SHIPPING.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2218, 13 June 1865, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHIPPING.

I WRECK OF THE ORACE BARLINa. — NARROW ESCAPE OF TJTE PASSENGERS. The Nelson Colonist gives the following account of the loss of the above ship on the Arrow Rock. It says : — At about four o'clock yesterday morning loud cries were heard, proceeding from the port, and upon several persons (principally called together by Thomas Allen), proceeding to the beach, at the harbor mouth, ifc was found that » vessel, in going out at quarter ebb, had got across tho channel, and grounded on the reel- of rocks behind the Arrow rock. The pilot boat having been brought from the station, proceeded to the spot when the craft was discovered to be the Grace Darling, just proceeding out to Motueka, with half-a-score of passengers on board, and who, alarmed for their lives, were calling loudly for assistance. Their fears were not idle ones, for a heavy swell was coming down the hay, setting round tho rock, and breaking over the grounded vessel with some violence, and the whole of her leo sido was badly store almost immediately aftor striking. "With much difficulty and considerable danger from the broken water, the passengers were taken from the wreck into the pilot boat, and conveyed ashore ; after which hearty exertions were made to get the cargo out of her by boat and into a cutter anchored as close by as i the water would allow, under the superintendence i of Mr Cross, who remained on the spot until all j had been got out of her, and she was got off and drifted up the harbor to the Government wharf. The fact of there having been more than the usual number of lights at the port at the time of the occurrence, woidd lead to the supposition that there had been some carelessness in the management of the craft, and if so that somo enquiry ia requisite into the way in which lives and propertywere so seriously jeopardised ; for if it had not been for the arrival of the pilot boat, there is no doubt that serious consequences would have ensuod. The cargo for the most part was got away from the vessel by the strenuous exertions of Thomas Allen, and assistant, who worked unremittingly with his boat in the hazardous business. The vessel was uninsured and is hopelessly damaged, the loss with cargo probably amounting to about £400. MOKE WRECKS AT HOKITIEA. The Colonist of the 2nd, also gives the followinS particulars of the loss of the Steamers Bruce and Wakool at Hokitika, taken trom the West Coast Times of the 27th ult. which says : — We regret to state the paddlo steamer, Bruce, has shared the fate of so many other ships at this port, and is now high and dry ashore, a short distance to the north- ward of the Nelson. She arrived off Hokitika on Thursday morning, and in endeavouring to enter the river, the tide caught her and put her on the Spit. An effort was made on Thursday night to get her off, but failed, the anchors not holding in the loose shingle where they were buried. It is hoped however, that this fine vessel will be removed from her unfortunate possiton as soon as the appliances arrive to launch the Nelson which are now on the way. The Times says : — " The "Wakool has become a total wreck, and now that her inmost secrets have been laid open to the light of day, we can see how " fearfully and wonderfully" she is made. It is a miracle how she hung together so long in these seas, and we most cordially join in the remai'ka that we have I received from various eoiTcspondents concerning the laxity of the law which allows such rattletraps to be afloat. Nothing but a good stout boat of the best construction should be employed here, if safety to life and property is to be guaranteed." capsizing, op a. boat and xoss op pive lives in THE nOEITIKA. The Colonist of tho sftmo date says : — On Sunday last a flat-bottomed boat with thirteen men in her, was coming down the Hokitika river, when she struck on a snag and capsized, throwing all the men into tho water. Of these Civc were drowned, the others succeeded in esoaping death, some of them with great difficulty. Wo believe the five unfortunate men were — Duncan, a police constable ; Carter, the owner of the Steam Packet Hotel at Hokitika; Thompson a boatman ; Charles Smith ; and a digger whoso name had not been learned when tho William Mislcin left. THE CRUISE OF THE ESK ON THE EAST COAST, f CAPTURE OF BROWN, THE DESERTER. H'.M.'s Esk, Capt. Luce, which had been sent to the East Coast mainly for the purpose of obtaining intelligence of Mr T. A. White, arrived in harbor yesterday ; and we are sorry to have to state that she brings no ] news of that gentleman. Intelligence reached Auckland some days ago that the natives of To ICaha had informed Captain Luce that \lr Wlii to had left there in the Kate Williams, and though the Esk has since then called at various places, there is nothing to add to this ; so that even those who have been hoping against hope, must now be forced to tho conviction that tho ICate Williams and al! on board must have perished. And wo are sure that every one of our fellowcitizona, from hia Excellency downwards, will sympathise with Mr White's relatives in their affliction, and feel that xre have lost an honest and able public servant. The Esk left the harbor on tho 25th ult., and next day arrived at White Island, where some of the officers went on shore, if such it may be called whero there is a danger of sinking through tho crust at every step. The same evening the vessel reached Te Kaha, where Captain Luce and Mr Falloon landed and communicated with the natives. Next morning the Esk steamed to Hicks's Bay, where sho lay till Monday evening. From that place Captain Luce, Mr Falloon, and Mr Parker, aide-de-camp, weut overland to Waiapu, where the vessel also arrived on Tuesday morning. Captain Luce on coming on board, brought with him two chiefs, named Morgan and Wickliffe, who went down to Poverty Bay, where the Esk anchored on Wednesday morning. Next morning a great meeting was held by the

natives, at winch. Captain Luce and Mr Falloon were present. On Friday the Esk loft Poverty Bay for Auckland, and about mid night, when off the .East Gape, a stronp north-westerly gale came on, which blow the vessel away to the eastward, so that at noor. on Monday she was only fifteen miles to the ■westward of west longitude, in latitude 3i degrees 32 minutes south. On Tuesday, the wind abated, and the sea having gone down she was able to proceed under steam. She experienced light westerly winds the remainder of the voyage. During the 9tay of the vessel at Poverty Bay, the deserter Brown, regarding whom so many stories have been afloat, was captured by a party from the ship. This man has been somewhat represented as aiding and abetting the rebels, and sometimes as being compelled by them to carry the heads of Europeans. Brown was taken before General Cameron yesterday forenoon, and was charged wilh having deserted from the 57th Begirnent at Taranaki, between two and three yeai's ago, having, it is said, broken out of the stockade, where he had been confined for some offence. We understand that, yesterday, Brown did not allege that he had been detained amongst the rebels. He denied ever having been in the army at all, and said he came to JN"ew Zealand in a whaler called the Mary Ann, and after living some time with the JSTgapuhi, went down to the East Coast, where he says he has been acting as a " stock-jobber," whatever he may mean by that term. Five men of the 57th, who are at present in the Albert Barracks, it is said, are ready to swear to him being a deserter. Brown will, of course, be tried hy a Court Martial, but it is doubtful if any thing more serious than simple desertion from his regiment will be charged against him. — Southern Cross, May 12.