TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3240, 1 July 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

ElClON: 30th— 10.20 a.m., Wellington, from Wellington. Poet Chalmebs : 30th—11,5 a.m., Nevada, from Lyttelton. 425 p.m., Rangitoto, for Bluff, with San Francisco mails. Lyttelton : 30th— 6.20 p.m., Bangatira, for Wellington.

The Midnight sailed from Levuka recently on a pleasure-trip to visit Messrs Henning s plantation at Mokogai. After failing to get into Mokogai, the vessel was put about and hove-to outside the reef for the night 5 but, owing to light winds and strong currents, she drifted on to a shoal about 2.30 a.m., winch proved to be the extreme end of the Passage Island reef. Every endeavor was used to get the vessel clear— all her anchors being lost in the attempt, the boat was sent to Mokogai for assi3tance. Shortly after the boat left, a schooner whb sighted ; signals of distress were hoisted, and the schooner bore down and sent a boat over tho reef. She belonged to the America. Mr North, mate of the Midnight, solicited the loan of a kedge or anchor, and, if that could not be had, to send their boat back and run a line out from the Midnight to a sheal a short distance to windward. Mr North also pointed out the dangerous position of the vessel, and also how easily she couIl? be relieved and got clear. The boat returned to the America, and on her arrival that vessel made sail, and, to the astonishment of all on %)ard the Midnight, sailed away, leaving the crippled vessel and all hands to their fate. The tide making, the Midnight hardened on the reef, and commenced bumping heavily. No assistance turning up, it was thought advisable to form a raft to provide for the safety of the passengers (nine in number), which was completed shortly before sundown, at which time a boat was observed bearing down to the •wreck from Mokogai. 1 On her arrival she proved to be a very leaky old boat, with the Midnight's dingy in tow. A consultation was held, and the condition of the vessel being very unsafe— the rudder unshipped and broken, and the water over the cabin floor — it was determined to desert the vessel, and endeavor to save life by making for the Passage Island, distant eight miles. Every care being taken, the landing was effected, after a very dangerous passage, in a leaky and over loaded boat, with the Midnight's dingy (also over-loaded) in tow, between 8 and 9 p.ni on Sunday ; and all remained on the island till Tuesday, when they were taken off by tho schooner Mary, which had come out from Levuka in search of the Midnight. On leaving the island, the Mary proceeded as near as possible to the scene of j the wreck, but nothing was visible ; and, from the position the wreck was left in, it is the opinion of all on board that she must have gone down in deep water shortly after being deserted on Sunday night.— "Fiji Times." The barque Kate Smith, of Yarmouth, Nova Scetia, bound to this city from Les Passages, Spain, was overtaken by the storm off the coast of New Jeroey, and driven ashore about five miles above Little Egg Harbor. Of tho thirteen persons on board, all but four perished. The second mate, Thomas Newcomb, a native of Union Springs, Cavuga County, N.Y., and one of the survivors gives an account of the disaster, from which it appears that the Kate Smith was laden with about 500 tons of pig lead, consigned to a house in New York. On Sunday, January 22, at 10 p.m., it suddenly commenced blowing and snowing so fearfully that half an hour later it was deemed advisable not to run further before the storm, but to tack ship and stand in for the shore. Newcomb reached the deck just as a perceptible tremor passed through the vessel, and all knew that they wer9 aground on an inhospitable beach. The men's efib) ts to wear ship j were useless. The mainyard was squar* d, but the wheel, by the force of the vessel's strii ing, had been torn from the helmsman's hands, and was flying round with such' rapidity that none could stay it As soon as the officers found that the barque would not move from its perilous position, they ordered lighted torches : but their feeble rays made little impression on the gloom. Orders were now given for the boat to be manned and proceed to the shore to obtain the assistance of the lifeboat on the station. Only tho first mate, M'Donald, and two Beamen were willing to obey the command, the others feeling that it were better to take their chance? with the Government lifeboat, said by Pilot Hussey to be not far away. The sea was now breaking over tho vessel with auch fury that neither of the boats could be got out. The mate had landed safely, although threatened with being overturned several times. At last the barque went over on her side, and the sea was more terrible than ever. The captain and pilot now ascended to the main -top and awaited the arrival of the lifeboat. Part of the crew preferred remaining on the top of the cabin, which they did ; but it required the utmost exertion to keep from freezing. About eight o'clock the ocean had battered in the hull of the vessel, and she Commenced breaking up aft. The cabin deck now broke loose, and the captain, pilot, and remainder of the crew, eight in number, were carried toward the shore, where the breakers •were running mountain high, and, one at a time, were washed off and drowned, except the second mate, Newcomb, who was borne to the shore. — " New York Tribune," The naval pension of £50 per annum, vacant by the death of Commander Thomas Hardy, has been awarded to Commander John Hay, of Southampton. Captain Hay is nautical examiner to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. A land and water velocipede is the next novelty with which we are to be favored. This promises, according to the "South London Press," to put in the shade the extraordinary adventures of Rob Roy (Mr John M'G-regor), who voyaged in his tight little canoe up the - . river Jordan, and in many other parts of the East. Mr Jackson, of Caroline street, Eaton square, is constructing a velocipede which is to convey hiiE>/rom London to Paris without stopping, its pccuHaiity being that it is amphibious. The same wheels which are suitable for the road will act as paddles in the water, and appear to be as suitable for the one as for tho other. Tho experiment has been tried with a temporary-constructed machine, and found to be practicable. The "News of the World" says that the arrival of the Nevada, the first of Mr Webb's line to Australia, at Honolulu created quite a sensation. Our files are profuse in praise of the ship. From a private letter written by a "" passenger we learn that soon after leaving this port they encountered a heavy gale, which lasted, several days, with a tremendous head sea, tlie ship behaving splendidly. In fact, the paßaengers were enthusiastic in praise of the vessel, and a 9 for the officers, our friend Bays : — " We are all unanimous on one point, that no ship ever left the harbor of Snn Fruncisco better manned and officered than this ship. Captain Blethen won our admiration as a commander at tho first, fully demonstrating his competency as an able eeatnan, and we were not slow in finding him to be a kind, affable, and courteous gentleman. In fact, the officers, one and all, seem to 'just fill the bill,' and, of course, we don't forget Mr Webb, Tvho ia entitled to the greatest credit for the efficient manner in which he has seat his ship off. Ho not only knows bow to officer a ship, but it is generally conceded on board that he can keep an hotel. If your people will meet the colonists half way in placing this line now bo favorable inaugurated upon a firm, paying basis, why success is certain, and I predict that five years hence you will see a traffic between the two countries that will astonish those who are now sceptical. But this is tho critical time when wo should nofc put the whole tvi'den upon one man to inaugurate a great national enterprise, but each and all do what can be done to aid in placing the line on a sure footing at the earliest moment, I would

say to any one who cannot directly help, to write one letter at least to a member of Congress, and urge Government aid, -which, as these ponderous wheels roll around, more firmly convinces me that your Government, like that of England, must aid the line to make it a sure success. ..." The Alice Cameron has made a splendid passage from Sydney to Auckland, being only seven and a-half days from Port Jackaon to Rangiroto Reef.