TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3181, 24 April 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Pout Chamjebs ; 22nd— 10.45 a.m., rhcebe, from Lyttelton. Waiwakvx: 22nd— 11 a.m.. Wanganm, from Wellington. I/yTTBi/roK : 23rd— 3 p.m., Rangatira, from Wellington. The ketch Falcon, Captain Morrison, from Blenheim, arrived in this harbor last night at 8 o'clock, after a passage of nine hours, having experienced light northerly winds the whole •pray across the straits. Captain Morrison reports the following vessels as having left Port Underwood yesterday morning, viz. : Tho brigantine Enterprise, for Dunedin ; the echooner Canterbury, ketch Alert, for Lvtteiton; and tho schooner Ruby, for Waipap3. They had all been ly/ng for several days in Port Underwood, wind bound, and sailed as above. The p.s. Luna, Captain Fairehild, with the Governor on board, arrived afc the wharf at noon on Saturday. The wind was light a"d the weather favorable during the trip, passing through the French Pass and Queen Charlotte's Sound on the way. Messrß McMeckan, Blackwood, & Co.'s s.s. Bangitoto, Captain Alackie, arrived here at 9 a.m. yesterday morning. Sho left Hobson's Bay at 2.50 pm. on the 15th iustant, and cleared the straits at 1 p.m. on the following day } experienced light E.S.E. winds and fine weather to arrival off Hokitika at 9 p.m. on the 20th ; transhipped mails, passengers, and 30 tons cargo into the s.s. Waipara, and left for the Grey at 6 30 a.m. on the 21st, arriving at BSO a. m ; was tendered at 10 a.m. and left at 11 a.m. for Nelson, arriving at that port at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning. Loffc Nelson at 11 p.m. same day, and arrived as-above. A telegram from Sydney on tho 12th says H.M.S. Blanche proceeds on a cruise to the South Seas immediately. A Sydney telegram, dated 13th, says : — The Alexandrine, from Mauritius, reports loading there the Nile and Corinne, for Melbourne ; the Stranger and Melrose, for Sydney ; the Pacific and Princess Alice, for Melbourne or Sydney. The finding adopted by the Victorian Navigation Board was to the effect that the accident to the Claud Hamilton arose from the gross carelessness of the third engineer, who neglected during his watch to keep the port boiler properly supplied with water. The Board further int. mated that had Wilson been in possession of a certificate, it would have been suspended for twelve months. A correspondent of the " Sydney Herald" points out what tho Haydamaek might have done had she waited afc Sourabaya for news ef a wnr between Russia and England. Telegraphic intimation of such a war would have xeached Batavia as soon as Grallo, and the Russian vessel could have caught the outward bound mail steamer off tho Leuwin, and then awaited the arrival of the homeward bound steamer with the gold. None of our fortifications would have been of any avail against aucb a cruiser. The only real protection would be a ship of war with its head quarters at tho Sound. While on the subject of defences, I may mention that the Council of Education is about to introduce military drill into the public schools. It is to be tried first in tho metropolitan district, whioh it is expected will furnish a battalion of 1,400 boys. Mr W. Short, master of the ketch Elizabeth, gives us an account of a strange peril of the gea whioh he met with while on the trip between Manawatu and this port. It appears that while between Sinclair's Head and Baring Head, three whales suddenly appeared alongeide, and, to use the words of tho master. 11 looked as if they wanted to come on board." They however fluked and disappeared under the ketch's bottom, and co close that two or three rough shocks wore felt on hoard. Tho master thinkß the blue gum bottom of the craft had the best of the collision, as the •whales were bleeding freely "when next seen. A neat little vessel, intended for the coasting trade, arrived in Dunedin last week. Sho is a twin screw called the Pretty Jane, and came out under canvass in 139 days. The heviest weather encountered on the passage was the late gale which visited our coasts. A few days before making the lund, an accident occurred to tho chief officer, Mr Allen, who fell from the fore yard, and though severely bruised and cut by tho fall has siuco been able to resume his duties. The Pretty Jane is * rigged as a three-masted schooner, and is the property of the New Zealand Moat Preserving Company. The Circular Saw Co.'s b.s. Lord Ashley, H. J. C. Andrew, commander, arrived here yesterday afternoon from the South. She left Port Chalmers on Wednesday tho 19th inst., at 10.80 a.m., with a Btrong S.E. wind and heavy beam sea; arrived at Akaroa at 4 a.m. on the 20th ; sailed at 6 aa.ms. s and arrived at LyUelton at 11.15 a.m. She loft for Wellington at 10 a.m. on the 22nd, and arrived as above, having experienced favorable weather | on the passage. A largo full-rigged ship was observed to the Timaru standing into tho land, supposed to be tho Wild Duck. Wo are indebted to Mr Pringle, the purser, for files.