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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3084, 16 May 1881, Page 2

In our fourth page to-day will be found the continuation of the report of the enquiry into the cause of the disaster to the Tararua.

The Licensing Courts for the districts of Napier, Petane, and Ngaruroro, will sit at the Napier Court House to-morrow at noon.

We take the opportunity of reminding the members of the Municipal Council of their meeting in committee this evening on the water supply extension scheme.

The Juvenile Pinafore Company arrived by the Arawata this morning, but the first performance will not be given till Friday. In the meantime the youngsters, whose ages range from ten to fifteen years, will take a good rest after their successful season down South, and be driven out of town to see our country districts. We refer our readers to the programme in another column for the performance on Friday. We may mention that the company numbers thirty-five, but at every representation supernumaries are engaged' that swell the crew of " H.M.S. Pinafore' to one hundred on the stage.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before H. Eyre Kenny, Esq., R.M., W. H Smith, charged drunkenness, was fined 5s and costs, or 48 hours imprisonment. John Merritt, John Morris, and John Pringle, charged with the same offence, did not put in an appearance, and their bail was estreated. The following civil capes were disposed of:—Her rick v. Kirkpatrick, claim £30; judgment for plaintiff with costs and counsel* fee H. Baker v. W. Higgins, claim £7 15s; judgment for plaintiff with costs and counsel's fee. Macrae v. Fletcher, claim £13 lis; plaintiff was nonsuited, with costs and counsel's fee. Barrows v. Long, claim £2 10s 6d ; judgment for plaintiff with costs and counsel's fee.

A return has been prepared showing the arrivals and departures of Chinese in and from this colony during the last two years. From this it appears that in the year 1879, 329 Chinese arrived in New Zealand, and 396 departed, a decrease of 67. In 1880, 296 arrived, and 386 left, being a further decrease of 90. The total decrease in the r umber of Chinese in this colony during the two years was 156. The present year, however, is believed to be likely to reverse this order of things, a tide of Chinese immigration apparently having again set in toward New Zealand.

The closing performance of the Bandmann company took place on Saturday evening at the Theatre Royal before a large audience. Although tho Richard the Third of Herr Bandmann is a careful and vigorous impersonation according to his conception of the character, it will never be the popular representation that many of his other characters are. Mr Cathcart as usual did admirable work as King Henry and the Duke of Richmond. Miss Beaudet also did double duty as Lady Anne and the Prince of Wales. The performance cloned with the trial scene from the Merchant of Venice. During an interval in the performance Herr Bandmann again took an opportunity of thanking the play going people in Napier for the liberal patronage he had received, and for the uniform kindness with which he had been treated, and expressed his desire to visit Napier at some future date.

The surveyor to Lloyd's Register in Auckland, writing to the New Zealand Herald, suggests that all large coasting steamers should be supplied with the following articles:—(A) One hundred fathoms or more of three inch coir line and a kedge to be ready for immediate use. If a vessel should strand where there ia anchorage this line to be run out by the first boat as directed, the other boats lowered as quickly as possible and anchored by this line near the ship ready to receive passeugers. (B) A circular cork raft, with light wire netting round it, with wooden keel, capable of holding eight or ten adults. In a heavy sea when boats could not get alongside, this raft could be worked backwards and forwards to the boats by a light coir hauling line, and the women and ohildren lowered on the raft by padded jackets. (C) One or two casks of common fish oil to be kept ready, to be used by small punctured canvas bags hung to the ship, and by a small hand garden syringe. This would have the effect of partly quelling the heavy break. I can vouch for oil having a great effect on the stormy waves, aB I have used it in a hurricane. From what I have read of the loss of the b.s. Tararua, I am of opinion that had this vessel been supplied with what I have described nearly all would have been saved.

A correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, writing on the Tararua disaster, remarks that none of the reports make any reference to the lifebelts which the Union Company profess to supply to the passengers on board its steamers, at all events those who occupy the saloon. He adds :—" Having had occasion lately to travel by two of the same company's steamers, viz.: tbe Rototoahana and Te Anau, I noticed in both of" them a printed intimation affixed to the wall of my cabin to the effect that each passenger would find a life-belt underneath his pillow. Curiosity led me to examine my berth on each occasion, but to my surprise, there was no life-belt to be found in it. I also turned up the bedding in some of the other berths, with the same result. On calling the attention of one of the stewards of the Te Anau to the matter, he laughingly told me that there were plenty of them in some other parts of the ship. Not unlikely the state, ment was correct, but in view of the terrible calamity which has just 'spread so deep a gloom over the community, I cannot help thinking that if these life-belts had been available, in the sudden emergency whioh called for their use, some, at least, of the saloon passengers of the ill-fated Tararua might have been rescued, who are now sleeping in a watery grave."

It is said to have been a picture t® see tbe twinkle in Sir George Grey's left eye when he solemnly complimented the Thames people upon the forbearance of " Never thinking of themselves at all" in the matter of Government pickings. The beauty of the joke was heightened by the appearanoe on the platform (says the Star) of the portly figures of Wilkinson, the Mayor, and Brodie, the County Chairman, the indefatigable M'Culloch, the persevering Ehrenfried, Speight, and Adam Porter, who—singly or in conjunction—have worried to the verge of distraction every Cabinet Minister who has ruled New Zealand for the last ten years. The Thames is notorious for having picked up the cast-off mantle of the "Sturdy Beggar " of Wellington—Fitzherbert. Not a sdfeeion goes by without a deputation being despatched to Wellington to lobby. The announcement of a Ministerial visit to Auckland is the signal for the appearance in town of a number of the old familiar phiz's from Hauraki, and one Minister tells with great gusto how these modest Thames youths, having asked for everything they could possibly think of, at last begged for a few old plans that were lying about. The Thames people have earned among the members of the House of Representatives a reputation of the champion cadgers of New Zealand, and it was too bad of their member, who knows it very well, to poke borax at them in that unfeeling way.

The New Zealand Herald gives the following graphic account of the sinking of the Taupo :—" The Taupo was abandoned at 8.20, but did not sink till 9.40. This was an appaling sight, and made the blood of the spectators run cold. Men who had spent a lifetime on the ses say they wish never to witness such a sight again. She went down stern first. She began settling down aft very slowly, increased gradually, and finally rapidly, until she stood right on end, about forty feet above water, and the keel was plainly visible. There was a frightful screaming of wind through the ventilators and hatches, and crashing of timber, as if the decks were breaking up. The bursting of the boilers, extinguishment of fires, and the escape of steam, also added to the ghastliness of the occasion. When bolt upright, she remained stationary for a moment, rose, then sank, never to float again. When going down, there was heard a most unearthly sound, like a shriek, which struck terror into the hearts of those who heard it. It has been aptly compared to the roar of a dying whale. Some consternation existed on board the Wellington at this time. A cry was raised,' The ship is sinking,'and ladies, awakened thereby, rushed on deck in great trepidation, thinking that the Wellington was meant. She floated safely a short distance from the whirlpool created by the disappearance of the Taupo. She then steamed on and arrived in port at 11 o'clock."

" The Grey River Argus gives the following account of the landing of the Chinese : — " The landing of the Chinese last nighfc from the Hero was a eight not often seen, and not soon to be forgotten. The Lioness tendered the Hero, and, in order to save time, took on board the whole lot intended for this port—3o4 in all. Every available iiich of space seemed to be occupied, the new arrivals being huddled together as closely as sheep in a pen. As soon as the Lioness was clear of the Hero, the Dispatch hauled alongside, and relieved her of a large number. As soon as the tugboats came alongside the wharf a babel of voices was heard, and the deafening din was kept up from the time they landed, about 10.30, until midnight. The Customs authorities were in attendance in order to seaich the army of " Johns" and their belongings, but the task was utterly beyond their resources considering the time available ; and the problem was Bolved by releasing the horde of Chinamen and impounding their luggage for the night. To the credit of the new comers it must be said that they behaved themselves in the most docile and tractable manner, which, under the circumstances, was saying a great deal for them. About, midnight all were got out of the transit shed, aud they at once started for the Chinese quarters, where their resident countrymen, it was said, had made some sort of arrangement for housing them for the night. The majority of the new arrivals are fresh from the Flowery Land, and nearly all ciean-looking strapping young fellows, all dressed in the peculiar garb of their country. It may have been some deprivation to them to be unable to get their " bag and baggage" last night, but their countless bundles of impedimenta rendered it impossible for the Customs' routine of search, to bo gone through last night—and the Customs are very particular to prevent the smuggling of opium. The Hero, earlier in the day, landed 63 at Hokitika. There are still 48 on board for Dunedin,"

The Bulletin says:—" The Duke of Manchester learnt to play cribbage on his way down to New Zealand in the Wakatipu. Dick Thatoher was his tutor. " Don't know this game ?" said Dick. " Why, an English Duke is tbe patron saint of oribbage players ! Fore peg and deal is the Duke of Beaufort's game." Whereupon -~ the Duke tackled the ' fifteen-two' business, and when proficient challenged the Ladies Anne and Mary Marsham, who were his fellow passengers. The Hon. Marsham, was a fourth. It was some fun, Dick says, to watch the game. The ladies would not Bay ' go,' but ' sufficient,' and instead of ' one for his nob,' ' I score one, seeing that the knave I hold in my hand is of the same denomination as the card in the pack.' Fact."

The Lilliputian Pinafore - Company will open at tho Theatre Eoyal on Friday evening. A meeting of the committee of the Queen's birthday sports this evening at 8. Tenders are invited for the repair of the Sir Donald. Mr H. E. Gunn expects daily drain pipes, flower pots, garden tiles, &c. Mr W. Villers line of coaches between Napier and Petane are advertised. A patent for an automatic expanding brick seperater is notified. The next term of the Napier Grammar School commences on the 20th instant.

Messrs Blythe and Co. have leather cartridge bags f-r sale. A number of new advertisements will be found in our " Wanted " column.