HAWKE'S BAY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1750, 7 August 1862, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY.

By the Storm Bird we have received our usual files of papers up to the 2nd inst., from which we have made the following extracts: —

The fine steamer Queen, placed on the East) Coast in lieu ofthe White Swan, left Wellington on Wednesday tire 23rd inst. at I p.m., and anchored iv Napier roadstead on Thmsdny tbe 24th July shortly after noou. As ' will be seen from advertisement in auother column she will remain in this trade- — her return from Anckland being expected on the 6th" prox. Henceforth, the Hawke's Bay mail will be received and despatched via Otago, and a fortnight will be allowed for -insweving letters.

Accident.— ln the Herald extra of Thursday night reference was made to the accident on board the Queen, upon her arrival that forenoon. The gun, it is be feared, was overloaded — the men being anxious that a good report should announce the first visit of the steamer. However this may be, it exploded upon being fired, and the fragments flew in all directions. One piece went through the deck, making a huge hole in it and knocking down a bullock in the hold ; another smashed one of the bulwark stanchions ; a third went through a deckhouse and lodged in one of the men's bunks; wbile a fourth, we regret to say, struck the cbie officer — Mr. John Dougall, who was at the windlass — penetrating bis chest and inflicting dangerous injuries. He is now in the hospital, Napier, under surgicil treatment. Several persons on board had a very narrow escape — particularly the man who fired the gun. Levying Blaok Mail. — On Sunday last Messrs. Watt and McDonnell, on tbeir way from Wairoa to Napier, were slopped at Mobaka by the natives and their horses taken from them. The plea for this was that tho runanga bad prohibited Sunday travelling. The animals were taken across the river aud the owners informed that they could have tbem upon payment of os. a head, Tbis tbey resisted, and were detained, in consequence, till Monday was far advanced.

Whales, — By the Gipsy we learn tbat the first fish of the season was caught at the Wairoa ou Thursday last. Particulars have not reached us.

The Surprise left Wellington beads on Wednesday tbe 16th inst., but no communication with the shore had been for tbree or four days before. She litis had fine weather and smooth water throughout. Off Kidnappers, on Wednesday last, Capt. Braund saw two boats in pursuit of whales.

Land Sale.— At tbe sale of five shilling land on Tuesday last, tbe whole of thelots were sold at the upset price, with tbe exception of the following ;— On Capt. Hen ton's 'run, 300 acres sold at 6s. 6d. ; 300 at 10s. ; 300 at 18s. Id. ; 300 ut 125. ; 300 ut 13s. 2d. ; and 300 at 10s. 6d. Total amount of Sale, £5166 15s. Competition on the above lots leaving £1268 lOs.jto the Treasury.

Another Fire. — After a lapse of three months i: is again our painful duty to chronicle the occurrence of another fire in Napier, On Friday night last, about Ten o'clock, the Cry of " Fire ! Fire ! " startled many of the townspeople, and from tbe volume of smoke it was seen to be iv tbe neighbourhood of Carlyle street. It was found that a cottage, owned and occupied by Mis. Parker, and (near tbe residence of J. A. Smith, Esq., was in flames, and that nothing could be done by those on the spot to save anything in the buiiding. Attention was therefore turned to the house of Mr. Smith, by mounting the roof with blankets, &c, and pulling down the palings to prevent the fire travelling any further, for the wind, although not very strong, carried the embers and sparks in that direction, and they showered somewhat dangerously upon tbe premises. The flames however, were not long in completing their work, and the danger to Mr. Smith's house was thereby removed. We have heard that the building was insured to the amount of £300. After tbis second warning it is greatly to be desired that some organised plan of operations should be brought to bear, in the event of futuraand more serious conflagrations in our combustible town.