TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3244, 6 July 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Lytteltox: sth— Early, Ahuriri, from Wellington. Nelson: sth— lo a.m., Alhambra, from Wellington. Spii: 5th— 2.15 p.m., Rangatir a, from Wellington. The s.s. Taranaki left Lyttelton for this port last evening, at a lato hour, and may be expected to arrive here this morning. We are requested to state that she -will leave punctually at 7 o'clock on Saturday morning for PiGton, Nelson, Taranaki and Manukau. The s.s. Wellington is appointed to leave Manukau this day, and will bo due here on Sunday next. The Institution of Naval Architects, being desirous to keep pace with the times, have published a list of subjects on which they ask their members to write papers which may bo published in their " Transactions." Further knowledge is wanted on the best construction of ships of war for attack, defence, and the protection of commerce— the effect of tho use of torpedoes on navul construction — the best form of ship for the merchant service — the result of the beat modern practice in ocean steam navigation— tho best way of economising labor, aud of communicating orders on board ship — the best mode of steering, and many other subjects relating to navigation. From this will be seen that though we are the ! best ship-builders in the world, we have yet much to learn, and are trying to learn it. Even when our " possible" i 3 done, there will be plenty left for coming generations to do ; a fact which may, perhaps, pacify those who fear the exhaustion of the inventive faculty in England. When the Ocean left Samoa, the following vessels were lying there, namely : — Victoria, from Valparaiso ; Helene, Wandringham, barques, from Sydney; Excelsior, schooner, from Auckland. The schooner Pacific, outwarde, for Sydney, took tho jibboom out of the Helene, but did not wait to ascertain the amount of damage. — "Fiji Times," May 20. A Board of Trade return, which has been published, shows that during the past ten years there have occurred on and near the coasts of the United Kingdom 5,826 wrecks, collisions, &c, involving total loss, and 11,076 othors in which only partial damage was done. In the same period, 106,803 lives were saved, and 8,105 were lost. Of those saved, 4,431 were by lifeboats, 3,624 by rocket apparatus, &c, 4,412 by Coastguard and other similar boats, 9,989 by ships and steamboats, 19,157 by the ships' own boats, 110 by individual exertions, and 5,080 by other means. — Ibid. The British ship Juventa, 1375 ton 3, Holmes, master, arrived in Bombay harbor on the 3rd May, from Liverpool, laden with a cargo of coal. On the hands being turned out at daylight one morning, the sail-maker observed a volume of smoke issuing from the fore hatchway. An alarm was given, and it was found that a large quantity of oakum, rope yarn, old ropes, and other inflammable materials had been collected together in a heap on the orlop forecastle deck, a quantify of tar poured over it, and the' whole set on fire. Immediately over it, on tho lower forecastle deck, ship's stores, such as tar, pitch, &c, were stowed. The fire was extinguished with considerable difficulty, and little damage done; but had it remained undiscovered a few minutes longer, the entire destruction of the vessel would have been almost certain. That it was the work of incendiarism there cannot be any doubt, but no clue was obtained that would lead to the discovery of the guilty party. The ship Lookout, Captain R. MD. Nugent, sailed from New York July 24th, laden with a cargo of assorted merchandise for San Francisco. When off Capo Horn she encountered most terribly severe weather, in which the ship became so crippled that for tho safety of vessel and cargo her master found it necessary to bear away to tho nearest port for relief and repairs. Her foremast was sprung, and her mizzenmaßt cracked. The caps on the masts all worked loose, endangering the lower masts. Her bows were badly started, aud she was generally much damaged. She put into Port Stanley (East), Falkland Islands, October 20th. At Port Stanley it was found impossible to procure the necessary materials or mechanics to permanently repnir the vessel, and instead of condemning her and forwarding her cargo by another vessel, Captain Nugent concluded to make temporary repairs and endeavor to reach his port of destination. The cargo from the between decks was discharged by his crew (he objecting to employ native or shore hands, who would have robbed right and left) into a hulk chartered for that purpose. The vossel was repaired a3 -srell as possible. Tho captain was obliged to " fish" bis foremast, i.e., add a Bpav to it. The cargo was again reloaded and stowed by the crew, and the voyage being resumed on 16th February she arrived at this port on the 9th June, 279 days from New York. Her cargo included a quantity of powder, aud while at the cheerless Falkland Islands no fires were permitted on board during the restowiug of the cargo. It is the general remark of tho surveyor's that this is the first instance of a vessel going into the Falkland Islands in distress and discharging her cargo without having it badly^broken and packages pilfered of their contents — the last cargo being that of the bark Sea Witch, whose reclamations for damages exceeded thirty-eight per cent of the value of the cargo. Too much credit cannot b« given to Captain Nugent and his first officer, Mr Flint, for their watchful care of the interests entrusted to them, they having by their course saved to the Underwriters and parties interested over ten thousand dollars. The latter should and will no doubt show their appreciation by a substantial acknowledgement of these valuable services. Many otherwise excellent captains would have taken little or no care of the cargo under such circumstances.