ADELAIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1675, 2 July 1875, Page 2

ADELAIDE.

West Australian advices report the V"*" covery of alluvial gold at Roebonrne; f° tons yielded 82J grs. V "."" Contributions have been received fror 1 j for the Gothenburg fund, which naT reaches £9,300. ( Wheat, 3s. lid. Jfe/ .'', , ,' '■■ ■ ■ y . J^\

•Wb learn from Mr. Clifford, a passenger by the Rangatira, who arrived last evening from Noumea by the schooner Noumea, that the RaDgatira; Captain Woods, left Levnka on th_ 26th ultimo with the following passenc«rs—Mr. Berry, Mr. Hong Lee, and nine in the steerage. On the morning of the 31st May at 3 o'clock, the steamer going dead slow'at the time, and waiting for daylight, the morning being dark and rainy, she suddenly struck on a reef. The boats were at on cc lowered and manned, and kept ready for daylight. When morning broke, the pafjsengers were placed in the boats and subsequently landed on an adjacent island, distant some twelve miles. The accident being observed from the Isle of Pines, steam assistance was sent, and the passengers were all conveyed to Noumea, the crew remaining on the island to save what they could from the ship. Captain Scaplehorn interviewed Captain Wood, who had arrived at Noumea, and he reported that he feared lis vessel would become a total wreck. The French Government had sent the Coetlegon steamer, to the scene of disaster, but returned without being able to get near the wreck owing to the heavy sea, and subsequently t!ae war steamer Cher had been dispatched. steamer Lord Ashley, which arrived last night brought up Captain Woods and the officers and crew of the Rangatira. We learn that the vessel broke in two, and the wreck wps sold for £130. S. M. Herald, June 25th.

Captain Woods remained on deck almost continuously from l 2 o'clock until the vessel struck, and was on the point of giving orders toture her round. It appears the night was excessively dark, and not even a ripple'on the water to be seen. On striking, the ensines were instantly reversed, and the steamer would have been got off (having backed 20 feet), only for the loss of the rudder, screw, and stern post, when of course all further attempts were useless. No blame can be attributed to Captain Woods, that he is simply, with a great many others, the victim of those treacherous and most unaccountable currents that are to be met with— miles out to sea, mostly all round the island.