CRUISE OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS (MISSION SCHOOLER).

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 255, 2 November 1870, Page 2

CRUISE OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS (MISSION SCHOOLER).

BISHOP PATTESON'S VISIT TO THE

ISLANDS

EARTHQUAKE AT SUNDAY ISLAND. The Melanesian Mission schooner Southern Cross has returned from her cruiso in the Western Pacific. From the report of Captain Jacobs and private sources we have obtained the following interesting report of her voyage : Ihe Southern Cross left here on her second cruise to the Islands on the llth August, and arrived off Norfolk Island? on the 23rd, after a very stormy passage, having to contend with west and north-west gales. Landed the Bishop, but could not land the stores at the settlement, there was such a heavy surf; she went to the Cascades, east side of the island, where sho landed all her stores. Next diiy the Bishop and the Rev. Mr. Codrington came on board, with some of the scholars who were returning to see their people, some of whom had been absent three years.. The Southern Cross had a very good passage to Banks' Island, arriving at Mota on Sept 1. Here the Bishop landed, and left the Bey. Mr. Codrington till his return from the Solomon Islands; thence she sailed across to Valua to land some b->ys and girls ; while there a topsail schooner came up from Vanualava, she had a great number of natives on board, but they could make out no name on her st^rn. There were three vessels about those islands seeking labor since the Cross left in July. Sept. sth., arrived off Wonga, San Christoval. It being calm, the Rev. Mr. Atkin came out in his boat, looking well after a stay of two months on the island. During his stay he had visited several of the adjacent islands. While the Southern Cross was lying off "Wonga a canoe came over from Ugi with a white man, George Sellar, who wus left by Captain MarvFurlane of the Rose and Thistle, to collect beciie le mere, coeoanntoil, and tortoise shell. He was bad with fever and ague. He told the master of the Southern Cross that a slaver ;had called at his place from Matauta; he had boarded her and the captain told him he had twenty-two natives battened down in the hold. He could not find out her name, as she had none on her stern, nor yet t ho'-master's name. Sho was a cutter with three ■ white men on board; the rest of the crew were natives of Tanna. In tha afternoon the Bishop, Mr. Atkin, Tackey tho chief, his son, and four others came on board, and the Cross sailed for Florida, where she arrived next day and found the Rev. Mr. Brookes well. While there there were 70 or 80 caaoes alongside. In the afternoon the Bishop and Mr. Brookes came on board and they sailed for the island of Savo. Mr. Brookes had been 11 months on the island. He speaks of its being very healthy, and believes it to be one of the most healthy of the group. On the 7th arrived at Savo, and from Savo the Cross commenced beating back, and anchored at Wonga, on the 11th, to fill up her water. Found the mouth of the river banked up and could not procure water, so left for Uj»i, where she arrived on the 13th, and filled up with excellent water' Next day got under weigh and sailed lor Cape Fali, where she arrived on the lfit.h ; got three boys, and sailed for Ulaua. While a' Ulaua, tho natives told the Bishop about a vessel taking t eir people away by force, and were greatly excited about it. From Ulaua the Southern Cross sailed forSmta Cruz and the Swallow Group. There was a Russian ship of war at Makua, bound for the Caroline Islands. 22nd.—Off the north-west end of Santa Cruz, about six miles from shore/; ,the weather being calm, a great number of: canoes came off; a light breeze sprung up, and they stood towards the Swallow Group, the Bishop not liking to stay in the vicinity of Santa Cruz without a good breeze of wind. This is the island where he had such a narrow escape a few years ago, when two of his boat's srew were shot by arrows, and died afterwards. Visited the islands of Nukapi and Nepum; while there went in search of Trumelin Island; the day being very fine and clear, with a good look out at th<s mast-head, they could see nothing of it. The vessel sailed ; over ita supposed position and they were quite satisfied that it did not exist. Having a good breeze, the Southern Cross stood back for Santa Cruz, and a great numberof canoes came out, tho vessel keeping about 5 mile 3 from the shore, heaving to occasionally off the different villages. The Bishop did not succeed in getting anyone to come away with him. The wind getting light filled andstood to the south. On the 28th, pnssed the Islands of Tapua and "Vanikoro, and on the 30th made tke Torres Islands, October sth, off the Misßion Station, Mota. The Bishop went on shore, and in the afternoon the Bishop and Mr. Codrington_canie on

board with a number of boys. Tbence stood to tbe southward. The school at Mota, under the management of the the Key. George Sarawia, is going on very satisfactorily. On the 7th visited Aurora and Lepers' Island, also Whitsuntide. On the 10th the Bishop went on shore at Ambrym to purchase yams. Got three boys from there, and about two ton of yama. The party then consisted of 73 Melanesians, besides the Bishop's staff and ship's company, making a total of 86. 11th.—Two topsail school ers were seen in company, one under Ta sico, th c other in the passage hetween A mbry m and Pama. The Southern Cross took thepassage through the Pool, going to leeward of all the New Hebrides, and arri-ing at Nengoni on tho 15th, when the Bishop went on shore to see the Rev. Mr. Creagh. Mr. Creagh was on the east side of tho island. Mr. Creagh and family were well. There are a French commandant, twelve soldiers, and two priests on the island. From Nengoni sailed for Norfolk Island, where they arrived on the 21st. Next day at daylight commenced landing the bojs, &c.; at 10 a.m., while hove-to on" the port tack, wind E.N.E. moderate, and tide setting to the eastward, the Robert Towns', whaling barque of Sydney, came in collision with the Southern Cross, carrying away fore stanchions, bulwarks, rail, and jib-guy of the Cross. The barque was running at the time with her yards square or nearly so, spanker brailed, in and mainsail hauled up, jib sheets aft on the port side. The Southern Cross could not be kept hove-to as the tide was setting her fast on to the rocks at Nepean Island, and she was then about a third of a cable's length from them, the Southern Cross's helm was pu? hard a-port and her head yards filled. Still the barque came on without altering her course, till a few seconds before the collision a man looked over the quarter and told the man at the wheel to put the helm hard up ; had he given this order half-a-minute sooner it would have prevented the collision. There was no one on the barque's poop looking out. The barque's crew were mostly coloured men, likewise the man at the wheel. In the afternoon they received the mail and party and stood to the 5.8., with a light N.E. wind Had light head wino's from Norfolk Island till arriving near the North Cape; had strong 8. and S.E. winds along the coast, arriving here yesterday afternoon ; passage, nine days. The health of the community at Norfolk Island is very good. They have about thirty tons of oil. Tho whaling season was not over when the Cross left. There were three whaling vessels off the island. Bishop Patteson is well, and ha 3 had no relapse of illness. The.crew of the vessel will be discharged in a day or two, and the vessel will take up her old moorings at Kohimarama. Miss Maunsell and the Rev. J. Jackson were passengers by her to Auckland.