TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue XXVI, 26 July 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Nelson: 25th- 1.30 p.m., Gothenburg, t from Wellington. j Lyttblton; 25th— 7.30 p.m., Lord Ashley, for Wellington. A correspondent of the " Argus," writing from London, cays with reference to the Queen of the Thames :— " I think there is little doubt a full inquiry will be instituted into the loss of bo fine a steamer, with so valuable a enrero, and bo many passengers on board. The matter cannot re3t in its present extremely unsatisfactory position, and the truth must come out. The passengers have as yet refrained from making any public statement, pending an official inquiry. A fine ship— well foundcompletely thrown away. Judging from my experience of her sailing qualities, I think he •would have made a 54 or 55 day passage. Erom the time we left Port Fhil!ip Heads till the day before the wreck, we had light head winds— it was like a pleasure trip so far. Prom what I have seen of this route I am Uriuly convinced of its advantages for passengers, despite the Q.ueen of the Thames running ashore on the very first land she had the chance of after leaving tho Heads." The large clipper ship Turkish Empire arrived in the bay yesterday from London, and waa taken alongside tho railway pier, Sandridge, to discharge cargo. A gloom was cast over the ship at the beginning of the voyage by the drowning of three of the crew in the Channel. The accident occurred during a heavy blow on March 1G while the hands were out on the jibboom, and four of them were precipitated into the water. A boat, with the mate and four of the caew, was lowered quickly, and one of the men picked up, but the other three, although life-buoys •wero thrown to them, were unfortunately drowned. Their names were Wm Smith, boatswain, and David Christieaud W. Adams, seamen. — " Argus," July 4. The large clipper ship Mary Shepherd, •which was on fire last Sunday morning, and was scuttled and sunk in the bay, was yesterday once more taken alongside the railway pier, Sandridge, to discharge the remainder of her cargo. Thus far, the ship has been more fortunate than other vessels which have been on fire in Hobson's Bay, in not only escaping utter destruction, but also in being speedily got afloat again, and in these respects she stands almost alone in tho record of local maritime disasters. The contract for raising her was taken by Mr Frank Robbins, stevedore, and the work has been dilligently carried out. sotnuoh bo that early yeelerday morningthe large body of wa'oerinside was materially diminished, and yesterday afternoon she was towed to her old berth. Captain Croot is deserving of all credit for the prompt steps taken by him to havo his ship f.gain afloat and the balance of her cargo taken out.—" Argus," July 8. Captain Walker, late of the Auckland, has been appointed to the command of the Balclutha. Considerable excitement was caused yesterday afternoon bj- the steaming in to Peacock's wharf at Lyttelton, of M'Meckan, Blackwood and Co.'b s.b. Ornco. Great doubts had been expressed that steamers of such a large size could be berthed at this wharf, but yesterday dispelled this erroneous idea. The steamer had no difficulty in coming up to hor berth, and safely moored. Next day she took on board 2000 sacks grain, steamed off from the wharf into the fairway, and sailed for Melbourne at 420 p.m, — " Lyttelton Times," July 19. Captain M'Farland, of the Samoa, was found dead to-day in Rolfe's timber yard, Melbourne. His body was partially eaten by rats. He was formerly the largest South Sea trader in Sydney. The mutinous seamen of the Himalaya, merchantman, lying at Sydney, full particulars of which we gave recently, were sentenced to three months' hard labor. Ten whales have been caught this season off Wairoa and Mahia, Hawke's Bay. The schooner James Paxtou, Captain Greig, while goin£ out on Saturday was nearly wrecked. The wind dying away, she got into the eddy tide, and was obliged to let go both anchors to prevent her going on shore inside Point Island — the sea breaking over her occasionally. A distress signal was hoisted, and Sir Clare, pilot seeing the dangerous position of tho vessel, immediately proceeded to the Baik and procured a crew of fine fellows (Maoris and half-casts), and pulled through a very heavy eea at the risk of rheir lives — one Bea breaking four oars ; but they eventually succeeded in placing the vessel in safe anchorage, and she proceeded on her veyage yesterday, only having sustained damage to the extent of the loss of a portion of her bulwark, kedge anchor, and stock of starboard bower anchor. — " Southland News," 12th inst. The barque Annie, for Newcastle, in ballast, is detained from sailing to- day on account of the heavy sea on the bar. — Dunedin Star, July 18th. The American ship Gamecock arrived at Port Phillip Heads yesterday from New York, and went up the South Channel. The ■wind, however, in tho after part of tho day, fell light, and there was no sign of her coming up the Bay at sunset. — " Argus," 10th inst. The Committee of Lloyd's have posted three vessels, perhaps three of the finest in the book, whoso disappearance in the waste of waters has been no little mystery to owners and underwriters. They were (he Madras, the Knnil worth Castle, and the Earl Russell. The Madras, tho well-known splendid iron ship built by Clover, and owned by Mr Clint, Liverpool, left Calcutta on the 7th September last for Liverpool, under the command of Captain Fairlem, one of the first masters in the trade, but was never heard of after, What has become of her no or.o knows. She is " posted at Lloyd's. — The Kenilworth Castle was a Clyde-built iron ship, equally as fine as the Madras, and was the property of Messrs D. Currie & Co, of Liverpool. She, too, was from Calcutta, and was bound to London. She was spoken off the Cape de Verde by a barque arrived at Rotterdam, and never was heard of after. She waß 1100 tons, and was built by Aitkene, of Glasgow. The Earl Russell, which was from Java for Rotterdam, was the property of Mr George Lidgett, of London. Mr Thomas Charltop, North Sheilds, owner of the barque John Spear, Captain Robert Townnend, has received information of tho abandonment of sea of that vessel while on the voyage from Pensacola to Hartlepool, with timber. The information stated that the captain of a vessel, 6eeing tho barque knocking about at sea boarded her. There was no person on board aud tho ship was waterlogged, and iad experienced heavy weather. The^captain was obliged to leave, but brought away some articles belonging to her. Great anxiety is /elfc in North Shields for tho Bafefcy of her crew, regarding whom no account ■whatever has been received.