ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1697, 27 July 1875, Page 4

ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

f(From our London Correspondent.)

Juno 2, THE SEA TRAGEDY. Then we have had another sea tragedy, which in its dreadful circumstances almost recalls the days of Paul Jones and the Buccaneers of the Spanish Main. The Jefferson Borden, schooner, arrived in London from New Orleans about three weeks ago in a condition of mutiny. The first and second mates had been murdered by the crew and the master, his wife, the steward, and the boy, after driving the mutineers into the deck-house by means of firearms and tarring them in, had navigated the vessel into port. The schooner left New Orleans early in March, and a Russian of the crevr named Miller seems from the first to have shewn a disposition to mutiny. Smithy an American, joined him, and Clew, anJEnglishman, made tip the third of fhe|trio.S Ihere had been some bother early in the trip, and some entries had been made in consequence in the official log, but it was not until a week or two had passed that the conduct of Miller got so bad that he was shoved in irons for forty-eight hours. He was released on promise of amendment, and all went on well until Apiil2oth, when at midnight the skipper was aroused by Miller coming aft to his cabin and telling him that Clew had broken his leg forward, and asking him to come and look after him. Suspecting him, the skipper's wife would not let him go out, but the skipper called for the mate, who was his brother, and the second mate, who was his cousin, but goi no reply. Miller urged him to go forward, but he still refused and held a council with the steward, and they prepared to defend themselves. When day broke the three mutineers were seen forward. At the same time the ship's boy crawled up out of the after scuttle, and said he had been gagged and thrown down the larazette, whence he had made his way aft. The skipper hailed the me nto give themselves up, but they replied with a shower of belaying pins and other missiles. After two or three challenges, he fired his gun at them, and then followed with his revolver. The ship was all this time drifting about anyhow. On the second day, the skipper got forward and shut them up in the deckhouse, but they still refused to give in unti' he shot at them through the window. All were wounded before they would throw up the sponge. They then confessed they had murdered both mates and thrown them overboard. They were all put in irons, and Miller and Smith were set to pump, but Clew was too much hurt. In this kind of ■wretched condition they made the channel. The investigation has not yet been completed, but the mutineers say they have a long and sad tale of wrong to unfold. I can only tell you one thing. If anything is to be gathered from physirgonomy. I never beheld three more villainous faces than those of the three mutineers, more especially that of Miller, which is positively fiendish. THE "TIMES" NOTICE OF THE NEW ZEALAND HANDBOOK. The Times has published a two column notice of the official Handbook of New Zealand, in which it takes the opportunity of lauding Mr Vogel to the skies. I should very much like to know, with all due respect to Mr Vogel and the seciets of tbo prisonhouse, who dees the NfcW Zealand writing for the Times. It always smells very strong of Daily Southern Cross, Neiv Zealand Times, et hoc genus omne. DR. KENEALY. I enclose for your edification and reproduction^ you like an extract from a sp^^ch by Dr Kenealy which has been goin- the rounds of the prets It shows what an ineffable blackguard the member for Stoke is and how eminently u<..fHted he is for any human society, save that, perhaps, of the aboriginal in Central Australia. The Gentleman's Magazine for this month contains a splendid paper on the creature, exposing his inconsistencies and brutality of character. The worst of it is Dr Kenealv does not appear to mind what ia said of him as long as he obtains notoriety of some kind. People have been known to take fancies to the most repulsive of reptiles, so that I don't know anything odd in this person having a large following. Any decent man would however much rather live with a mad dog than this foul-mouthed scoundrel. SOUTH SEA LABOUR TRAFFIC. Some peojjle hailing from your port will probably be interested in the information that the Pacific Islanders' Protection Bill is to extend to the shores of New Guinea. This may possibly be a disappointment to seme amiable people who have the welfare of the nigger so much at heart as to desire to deport him from any place where he may happen to exist to a white settlement, for his own benefit of course, and without any hope of reward. There used to be some such philanthropists amongst you. One I remember well, a charming man, with O ! such a blue nose ! Poor fellow ! He found that British prejudice interfered so much with his projects that he used to sail under the French flag. He will be pleased to learn, if he has not retired comfortably and bought the field "Aceldama," that the French Government have consented to disallow the use of their flag for any such purposes.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. Last Saturday the Arctic Expedition of 1875 left our shores on their great project of North Pole Exploration. You will have such ample descriptions of the vessels and their outfits in the European Mail and other papers that I don't know that I need do more than tell you what the general scheme is. Captain Nares, late of the Chalienger, and who has written a capital book on seamanship, is the head of the Expedition, and the Discovery and Alert, respectively 578 and 751 tons, are the vesels specially prepared for the task of fighting the northern winter. I have before me the memorandum of Scientific Instructions for the use of the Expedition, and it is surprising what a wide range of subjects is covered by them. Most people have a wild notion that poking about in frozen regions is rather profitless work and withal somewhat foolhardy. In glancing over the memorandum I find it is expected ''the earth's past history" willtbe greatly elucidated from what is observed at so near a position to the earth's axis. Hydrography and meteorology will of course be largely added to ; astronomy, geology, botany, zoology, and in a great degree ethnology, will all receive special attention. The most noted men of science in the different branches hare contributed to this memorandum according to its several branches. It is expected that the ships will not get further than from 82 ° to 84 ° north latitude, but I think I mentioned in my last that a quantity of dog-sledges and gear for travelling over ice and snow have been prepared for use when the ships are finally jammed. When the sledges leave the ships they will leave deposits of stores, &c, every sixty miles in case of having to retreat with failure. At the same time, everyone looks forward with great confidence to the result of this expedition, for -which all the arrangements are so perfect. In case the expedition did not turn up before November 1877, another expedition will be sent in search. The whole nation is intensely interested in the success of the thing, for the German and American explorers have put English spirit on its mettle. A special prayer will be usod on Sundays in most churches for the crews and their success. On this occasion a chaplain has been sent with each ship. One of them is the well-known anthor of "Dame Europa's School." It was very difficult to find two suitable parsons, for as a rule the men of sufficient nous did not come up to the prescribed conditions of age, strength of constitution, &c. The chief danger so far to the expedition has been disordered stomachs, and I wander some of the people were not killed with kindness on the cv» of their starting.