TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3251, 14 July 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Wangahui: 12th— 5.30 p.m., Wanganui, from Wellington. NELSON : 13th — 2 p.m., Oineo, from Gtreymouth, with English mail. Lyttelton : 13th— 8 a.m., Wellington, from Wellington. In consequence of the recent alteration in the Custom House hours, the Edinburgh Castle is now getting her cargo out very rapidly. Mr Gf-annaway has taken the contract for breaking out her cargo, which is turning out in first- rate condition, at the rate of 100 tons a day. There are already 400 ton9 of tullow alongside ready for shipment, and it is expected that she will take away about 2500 bales of wool and flax. She will commence taking in her outward cargo next week. The schooner Ruby, Fra3er, master, left yesterday with cargo for Te Kopi, Terawiti, ©rongarong, and Kaikoura. On the important subject of the action of the compasses, Mr White, of the Melbourne Observatory, read the following paper before the Eoyal Society : — "The recent loss of the Queen of the Thames steamship, owing in a great degree, it is said, to the faulty action of the compasses, has led me to consider whether an improvement could not be made in what I may term the mathematical part of the subject, that is, in the division and notation of the card. The present aystem was adopted at the time when the needle was supposed to point always to the true north, and was, perhaps, under this condition, simple enough for the purpose. We have now, however, so many corrections to be applied to the reading of the compas9 before we can determine the true course, that it is quite astonishing that the px'esent cumbrous method should have held its ground so long. The system of dividing circles, which have to be read round the wholo circumference, into quadrants and semicircles, Las been abandoned by astronomers for Borne time, with, as I think everybody acquainted ■with the subject will admit, the best possible effects. The first essential then for simplicity is that the points of the compass should be named consecutively, right round the circumference, commencing with 0 at the north, and continuing in the direction of the hands of a clock face. As to the number of points, it would be convenient to have 36, so thafc each Would present 10 ; this, however, would be too great an innovation, and is so subordinate to the principle of consecutive reading that I would retain the present 32 points with their numbers distinctly marked by bold figures at the end of each : between these the quarter points might be marked as at present. The convenience of this simple change would be very great. The corrections for variation, local deviation, leeway, &c, would then be a matter of simple addition and substraction, Instead of at present, as in the words of a celebrated navigator, Lieutenant Roper, one of considerable perplexity. The two methods may be best illustrated by an example. Sup> pose a vessel on the starboard tack to be steering N.N.E. % E,, the variation to bo 2\ points E., the local deviation 3 points W., and the leeway to be half a point. The true course would be found by thia process of reasoning : — Variation, allow 2£ to the right ; deviation, 3 to the left j and leeway half a point to the loft, that is on the whole, 1 point to the left, so that the true course would be N. by E. \ E. In the proposed method the compass course would be 2k, to which must be added 24- for variation, and 3} subtracted for deviation and leeway, leaving the true course I£. If the proposed change were once introduced, I think few would be willing to revert to the old method, and the boxing of the compass, which is now a matter of tedious education to our young sailors, and to which I have even found Borne old salts not quiie proficient, could be learned at sight by a mere child. With regard to the deviation of the compuss, caused by local attraction, I have very little to say, except to impress upon masters of vessels the advisability of observing amplitudes at every opportunity, and not to depend for any length of time upon a table of corrections framed by swinging the ship ; or, in case of thick weather, of sending a small compass aloft out of the way of the iron of the ship ; or, if possible, letting a boat out astern with a compass in it, and getting reciprocal bearings."

The subjoined instance^— one of but recent j date-— of heroic conduct in a youthful sailor, will no doubfc be read with interest. On the 10th of April last, in latitude 80.26 N., and longitude 21.34 W., W. Ofcto Bernsed, one of the seamen on board the Scythia, being of •weak intellect, evaded those who had been engaged in watching him, and Buddenly — before any attempt could be made to hinder him— jumped overboard. A lad, named Wm, Cumminß, a native of Sydney, about 15 years of age, who noticed the rash act of the demented Beaman, at once jumped into the sea after him. 3?he Scythia was thon going at the rate of about six knots an hour. The lad took a lifebuoy with him, and swam to Bernsed, who •was in the water some distance behind the Bliip. On coming up to him the lad, after considerable exertion, was able to push the buoy which he had carried with him over the man's bead, and place it in suoh a position that, by ita aid, Bernsed, who was still assisted by Cummins, was kept on the surface of tho water. The lad had to exert all his energies to keep himself afloat, and at the same time to assist his companion, as the Scythia was far ahead of their position before her course was altered. A !>oat put off from tho ship and picked them up. At this time tho vessel was two miles away. Means were promptly taken to recognise in Bome suitable way the lad's gallant conduct, and it is believed that this recognition will take the form of a watch, with a suitable inscription. Not very long ago, in a voyage from China to London, Cummins saved the life of a boy who had accidentally fallen overboard from the ship in which he was at tho time engaged. It is believed, Bhould the matter be made known to the Royal Humane Society, that this brave youth will become the recipient of one of its rewards for gallant rescues from a watery grave. — " Sydney Morning Herald."

An accident occurred outside the Nobbys at Newcastle thafr was very nearly being attended with fatal consequences. It ia customary so soon as vessels arrive off the port for butchers' boats to board them, and frequently this practice is carried oub in the roughest weather. Mr Fleming's boat, in charge of Messrs Hiebard Hiciey and Dunnett; and Mr Sparks' boat, occupied by Messrs Trelevan and Burns, were in quest of the barque Meander. Fleming's boat had moored astern of the vessel, ■when a eea swamped it, and the two men were

thrown into the sea. Dunnett at once struck out, intending to reach the vessel, but Hickey became ontangled in the rope, and, when ho waa rcsoued by Sparks' boat, ho was very nearly drowned. Dunnett was afterwards pickod up in a most exhausted condition by Trelevan and Burns. The practice of boarding ships in this wuy outside the Nobbys is a most dangerous one, and it is matter for surprise that the authorities and masters of ships do not put a stop to it. — Ibid.