s.s. Claud Hamilton,' Gk Ponsonby, commander, left Wellington at 6 p.m. on the 2nd inst, and arrivecUat Nelson at 10 a.m. on the 3rd.
Landed mails and original cargo* and i>ro
ceeded thence at 5 p.m. on the 4th, and ** anchored off Greymouth at 10 pm. the next Weighed und sailed for this port at 9 a.lll. on the 6th, and brought to off the bar at 1.30 a.m. Throughout her passage from • Wellington she experienced fine weather, but adverse winds. The Claud brings 21 saloon, and 58 steerage passengers. The brigiutine Lady Don, from Melbourne ' arrived in port on the 7th iust, having suffered a detention of five daya on the coast through light variable weather. She made the land about A6ut Head on the 2nd, and brought up in the roadstead on the 6th, having ex' perienced.strongS.W. weather during her passage from the Straits. The Lady Don left Melbourne on the 21st, but was kept in the Straits by light easterly weather until the 26th, and also lost 24 hours in a ( heavy westerly gale on the 29th. She brings a full general cargo. ■ ' The M.A. and RZ. S.S. Company's s.s. Alhambra, John M'Lean, commander, sailed from Hdbson's Bay at 230 p.m. on the 29th tdtimo, and after* a jpleasant passage of six days and two hours, during "which fine but light weather prevailed, came to anchor in ' the roadstead at 4.30 p.m. on the sth instant. The Alhambra .^brings seventeen saloon and 220 steerage passengers ; also a few ton%of cargo.' She reports that when in latitude 40deg. 48min. South, and longitude 160deg. East, a three-masted schooner was sighted standing to the westward. The brigantine t Isabella cleared Otago Heads on the 25th* ultimo, with strong N.E. •winds and fine weather. She ran for Foveaux Straits, aud when off Stewart's Island the wind fell light, but again freshened up, and blew a hard N.E. gale whilst 3he was rounding the " West Cape. It afterwards moderated, and finally died away altogether ; and hence to the roadstead light wariable winds prevailed. The Isabella came to an anchor on the 3rd instant, - but the bar being unworkable she was detained outside until the sth, and then readied the wharf, in tow of the Challenge. "She brings a full general cargo. The p.s. Nelson left Nelson on the 3rd instant, at 4.30 p.m., and arrived off the Buller at 1 p.m. the following day.'Jiaving experienced during the run light southerly - winds and a very heavy head sea. She crossed the Buller bar at 3 p.m., discharged cargo,, and left again the same night at 8 p.m.; ' anchored off Hokitika at 4 a.m. on the sth ; and reached the wharf three hours /later. She I brings a few tons of -cargo and twelve passengers. This fifie steamer — which commenced her career on the West Coast so inauspiciousfy — has, during her long sojourn in Nelson, undergone a thorough repair ; and very material alterations have been made in her machinery, which adds vastly to her merits as a, fast and good sea boat.- She is permanently placed in the Westland trade, under the command of _^, Captain Wliitwcll, late master of the Konnedy, and we trust, having so fortunate and skilful a commander, her future career will more than compensate for the disasters she once experienced, and which had rendered her name a by-word on the coast. The 'few, trivial repairs rendered necessai'y by her late stranding having been effected, and preparations for her final move made, the p.s. Yarra on the 10th inst. was launched from the South Spit into the Lagoon. A cleaner launch wa9>never made iii the port, . for directly tlie stops were cut she , started, and glided off the ways into deep water in beautiful style. .-So great was her impetus that an anchor had to be let go to prevent her running stern first into the .bushes on the opposite bank. Captain Nicholl adopted an excellent plan to ensure a successful launch by cutting a trench about three feet deep from low jvater mark to the end of the sliding ways, so that directly she was clear of them' she 'floated, and thus that hitch, through the bow of the vessel grounding, which we have noticed has almost invariably occurred at former launches was prevented, The Yarra was towed to the wharf by the p.s. Challenge, and was ready to resume work the nert day. On the 11th inst. x the river rose slowly but steadily, the late rains having sent a smart "lreshet" down, which has had the effect of clearing the channel, so that once more the port possesses with a straight and navigable entrance. In the evening at low tide, a huge volume of water was rushing between the Spits, and found its way to sea through the place on the previous day, the tail of the North' Spit obstructed the channel. The southern channel has closed up, and we trust that the river will never make its exit in that ' direction again, as it forms a most intricate and dangerous passage, which few vessels. care / 'to take. This year there has been a very marked difference in the run' of the river as compared with last, for, then, the position of the channel fluctuated between a parallel course with and close into the North Beach, and a straight run to the westward, whereas during the present year it has inclined to the southward, with an apparent intention .of deserting the North Beach altogether. Several hundred tons of merchandise were landed on the wharf during the past week, and it was satisfactory to note in what excellent condition it turned out of the different vessels'which conveyed it hither. The Lizzie Coleson, Mary, Lady Don, and Isabella, discharged cargos, the condition of which reflects credit on the vesstels as good carriers, and on the ships' companies for' careful stowage. The Lady Darling was not so fortunate, as a quantity of her flour was somewhat damaged. In reference to that smart little brigantine.the Lizzie Coleson, we may state that on he j last voyage 6he ran from Sydney to this port and back again, thence on to Newcastle for coals, wJiicK she loaded uj>, and returned to Sydney, completing the long round in the short space of thirty days. She is once more rteady for 6ea, ,and, weather permitting, will leave for Sydney to-day. We understand from Captain Beaumont, agent for the firm of W. S. Lockhart, that the well-known brigantine Susannah Booth is on the berth for this port, and may be expected to arrive at an early date. On Wednesday, the fleet of vessels which have been so long waiting in the G?ey roadstead for a "slant"" to run inside, took heart o grace, and favored by^a slapping westerly breeze crossed the bar under canvas. They gained the wharf without mishap. The brigantine Mary sailed from Hobson's Ba;f on the 23rd ult, with light northerly . winds and fine weather, which kept her hi the Straits until the 26th, on which day, favored by a steady S.W." breeze, she took her last departure from Swan Island. Strong breezes, increasing in squalls, prevailed until the 20th, when it blew up a heavy gale, accompanied by a high Bea and terrjfic squalls, the vessel running under close-reefed fore topsail and reefed foresail. At 10 p.m. she was pooped by a tremendous sea, wliieh carried away her starboard-quarter bulwarks, split the covering board, airti filled the decks with water j for a ntoment it was feared she must broach to. The Mary, however, be- ' hayed nobly, and once freed cf the top weight' of water, steered like a boat before the gale, ■which at midnight subsided, and hence, to the land steady S.W. breezes prevailed. Bold Head was sighted on the Ist inst, and the roadstead reached the following day, but the bar being blocked, up, she was kept outside until the 7th, and then towed to the wharf by theChallenge, having on the preceding day been lightened of 80 tons of cargo by the schooner Tambo. The Mary is fully laden with a miscellaneous cargo, and \ brought 15 passen- ., gers besides. On the Bth inst. an accident happened to a drayman in the Empire Hotel right-of-way which was all but attended by fatal results. He •was sitting on the edge of his cart, and, to allow another dray to pass him, drew up close to the fence on the loft-hand side. On starting again, the *wheel caught one of the* palings, and made a creaking noise, which cause's the horse to swerve suddenly, and the jerk throw the man from his seat and he fell head first
immediately under tho wheel. Tho poor fellow was dreadfully frightened, and shouted lustily, which only made matters worse, as tho horse — rby this time thoroughly terrificd — bolted at full speed, dragging the wheel over the man's left thigh and up the side of his body across the shoulder, missing his head by the merest chance. The lookors-on were petrified with horror, thinking ho was either killed or fatally hurt, when to thoir astonishment he sprang to liis feet aud made a dash after his runaway horso. Tho animal's career, however, received a speedy check, for the dray capsized, and in some unaccountable manner tho 1101*80 managed to got' astride the upper shaft, aud whilst in that position wa« caught by two or three men who happened to be close at hand. Tho driver's escape was most miraculous ; but fortunately the dray was empty, to which' fact ,alono can his preservation be attributed. We are glad to learn that the long projected scheme for the formation- of a tramway between Hokitika'aud Greymouth, is likely to
be, forthwith commenced. Many weeks ago we expressed our confidence in the success of this -undertaking. Indeed, so obvious were the sources from which a larg"") and remunerative traffic might be expected to be supplied, ♦hat it was a matter of astonishment that the project was allowed so long to hang firo. The terms offered by the Government, to the original projectors, being in danger of being forfeited, by default of action, a few enterprising persons determined that the scheme Should not be allowed to fall through ; and I during the pa&t week several meetings have been held, at which measures to commence the construction of the tramway, and to bring a certain portion of it into working "order at an early date were taken. It is proposed, in the first instance, to complete the tramway to the " Three Mile," a work which will involve no ; engineering difficulties, and sufficient capital i to execute the work has already been lodged \ by the promoters in the bank/ This portion • of the, fine being opened to traffic, it will then be pushed on to the Arahura, "and this further \ stage will no doubt be attended by a very large and profitable extension of traffic. The company, which consists of a limited proprietary, have adopted, we think judiciously, the policy of not involving themselves, iii the first instance, in very heavy liabilities. , They look at the matter from 'a discreet business point of view. It is expected that the proceeds of a moderate amount of capital at first invested, will help to furnish the means for -an extension of the works, and they have -every assurance that an opening success will bring plenty qf supportfco the undertaking.
, Commenting upon the extreme richness of some of the southern beaches, the " Westiland Observer " of the '29th inst says : — I" Some instances of the extreme richness of
;the Okai'ita beaches, and of the good fortune of diggers iv this neighborhood, have recently come under our notice. Not a few of f these have been furnished by the Three Mile Beach, which everybody had latterly concluded was only indifferently rich, and now nearly wrought out. Comparatively small as that beach is, it has proved to be one of the richest on the coast, and those' who havo secured a competency out of it, believe that it yet contains enough to afford high earnings .to many more. • Several of the passengers who went away by the Kennedy this week, were men who had made small fortunes at the Three Mile,^and this week some large parcels, have been sold from tne same place. On Wednesday a party of three men were seen wending their way along the beach towards the township, one of them carrying a sw^ig, 'the weight 'of which was very disproportionate to its size. They made their w.w direct to the Bank of New South Wales, and we believe they disposed of a parcel contain ing close upon 700 ounces, the result of three men's work for a few months, char of all ex.p"enßeß. By the same party weekly parcels have been sold for four months past, and 'previous to that they disposed of several hundred ounces in ono lot. From the same beach,, on the same day this week, -two small parties dis- ■ posed, 'between them, of 250 ounces. From the Five Mile, where the parties are larger aiid more numerous, large parcels continue to be received, and we know of two men who recently left iown, each with LI7OO in pocket, after four months' work. Even from Gillespie's Beach, parcels varying from seventy to ninety ounces have, from time to time, been received ; and we know of a hundred ounces of rough gold having, in a very short time, been accumulated as purchases from a few parties who are working in some of the creeks of the neighborhood. With such results 1 on the beaches — and- the instances' we mention are by no means exceptional — Okarjta may boast of having had some of the richest beach diggings onvthe coast, and, with such promises from the interior, there is hppe that the district i 3 not vet so thoroughly " usea up" as many would fain believe it to be." Since our last visit to the District Gaol, on Cemetery Hill, -astonishing improvements j have been effected in that establishment, and the main portion of thebuilding, then only commenced, is now^m a fairway towards completion. Ai the date of our last report, one' wing, containing eight cells and two or three 1 outbuildings, alone constituted the accommodation provided for prisoners and their keepers. The stockade, which was then but partially erected, was finished a week or two later, and under the active supervision of the gaoler, Mr Dale, the hard labor gang have constructed an excellent road from the foot of the terrace to a point Hearly half way to the beach. This portion of the road will be finished in the course of a fortnight, and then it is purposed to continue it by widening the present pack track to the fop of and along the terrace to the Gaol entrance. By doing so, both the Gaol and Cemetery will be accessible to wheeled vehicles, and" if these improvements are carcarried out in their integrity this locality, which is so closely 1 allied to sin aud death, will be rendered in appearance one of the most charming spots on the coast. It was at the suggestion of Mr Dale that this work was undertaken, aud we certainly think that a better could not havo been selected, as the approaches to the place
lay across a swamp, that iv rainy weather was next to impassable. * The Gaol itself is cruciform in shape, consisting of four wings which branch off from a\ central hall, 30 feet long by 16 feet "v ide, wherein the prisoners will take their meals. The north, south, \md east wings contain the cells, of which there are twelve, capablo of accommodating between fifty and sixty prisoners. The building is entered by the west wing, which contains the offices of the establishment. On the right is the scullery, kitchen, and female prisoners' eating room, to the left a larder, store room, and debtors' eating room. The arrangements made for the confinement of that unfortunate class are excellent, as quite a suite of apartments have been v provided for their accommodation. Four cells in the end of tho north /Cving are set apart as sleeping rooms, and are connected witli the dining room J by a commodious verandah, 'under which the debtors can take exercise *in rainy weather. As the Gaol is not quite finished, it would be premature to enter into a minute description of its architectural details, but we propose at an early date to report especially upon it. when the crowd of artisans who now hold entire possession of tjio building ' will have finished' their labors. We, however, saw suf- / ficient to convince us that the plan of the G-aol; is a good one, and the building iCStelf well constructed, add of sufficient strength to set at defiance any attempt on the part of prisoners to effect their escape. We, however, observed one fault : the centra] hall is far too email for the purpose for which it is intended. It should have been twice the size, and would then have added immensely to the appearance and convenience of the interior of tho building, which now id somewhat cribbed and confined. ,
On the 9th infit, the beach in the rear of Eevell street was the seeue, of a mishap which might have been attended by serious consequences. A lady and gentleman were taking it ecmter along the Band, when - Jhe horse
ridden by the former became restive, and
after a succession of desperato plunges, succeeded in dismounting his fair rider, who fell heavily upon that which fortunately was not a macadamised road. In falling, her dress caught the pommel of the saddlo," and was partly stripped off her, ard some of tho gar-, monts woro> carriod away by the brute, which dashed at full speed along tho beach. Excepting tho shock and confusion such an incident would naturally occasion, the lady, we are happy to say, suffered nothing through the mishap. Another mining company has been fonnoa in tho Kanicri district, and registered undor the name of th 6 " Commissioner's Flat Gold Mining Company.'" Tlie -prospectus contains full details of tho undertaking, which we are inclined to regard most favorably, as two loads of gold have beon traced into the three acres of ground leasoll by the company, and a systematic mode of working, backed by capißif, is alone needed to ensure remunerative returns. We wisSh the new company every success. Wo have received very favorable and reliable intelligence from a new workings situated between the Waimea and Kapitia Creeks, from which we infer that another of* those rich patches so peculiar to* the coast line has been struck. Tho Prospectors' claim is situated at the foot of a low ten-ace, about one hundred and fifty yards inland from the beach, and fro»» the bottom of I their shaft I a return of from 3 grains to 1£ dwts the dish was obtained. The depth of sinking i 3 eighteen feet through layers of sand land saudy loam until the washdirt is reached ; 'the letter consists of black sand and granite and sandstone wash, about nine inches thick. Between seven and eight hundred miners have assembled there, and the ground is marked out f6r a distance of nearly two miles on each side 6f the Prospectors' cl-.iin. Two stores are already crocfrnl. and doiig a thriving trade, and several others aiv going up, and as tho locality is Jensely scrubbed, the diggers and storekeepers have commenced' a pack track from the beach, which in a few days will be completed. Many shafts are being sunk, but ' so far, the prospectors alone have bottomed. Tlie Ciaud • Hamilton left the Q-rey roadstead for Sydney on the 7th instant, carrying with her 9000 ounces of gold dust, the produce' of that district. This swells tho amount already exported duriug this month to the very handsome quantity of 38,000 ounces. The 4900 ounces cleared by the Union Bank -^fof exportation direct to England via Panama — but, which, unfortunately was missed by the Otago, is not included in the above, or the shipments would have amounted to 42,000 .ozs. This return is most satisfactory, as it shows that the yield from West land fields is not, as some suppose, on the decline.
The following are the district gaol returns for the week ending Saturday, October 6th : — Admitted under committal for/trial at the at tho Supreme Court, 1 male ; discharged from custody, 1 male ; simple imprisonment, 1 debtor. The number and classification of prisoners remaining at the above date is as follow : — Under committal to the Supreme Court, 8 males : hard -labor gang, 25 males ; simple imprisonment, 1 male ; debtors, v "s^total, 39. Another of those mysterious disappearances for which the Coast is so remarkable, and which have never, in our recollection, been followed by any tidings of the missing parties, was brought under our notice on the 10th inst, by the police. It appears, that on tli3 sth inst. a man, who a day or two previously had pitched his tent close to Mr'Ricard's residence, failed upon that gentlemen, and in. ah excited and incoherent manner said;- "he was looking for his brother, of whose, whereabout* he requested information." The man was quite a stranger to'Mr Ricards, who, being convinced from his manner that he was laboring under an attack of insanity, advised him to make enquiries at the Police Camp &>r v his missing relative ; upon which, the poor fellow departed, and "Mr Ilipards has not seen him since, but, observing that the tonfl remained unoccupied he, made known the circumstances to tlie authorities, who at once inspected the tent which, from its appearance, had evidently been deserted for some days. . The man's per-^ sonal effects, bedding, &c, were found inside and taticn possession of by the police, pending his re-appearance. Active enquiries were also made, with the view of eliciting information that might lead to his identity, when it N transpired that he was^oneNewland, by birth. a Scotchman, and about-twenty-six years of age. A miner by profession, he had lately been working at the Five Mile Beach, Okarita, from which locality he removed to town. Nothing further is ' known concerning him, but it is feared that he has made away with himself during a fit of madiless.
The number of eonfmecs in the Bevell street gaol-estabhshnient is, we are happy to say, steadily decreasing, as by the returns handed us by Sergeaut M'Myn *we see that during the week ending Saturday, October 6th, only*three admittances took place, whilst six, whose seatences had expired, were dischargedffrom custody. At the above date, 13 males and 2 females remained in confinement, of which 7 mules and 2 females belonged to the hard- labor gang ; 1 male was undergoing simple imprisonment ; and 5 males -were on remand, The total number of conuncea in both gaols was 51.
So far the late increase of the criminal class by arrivals from Australia "has not been productive of evil results, as is shown by the records of the Magistrate's Court.' For several weeks past we have noticed with pleasure , the exceeding lightness of the criminal calendar, and the week ending Oct. 6, is happily not an exception — a state v of things which, for the future,
we trust, may prove the rule. The committal of Thomas AiiiUey, for embezzlement, und the sentenciijg of three oilier prisoners to different periods of hard labor for lighter offences, was tke only criminal business disposed of by his Worship.
On the Bth ir. of . the prisoners. Chamberlain, Aldridge, and Ourr. w o have so often been remanded, m order to give time for' the arrival of the notorious Sullivan, whose evidence against them will, it is supposed, be of the conclusive nature, were agaiu brought 'up before the Bench, and , again remanded, although his Worship' g<ivc notice that on production of good and sufficient bail lie would discharge their, and that if the arrival of Sullivan was delayed muck longer, he should certainly liberate them on their own recognizances. We quite' concur in the course taken by Mr FitzGerald, as it is extromdly doubtful whether Sullivan will ever land in Hokitika. Was it ever intended to send him down here, positive information on that point Mnust, long ere this, have reached the police, who have sent telegram after telegram requesting advice, but have so far received nO answer — not even so much as an acknowledgment that jthese messages came to hand.' In the evening, bail was tendered for the prisoner Carr, and the bonds being signed, ho was liberated, himself at L2OO, and two sureties at LIOO each. No bail was offered for either •of the other prisoners, who, in consequence still re- , main in confinement.
The report of Constable Elliott, who visited the Ho Ho and Three Mile diggings on the i2nd inst., shews that, at the Blue Spur lead land neighboring workings, the miners are tfully and profitably employed, and no diminution in their number is observable since the date of his last report. The terrace which i opened a few weeks ago about one mile and a quarter from the Three Mile township, towards the Arahura, is turning out well, and the lead from it has beeu traced for three-quarters of a mile to a swamp situated within a short distance of the Christchurch road. Along the edge of this swamp claims were taken up and several shnfts bottomed, some of which gave ' fair prospects, of from Jdwt. to ldwt. the dish. The sinking runs from 20 feet to 30 feet, through ground wet and difficult to keep up, which much delays the development of the lead. The number of miners located on this rush is estimated at 350, and are represented as very orderly, no crime having been reported during the fortnight.
A Hud accident happened at Muori Gully, in the Arnold river district, by which a miner "nainod Larry Morau lost his life. The deceased was at the time employed in clearing a claim of timber, and Mhiltit chopping down a trco close to an old shaft, some fifteen feet deep, missed hid footing, and fell in(o it. His mates heard him full, and in a few minutes recovered tho body, bat only to find that lifo hud departed, the poor fellow having broken his nook, Thcro was also a deep cut upon tho forehead. At* an oNiciul enquiry held by the police the above facts were elicited, .and. a verdict of accidental death returned. Deceased was about fifty-one years of age, and a native of Kildare, in Ireland. lie left no property behind him. On the 2nd instant the dead body of a man was found upon iho South Spit of the Grey Eivor, and recognised as once belonging to a sa/lor named Henry Owens, a native of Virginia, U.S. An inquest was held upon it the same day, when from the^>videnco adduced it appears that on Ihe 14th. of September lie was working at Ihe wreck of tho schooner JCvcplsior, ou tho South Beach, and was last seen alivo at 3 a.m. the next morning, making his way towards Blake Town. Being somewhat intoxicated at tho time, it was supposed that ho must have fallen into tho lagoon, and mot his death by drowning, and the body afterwards swept out to sea by the current. A verdict of " found drowned" was returned. -. The lamp in front of Mr Mee's G-olden Age Hotel, in Rovell street, was maliciously broken on tho night of tho 3rd inst., about half-past 11 o'clock. Mr Mcc was at the time, with some friends, sitting down in the parlor, and, on heaving the crash, ran out, but could not succeed in catching tho offender, although, from what we can learn; ho i 3 pretty well known. This is tho second time within a niflnth, Mr Meo has been snbjccted'to this annoyance ; and the lamp being a' very costly o,ne, the repairs have caused considerable oxpense. -It is to be hoped that the offender will be found out, and receive the 'punisWment which so cowardly an action deserves, v A large, number of the thieving fraternity have established themselves at the Scandinavian Eush, Stafford Town, of course, being their head quarters. "The most daring robberies are of almost daily occurrence, and being committed with consummate skill have hitherto set at defiance all- attempts * detect the offenders. ' On the night of the Bth inst. a most barefaced robbery was perpetrated on the person of a butcher, who, whilst employed in cutting steaks for a customer, had his pocket picked of forty LI notes, by one of the lightfingered gentry,> The amazement of the* unfortunate man, on discovering his loss, can be better imagined than, described, as ten minutes previously he had the money in his pocket.
'Punctual to her time, the s.s. Gothenburg arriv6d ofi' tho port on Friday morning from Melbourne. She steamed into the roadstead at 10 a.m., but diil not bring up, ns the sea was too heavy, aud during the day kept under easy stoam and mainsail and niizcn. Signals with her were of course exchanged, and her flags -read 210 passengers and 116 tons ol 1 cargo. The usual demand for a steam tug was made, and responded to in the negative. Almost simultaneously with her arrival, the s.s. Egmoiit, from Nelson, rounded to off the port, when her bunting showed that she had on board 34 passengers and 25 tons of cargb \vaiting, to be landed; but finding there was no chance of' getting rid of them that clay, she, in company with the Grotbenburg, drifted lazily to the southward, just' outside the break. Towards midday, she made for the offing, and at sunsefc was apparently at anchor, but a long distance outside. Tho Gothenburg seemed in no hurry to leave the vicinity of the bench, and 'the day was fast drawing in when, cn T veloped in a squall of hail and rain, she turned stern to the shore and headed to the westward
When we last saw the Persevere on the night of the 12th inst she was lying on the nortli side of the South Spit, bow up the stream. Excepting that she was ashore, there was nothing unusual in her appearance, and, although it was evident that her position" was one of great peril, we trusted, as sac was well secured, that she Avould 'tide through the , night in safety. But it was fated otherwise ; ftJr the following morning, viewed from the North Spit, 1 she looked a complete wreck, as nothing could be seen standing above her covering board save the port paddle-bop, and a part of'the bridge, surmounted by a fragment of the wheel. It was at once evident that she had beeu fearfully knocked about, for she' lay, bow down the beachj fur to the southward of her original position. In the afternpon, our reporter visited the' wreck, and learnt from Captain Macmeikau that, at 10 o'clock, on the previous evening, the bank upon which the Persevere laicj was washed from under her by the tremendous current which set dead agaiust the Spit. Being thus caught by the stream, Bhe slued across it, and although moored forward with a chain cable and warp (which- held good), the strain tore the windlass and hawsepipes completely out 'of her, and she then swung to -the current, and hung by her stern moorings and-the warp which wi*s still fast to the bitts forwards. For some time sho lay afloat close, into the bank, and as Mr Akerly (who contracted to relaunch her), and a gang of hands were in attendance, strenuous elforts were made to save her from being carried out to sea. Tackles were rigged and ran out from the bjw and stern to further secure, and yet, at, the same time, to allow her a moderate range, as the acas rolled i in. The warp, which now led along her starboard and seaward side to the flagstaff, was bridled across her stern to the port quarter bitts, to bind her close to the. bank; and as she rode pretty easy, hopes were entertained that" the night would be weathered through safely. But just before midnight the flood came down with sutldon and increased vio--lence, cut a passage between her and the shore, and again she sheered across the stream,' snapping the smaller lines like packthread. At this critical moment the bridle of the warp pavied, and the latter slipped up over her stern, making a clean sweep 'of everything before it.' The stern, and port qitarter bulwarks and stanchions, cabin companion, main mast, to wing-brjdge, funnel and, steam-pipe, starboard paddle-box and bridge, and half of the wlioel were gone in loss than a minute. The warp in somo incomprehensible manner' passed over the>port bridge and paddle-box, and being fast to the foremast, brought her up "all standing wjth a sudden jerk, which was more fhnu ,the.spar could bear, us it famed away close to the deck ; and her last holdfast gone, the unlucky lfttle steamer was whirled into the breakers. Fortunately all Jian.te left her. a few, minutes before the*nnal catastrophe, Captain Macmeikau being the last to jump ashore, and" only just in time to save himself. -That % her fate was sealed no one , there present had the slightest doubt, believing that her hold being open sho would fill in the bisak and go down ; but to their astonish"ment her black hull rising and falling, and keeping head to sea, could be plainly distinguished against the white surf. . .For a time she was lost sight of,- and when next seen had drifted some distance to the southward, still, however, high out of the water. At length, when clear of the river current, she was swept close in shore by the surf, and being caught by an eddy running to the northward, was carried back to nearly abreast the position she occupied on the beach. This again brought her within the influence of the river, which again swept her to sea, when she was onoe more drifted south, and then came back on the eddy. For nearly four hours she fhade this' round, keeping head to sea all the time, and was at last deposited on the beach about one hundred yards south of her former berth. The sea hove her well up, and as the tide receded she was left high and dry, when the crew, who had never .ceased to watch Her, found to their amazement that, save the havoc made by the warp, she was but little the worse for her rough handling. The hull was •wonderfully sound, not a seam having started ; but the rudder was gone just below the trunk, the gudgeons haying been torn from the stern
pobt. In the afternoon, Captain Turnbull. tho hai'DOr master, Captain Smith, of the lona, and Mr Nancarrow, Inspecting Engineer, surveyed her, and wo believe their report will be favorable. If so, the work of transporting her across the spit will be at once commenced, mid wo hope to yet see this useful vessel, whioh lms, on more than one occasion, proved of infinite service to the port, again pursuing her avocation in the rivor and roadstead. At an early hour on tho morning of the 11th tho TararUn, s.s., steamed up from the Wcstw.ir.l and entered tho roadstead. She rounded to oil 1 the bar and apparently dropped an anchor, but being every now aud'jthen hidden by tho rain and squalls it was difficult to make out tfor movements. She made her number, and < in answer to the shore stated by bunting that she had on board 100 passengers ; aiid that during the passage from Melbourne fine weather prevailed The increasing gale brought down such a cloud of mist that afterwards sho was completely shut in, and whon the horizon again cleared had disappeared, having evidently made for the- ofiing, there to buffet out the galo and await a return oS fine weather.
The bitter northerly gale and pouring rain on the ll'fch inst., put an effectual stop to the shipping business of the port. Nothing crossed tin* bar, and the different vessels at the wharf made themselves as snug as possible, by running out extra moorings, and using other precautions to ride out in safety the heavy freshet which swelled the river until it crossed tho low sand flats, and' presented an almost unbroken sheet of water from Gibson's Quay to the bush on the other, side of the south arm of the fiver. 'The current, rushed byw^th furious speed, and even at high water could have been running at a rate but little less than fivg knots an hour. The different steamers banked up their fires and made every preparation for trusting to their paddles in the event« of 'being 'driven from their moorings by the huge snags which now and again w.cre whirled past by the stream. At high water, the tide had backed the river up to within a few inches of tho, coping of the _wbarf, and another overflow, which would have converted Gkbson's Quay into a fine navigable canal, was anticipated. Fortunately, the time of slack water was of short duration, and as the tide receded the river fell, but at no time during the day was v it below a point four feet from the top of the wharf. There was no sign of a change in the weather as the day closed in, barometers all standing low, with a downward tendency. High range glasses marked from' 29*50 to 29.80^ whilst those of a lower range stood at from 2908 to 29-30. ,
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West Coast Times, Issue 332, 16 October 1866, Page 2
Word Count
16,149THE MONTH. West Coast Times, Issue 332, 16 October 1866, Page 2
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