TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3171, 12 April 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Napier: 11th — 12.45 a.m., Lord Ashley, for Wellington. The s.s. Alhambra arrived here from Melbourne via the West Coast yesterday morning early, and left on her return trip via the South afc 5 p.m. We learn from the " Argus" that the Claud Hamilton, after haviag got oighfcy-fivo miles on her way here, had to put back, owing to her boiler Laving given way. Tho repairs were not expected to occupy more than two days. The one third share in the schooner Colleen Bawn was Bold this morning by Mr Beauchamp for £51, to Messrs Gapper & Duncan. —Wanganui "Herald," Bth inst. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have forwarded to Field-Marshal Sir John Burgoyne a boat's ensign mounted on a boathook, both of which were saved from Her Majesty's ship Captain. The relics are intended as a memento of his son, the late Captain Burgoyne, V.O, who commanded and perished with the ill-fated vessel. Sydney telegrams to the Melbourne "Argus" furnish fche following items of shipping intelligence : — The schooner Ottawa, bound from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria, has been spoken off Howick group. — Tho Springbok, from Melbourne, has arrived safely afc LeTuka. — The captain of the Eliza Bateson reports that three vessels from Tahiti wero kidnapping natives in the South Sea Islands, and that they fired on Captain Randall's establishment at Clarke Island, and committed other outrages. — The captain of the brig Lyra, which has ju3fc arrived from Tahiti, reports that the Tahiti vessels which mado a piratical attack on Captain Marshall's station, wero the barque Eugenic and the Prince Alfred, schooner. — Captain Copland, of the schooner Lookout, has been killed afc the Richmond river, whilst his vessel was loading for Melbourne. — A letter from Howe's Island reports that, a large ship's deckhouse had been found there. It had canvas over fcho windows, and the days of the week were marked on the beams, It bore fcho appearance of having been inhabited since being washed ashore. The Hobarton whaler Aladdin, with 36 tons of oil, had called at Howe's Island. A handsome schooner, of about fchiriy tons, built by Mr Flowerday, on the Haven road, was successfully launched on Thursday evening. As she glided off the stocks she received the name of " Wanderer." This vessel has been in hand about; two yeara, and is chiefly the work of odd times of Mr Flowerday, and Mr Whalstron, carpenter. It is not often we see such good use made of over hours and leisure from ordinary duties, and we should bo glad to learn tho example is not thrown away. The vessel has, we are informed, been sold to Messrs Carstenes and Mankelow, and will be employed in the catfcle trade. — " Nelson Examiner." Congress, at the last session, having appropriated 50,000 dollurs for deepening tho entrance to fcho harbor at Midway Islands in the Pacific Ocean, belonging to the United States, the work of deepening the channel was placed in charge of Lieutenant-Commanding Sicard, who went out a few months ago in the United States Bteamer Saginaw, with a schooner and sufficient force to commonce the work. Reports have been received from the force, showing the condition of the work up to July 21st. A channel of at least 175 feefc must be cut afc the Islands, which is tho least space that can be used with safety to vessels of much capacity. Ifc is estimated that at least 175,000 dollars will bo required to execute tho work, and three or four years of industrious employment; hence the appropriation made afc last seßsion will be wholly inadequate to fche task. A Bostonian of experience is enguged in removing the obstructions, having been awarded the contract. As a midway coaling station ifc will be of essential service in the prosecution of our trans-Pacific commerce. Congress will scarcely hesitate to make a fresh appropriation, particularly as the difficulties of working and removing tho coral reefs could not bo seen or estimated beforehand. — " N. Y. Shipping List." It appears from our Sydney exchanges that the repairs required by the Clio are of so extensive a nature that the commander will receive instructions from home before proceeding with them. Ifc appears from the " Lender " of the 21st March that Melbourne has been visited by a Russian frigate, the Haydamack, last from Sourabaya, and that it is expected she will viisit New Zealand, where she will receive despatches regulating her future destination. She was built at Gravesend, and is 230 feet long, 31 feefc beam, and draws when loaded only 14 feefc ; this gives her tonnage as 1,100. Her armament consists, besides patent breechloading rifles and other small arms, of three steel guns, breech-loaders and riflo bored ; tbey are termed 6-inch guns, and carry shot of 931 b. Besides this, there is a field-piece of

the same make (Krupp'e), a 3-inch one, whioh carries a 121 b shot ; thiß is intended for boat as woll as field use. She is 250 h.p., and can command a speed of twelve knots against a strong breeze. A trial, says the '* Grey Argus," was made on Saturday at the shop of Mr Simmons, of an instrument constructed for tho purpose of weighing the cargo of a vessel, by means of an indicator which tho inventor (Mr S. Ross) affirms can be placed in the cabin of the master of a ship, and tell him at a glance whether the vessel has gained or lost a ton of weight. The model was tested by weights placed in it up to 401 b, and every 51b was accurately indicated. It did not matter whether the weights were placed in the bows, stern, or amidships, the indication was correct. What the precise principle of the invention is we are as yet unable to say, but from what we have seen, we believe that the invention is one of great importance, and will, ere long, bo generally adopted. It is, we believe, the intention of tho inventor to take out a patent at an early day. When a test is made on a largo scale we may give a fuller description.