TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3255, 19 July 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Lytxelton : 18th— 9.28 a.m., Lord Ashley, for Dunedin. The s.b. Rangitira, Captain Renner^left Dunedin wharf at 2.30 p.m. on the loth; cleared Otago Heads at 4 p.m. ; arrived at Lyttelton at 3.30 p.m. on the 16th ; left at 6 p.m. on the 17th ; arrived at Kaikoura at 8 a.m. on tlie 18th, and loft again at 8.30 a.m. ; arrived in this harbor at 9.45 p.m. yesterday. She experienc-d a N.W. gale in the Strait?, with heavy sea. A severe thunderstorm visited the harbor at about 7 o'clock this morning, and one of the most \ivid flashes of lightning Btvuck the cutter Tartar, which was anchored about 300 yards N.E. of the waterman's stair 3. The little craft for a moment appeared to be wrapped in a sheet of flame, and it was expected by all who saw her struck, that she would receive considerable damage. This, by an examination which was made directly afterwards, was proved not to be the case : not so much as a rope-yarn had been carried away, and with the exception of some of the shingle ballast being removed, there was no sign of the cutter having been in danger from the electric fluid, which had just before been distinctly seen^to strike her.—" Auckland Evening News," July 10. 'Ihe Coronilla, ship, from London for Lyttelton, is now 100 days out On Tuesday night it was telegraphed from Queenscliff that a man of-war under Dutch colors had entered the Heads and anchored. Yesterday afternoon she reached Hobson's Bay, and, on boarding, we ascertained her to be his Netherlands Majesty's steam-sloop Curagoa, from Batavia, bound on a visit of inspection round Australia. She is a fine vessel cf 1750 tons register, 250 horse- power nominal, and carrying 16 guns and 224 officers and men, the latter classified as foilows : — 17 officers, 172 seuman, and 35 niavines. The guua consist of eight smooth-bore thirty-pounders, and eight rifled long guns, all muzzle-loaders. The CuraQoa was built at Viessinger, and launched in 1863, and commissioned in 1867. She then pi'oceeded to Japan, and after remaining in those waters eocie time, returned home, and wa3 the first Dutch vessol to pass through the Suez Canal. Afterwards, after visiting the Persian Gulf, Bombay, and Ceylon, she proceeded to Batavia, and remained there and adjacent ports until leaving for this port on the 31st of lust month. Of the passage thence there is little to report, beyond that very boisterous gales had to be contended against from Cape Leuwin to arrival, and after anchoring at the Heads one of the cables parted, the violence of the squall which caused the mishap being very great, in fact of hurricane force. — "Age," June 19. The Admiralty charts of New Ze.dund can be procured by masters and owners of vessels at the Custom Houses at Auckland, Nelson, Hokitika, Christchurch, and Dunedin, aud at the Marine Office, Wellington. The following notice to mariners has been issued by the Marine Board of South Australia for general information : — Notice is hereby given that the moorings have been removed from Ports Yankaliila and Second Valley, in St. Vincent's Gulf.— Q-jeo. E. DeMole, Secretary. Marine Board Office, Port Adelaide, 7th June, 1871. An inquiry has been held by the Pilot Board into the causes of the grounding of the barque Formosa, on the Pope's Eye shoal, in Hobson's Bay, on the 19th June. From the evidence of Captain Eonincy, master of the Formosa, who holds a certificate of exemption from employing a pilot in Hobson's Bay, and Joßeph Murdock, chief officer, it appeared that the vessel entered Port Phillip Heads, on her last voyage from Newcastle to Melbourne, on Sunday, the 18th June, and dropped her anchor off Queenscliff Nothing wrong in connection with her helm had been discovered. On the following morning they got under way about 10 o'clock, and while tacking up the Bay, in one of the tacks Leading for the West Channel, they found the rudder did not act properly. Captain Romncy looked over the stern, and saw the rudder swinging amidships, while the wheel was hard a-starboard. He immediately gave orders to drop the ar.chor, but before the vessel could be stayed, she grounded on the Pope's Eye shoal. The sails were backed, but sho- could not be got off. Next morning she was lightered, and towed up to Melbourne. The witnesses believed that the accident occurred through the rudder head getting twistod, and not acting with the main piece. Regulations for the establishment of a sick and superannuation fund for the benefit of pilots are gazetted in Melbourne. The captain of the ship Himalaya, which arrived in harbor on Sunday, must have experienced a very trying voyage ; for not only did the stormy weather protract the passage and proye disastrous to the vessel itself, but the majority of the seamen appear to have become insubordinate. No less than nine of the Bailors are now under arrest— six upon a charge of combining to impede the navignlion of the vessol while on the voyage from London to Sydney, and three for a more serious offence, namely— assault on the high seas. The latter charge was investigated by the Water Police Bench yesterday, and occupied the Court for several hours. The prisoners — Thomas Quinn, John Smith, and Robert Hearne — wo charged, on the information of David Dyabell, chief officer of the ship Himalaya, with having, on the morning of the 18th June, while on the high seas, jointly and severally assaulted him. The evidence of proeecutor was in effect as follows : — About aquarter past 4 o'clock on the morning of the 18th inst, he went on the poop and saw prieoner Quinn, who was at the wheel. Ho (Quinn) had previously threatened tho mate " that lie would let daylight through him with a knife." Dyabell, upon seeing him, said, "Is that you ; you threatened to put a knife through me ; you had bettex* look out." The chief officer then turned round to look afc the compass, and was immediately foiled to tho ground by Quinn, who had taken an iron belaying pin from under his coat, where ho appears to have kept it concealed. Quinn, after striking Dyabell, left the wheel and grappled with lie opponent, throwing him against the

port vail. Ho also attempted (as prosecutor stated) to throw him overboard. The chief officer finding himself in such a position, struggled with Quinn, who then gave a " whoop," which resulted in the appearance of prisoners Smith and Heavuo, the former of whom struck Dyabell on the head with another belaying pin. Very severe wounds were inflicted, and prosecutor bled very profusely iv consequence. He, however, managed to rise from the deck, and got into the alley leading to the main deck, where one of the prisoners kicked him. The witnesses for the prosecutor corroborated his evidenco in all the main points, and the evidence of Dv Fyffe, who was called to attend Dyabell as soon as the vessel reached Sydney, went to show that the wouuds wore such as might have endangered life. Several witnesses were called for the defence, but their evidence appeared to tend in tho direction of an alibi on behalf of Heavne, who was said to have romaincd in tho forecastle while the disturbance was going on. The prisoners were committed for trial at the ensuing Criminal Court. Mr Greer conducted the prosecution, and Mr R. Robinson the de/ence. In the case previously mentioned, for impeding the navigation of the ship Himalaya, the defendants wore remanded until to-morrow. — "Sydney Morning Herald," June 29.