TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue XXVI, 31 July 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Ltttelton, 29th— 5.20 p.m., Kangiloto, from Wellington ; 7.46 p.m., Racgatira, from Wellington. Wangantti, 30th— Early, Wanganui, from Wellington. The 8.8. Phoebe, Captaira Worsp, sailed on Saturday afternoon for the South. She took the barque Camille in tow, and conveyed her outside the heads, the Phoebe proceeding South, and the Camille through the strait on her voyage to Newcastle. On Saturday last a cask of zinc slipped through the slings whilst being hoisted from the wharf on board the Wanganui, and went down between the wharf and the vessel. A diver was sent down, but after several ineffectual attempts to find the zinc was compelled to abandon it, as the vessel could not wait. The diver succeeded in finding the cask that the zinc had been packed in, but the heads having burst out the zinc was not in it. The s.B. Taranaki, Captain Wheeler, sailed on Saturday last for the South. The key was put in the propellor early in the morning, but being on the bank she was delayed until the rising of the tide. The e.s. Wanganui, Capt. Linklater, sailed on Saturday afternoon, at four o'clock, for Wanganui, and arrived there early yesterday morning. The barque Heversham, and three-masted Bchooner Lady Bird may bo daily looked for from Newcastle. The " Greymouth Evening Star" of the 20th Ba y S : — The recent gales and unusually boister ous weather on the Coast resulted this morning in the wreck of the schooner Waterman. The Waterman is reported to havo left Melbourne on the 10th instant for this port, with a large and valuablo cargo of merchandise. She reached the ofilug two days ago, but owing to the heavy surf on the bar was unable to be towed in. The tempest increasing, she was compelled to put to sea, where she weathered it with one or two other crafts until this morning. After lying at anchor some little time she was found to drag on her chains, and before she could be got to sea the break began to make a clean broach over her, and in about half an hour the Grreyraoufch craft was high and dry about two miles north of the Hokitika bar. As may readily bo supposed, the receipt of the intelligence in Grey mouth caused considerable excitement, as several of the merchants had received part invoices, and others had a general knowledgo or suspicion that Borne of the cargo on board would have been shipped to their order. Tho schooner was the property of Mr Coates, of Grey mouth. Both ship and cargo were only partially inaured. No lives were lost. The " Recorder," of Halifax, Nova Scotia, gives, on good authority, a report that after the treaty is ratified by Great_ Britain the naval command on this station will be reduced to a commodoreship, and Halifax will no longer be a rendezvous for war vessels. It further says that Lord John Hay, now a member of the Admiralty, is to be the first commodore. The latest curiosity in ship building is the new steamship Oceanic, which arrived from Liverpool at New York on March 28th. Since the Great Eastern was launched nothing has been seen to rival the Oceanic in size. Her length is 432 feet, breadth of 'beam 41 feet, depth of hold 33 feet, entire burden 6000 tons, j engines 3000 horse power, and she draws, at the load line, 25 feet of water. TXor four masts tower above all the shipping vn the Jereey side. The decks are entirely o firba, cased above and below with wood, and she in furnished with that " great Yankee improvement" a straight stem. The saloon is elegantly furnished and upholstered. Four large tables run the entire length, with seats cushioned in magenta colored silk velvet, and the whole saloon is resplendent with silver plating and mirrors. Two coal grates with marble mantels surmounted by delicately -fashioned bronzes, are in the aft and near the entrance doorß. Between these stand the library and secretary. The ladies' cabin, 10 by 18 feet, situated on the starboard side, directly aft of the saloon, is upholstered in green velvet. The smoking room— finished in buff— on the spar deok, affords from the window a complete view of the decks. The state rooms have perfect ventilation, which those lying in the upper berths have it in their power to control. Each state room is furnished with eight life-preservers. An electric bell, leading to the steward's room, is fitted to every sleeping berth. These vessels are undoubtedly the largest, handsomest, and best furnished of any now plying in the tranß-Atlantic service. The barque East Lothan at Sydney from New York will discharge a portion of her cargo at Auckland. She has kerosene and tobacco on board. A case has been heard before theAdmirality Court Melbourne, in which four seamen of the ship Richard Busteed preferred a claim for wages. The defence was that the men had been insurbordinate and insolent to their officers, and also that the contract had not been fulfilled. The men had shipped on a voyage from Boston to Melbourne and back, or other port of discharge, and it was contended that they had broken their contract, and were not entitled to recover, as they remained in Melbourne. The judge adopted this view of the case, and dismissed the Buit, with the costs. The clipper ship Thermopylae arrived at Shanghai on May 10, after a good passage of 41 days from Newcastle, N.S.W. The verdict of the coroner's jury in the of Captain M'Farland's remains, found on Bolfe's wharf, Sydney, was to the effect that he died of apoplexy. The contract for dismantling the Cerberus, which was taken by Mr James Deane, has been satisfactorily completed, and the vessel is now taking in coal preparatory to her trial trip, which was to take place on the 16th July. About five o'olock on May 6 a collision occurred about two miles off the Tyno, resulting in the total destruction of a new steamer, the David Burns. There were on board from 80 to 100 Indies and gentlemen. After proceeding about two miles, the vessel was brought to a standstill, to adjust the comp&eses, there being a dense fog at the time. When she had been five minutes in this position, there was suddenly seen to emerge from the mist a large screw steamer, which was bearing down on the David Burns, and in a few seconds struck the latter with a fearful crash right amklßbipß, cleaving her to' s the centre of the deok. It was seen that tho David Burns would fiink immediately, and the people were kurried on board the other steamer, -which proved to be the Earl Percy, plying between London and Newcastle. A cry was then raised that this vessel would eink with the weight of the David Burns

dragging upon her, and then another lamentable scene ensued; but fortunately at this moment a tug steamer made its appearance, and the people re-embarked on board her. In four minutes the David Burns went down stem first. The David Burns was built at Sunderland, and belonged to Mr Hiadhaugh, of Newcastle. She was 1200 tons, and valued at £15,000, and was insured by her owner at noon on May 6 for the full amount. She was out for her trial trip when the disaster happened. The following is the report of the oaptam of the ship Otago, which made such a quick run home this season :— Left Port Chalmers February 15 ; passed Cape Horn March 12 ; crossed Equator April 5 ; and sighted Start Point April 30; experienced fine weather throughout the voyage. Arrived at G-ravesend May 2. , We are sorry to record a serious accident which happened to Mr Elmslie, second mate of the ship Holenslee, yesterday. The ship is under repairs, and Mr Elmslie was in the main-top, assisting to take off the cap. By some means, he missed his hold and fell. In his descent he struck the rigging (which somewhat broke his fall), and thence fell on to the rail of the vessel. When picked up he was insensible, and was thought to be dead. Surgical aid was summoned, and Dr Campbell was soon in attendance. It was found, on examination, that the sufferer's collar bone was broken in two places, and al?o Beveral ribs, and that there was a frightful gash over the forehead. The wounds were dressed, and it being considered advisable, as the injuries were very severe, to remove the sufferer to the Christchurch Hospital, every attention was given by the station master to make the journey easy. Mr Elmslie was conveyed to Ohristchurch by the mid-day train.— " Lyttelton Times."