Monday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 28, 6 November 1885, Page 9

Monday.

A great sensation was caused wben the Wairarapa steamed iato Poverty Bay about 6 yesterday m<>rning, and dense volumes of smoke were seen issuing from about a third of the length of tne vessel amidships. The steamer came unusually close to shore, and sounding signals of distress with her whistle. Immediately the anchor was dropped, the ship's boats were lowered and a crowd of passengers were seen getting into them. The steam tender Moko went off immediately, and assisted in getting out the passengers, and all were soon landed on the beach in safety, many, however, with only very scanty clothing, some with oulj bedclothes wrapt around them. There were about 100 passengers for here, Auckland, and Sydnef \ and on arrival on shore they were taken in 'busses and cabs to various hotels. Boats went off from shore to the vessel, which was about half a mile distant. Smoke continued to belch o»t in dense volumes. On arrival on board, it was found all hands were straining every nerve to subdue tbe fire. The fire-engine was working at its hardest, and buckets were being used over the side. The Wairarapa left Napier at 9.30 on Saturday night, ami came along under easy steam as usual, to arrive at Gisborne by daylight. The night was beautifully calm and fine. About 4 yesterday morning, just at daylight, when a few miies South ot Necks Head, the alarm of fire was raised. All the passengers were awakened with tbe utmost expedition. Some of the cabius were already filled with smoke, and several passengers were nearly suffocated before tbey could escape. All hurried on deck thiough the smoke and flames, taking what clothes and effects they could catch ; all remaiuing ou deck till arrival in the bey. Meanwbile all the crew had turned to their allotted stations, under Captain Chatfield and Chief-officer Anders jn, to combat the fire, which it wa-s found had originated in the liven closet. From there it spread ahmg^to the ladies' cabin. The fire had a pretty good hold when discovered, and despite the ut nost effoits to subdue it, it travelled aft, and spread the whole width of the ship. It worked through into the hold and to the upper deck ; into the kitchen and rooms adjacent, and up through the ventilators. Ihe plates on both sides of the vessel got red hot, and pait dropped off. The ir >n ventilators al.-o got id hot. A number ot fire extinguishes aud tiand grenades were taken off from the shore to assist. The figbtiug with the fire was k^pt up with unabated energy until a quaiter to 9, when the chief officer reported it had beeu got uuder, acid that there was no fear of tbe loss of the ship. On inspection after the fire was got under, it was found that ihe whole centre of the ahip, for about onefourth of her eng'h, was completely gutted, all tUa woodwork and fittings being destroyed. Toe extent of the damage to her cargo is not yet adc-r;amed, but it is known to be very considerable, both by fkv nml water. A large quantity of water was poured in and it lowered the vessel two feet an'i gave her a great hat to one side. A large cai go is on board, including a gnat quantity taken from the lo.iic at Wellington. It is not. known what caused the fire, but the most plausible suggestion seems to be that some one must have gone into tbe linen-room in tbe evening wnh a match and dropped it, aud t'iat tie linen smouldered some h mrs before tbe tire broke out. CapUin Ctia field states that the meu all worked splendidly, and passengers Bay great order and good discipline was shown. Tbere was n<>t much excitement or fear shown by the passengers, tbe shore br-in^ so near and it being daylight. Sv.me ladies, however, were gieatly alarmed fora time. Some p isaengera lost ne-rly all their effects It is reponed several were injured by the heat. It is computed it will cost at least £0000 to refit tue vessel. Tbe r'cent gold discovery at tne northern end of the Longwood range, near Mernvale, still con inues (says the Kiverton Star) to attract considerable attention. There are suune 30 men oq the ground prospecting, and from tests already made it would app ar that the run of gold extends over a cona'.d arable extent or coumry. Writing on the subject the O autau cortespo.ident o! that journal says : The manager at Mernvale hae set men ou to cut a track into the supposed guklfieM. A great many have gone out t> prospect. I think there ii no doubt as to the genuineness of the field, as everyone who has been there has brought good prospects down. I have seen another quantity of gold that was got from a coupK- of shovelful of dirt, and if tneie is much of the same kind of wash the field mu.-t be a success. I h- ar that a reef has been struck, but as we all know that quartz abounds in the Longwood, that discovery does not sjo for much. Reliable reports just to hand say ih tt tbos,; on the ground are sure of gol wag-s, if not more. Tbe siuking at present is shallow, but they inteu'i driving. The DuDedin Cavalry sports held at Tahuna Park on Saturday proved highly successful. The weath-r wasfineand a large concourse of hpecUtors were present. Toe Daily Tunes describes tbe contest in the '■ Tug of war " as follows : — This proved one of the most interesting c itnDetitions of the <iay. Tne first two teams io meet were tbe Irish Kitlt'H and the B Battery of Artillery, and a moat obstinate contest ensued in which the Irishmen had for some miautes the worst of n. Tbey stuck to the work, however, and to fjeneral surprise lasted better than their opponents, and fimshe 1 by pul.iog them clean across the line. The Dunedin Cavalry then met the Peninsula Navals, and another prolonged tussle took place in which the Hu-sara, a fine body of mm m good trim, had to work hard to a-sert their superiority. The Iri-h RinVs then pulled the Engineers ever without very much difficu.ty, and then came the final tus-tle between the Irishman and tbe Hussars, the former labouring under the disadvantage of having contested twice to the other team's once. Tbe decwion was in doubt for some moments, but the cavalrymen finally prevailed. The Bulgarians have established a blockade on their western fronturand threatened to shoot any Bervtans foaad crossing into Bulgarian territory. King Milan of Servia has issued instructions to the troops to retaliate should violence be, offered them. In consequeoce ot the threatening a-pect of affairs, a number of Serfians are leaving the town of Widdin and taking refuge in Servian territory Sir Henry Wolff has been received by his Highness the Khedive, who assured him that he would warmly support such measures as might be concerted between Bnglaod aud the Sultan for the betttr regulation of Egyptian affair?. •

mJESSS Zl° a * saulted M - De Freycinet has been examined by medical men, who have pronounced him insane.