DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 293, 6 December 1867, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(From Our. o\v.\ Correspondent.) December 2. There is quite a dearth of matters political We are to ljse the [Superintendent for a short time, he being about to visit the West Coast; On Wednesday last Mr. Main, M.H.R., met his constituents at Tort Chalmers, and rendered to them an account of his proceedings during the past session. A vote of confidence in his favor was unanimously carried. He addressed the electors at Blueskiu on the previous evening, and a similar vote was awarded him. His Excellency the Governor left Wellington for the Kawau on Thursday. Ho was accompanied by the Hon. J. 0. Richmond and Mr. J. Smith, his assistant private secretary. He dispensed with all ceremony, but there were present at the embarkation the members of the Ministry, the Superintendent of Wellington, Colonel Paul, and many leading citizens of the Empire city. His E-i-ellency returns to go home in Ja-.ni.iry by the Panama boat. Sir George F. Bowcn, his successor, is expected at Wellington by the middle of Dcoembor. I hear that it is probable he will leave Queensland e»rlicr than was at first expected, he takcs'.a passage by the Mataura which is due at Wellington on the 6th inst A Wellington telegram states that desperate efforts have been made there during the past week to get up a banquet to the Colonial Treasurer, previous to his departure for England, whither he goes as agent under tho Public Debts liill : but thjy have ■signally failed, the Proviucialiets stand, ing aloof. The question of endeavoring to induce the Duke of Edinburgh to visit Otago is gaining {.round daily. A deputation, consisting of the Mayor and Messrs. J. Sill ah", E. De Carle, and the chief ufkersoi tl e Friendly Societies in Duncdin, were appointed at a public meeting to wait upon the Superintendent, and on Tuesday last tiny had an interview v.i;h his Honcron tie subject. The Superint ndent said that the matter .had received the attention of the Government for sonic time past. He was quite alive to the necessity of inducing his Royal Highness to visit Otago if possible. H;\v'ngU d to sec that the same feelin existed out of doors, and he had no doubt but that the exhibition of public feeling would strengthen the hands of the Government. He hoped soon to make some drrininite announcement as to what would be done. Apropos to the Duke'- visit, a reception Committee has been Gazetted, consisting of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, the Hon. the Postmaster General, the Hon. Colonel Haul ton, the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs, the Hon. Major Richardson, the Hon. the Soliciior-Gciieral, Sir D. Mun-o Hon. Mr. Johnston, Hon. Mr. Bartlcy, Hon. Mr. Peacocke, his Honor the Superintendent of Wellington, and Messrs. John Williamson, Ludlam, Fitzgerald, and Felix Wakelield (late 'Secretary to the General Government Agent in this Province. Mr. J. B. Bradshaw has been appointed Secretary to the Commission. The Westland people are also anxious to obtain a visit from the Duke, and an influential committee has been appointed to convey to His Royal Highness a respectful request that he will honor Westland with a visit during his sojourn in New Zealand, and also to make the necessary preparations for His Royal Highuess's reception should a favorable reply be received. While we have had bad weather on land there has been tho same at sea. At Oamaru it blew one of those violent south-eas gales which occasionally frequent this coast. Theae was, as usual, a few small coasters lying in the roadstead, and among them the schooner Caroline, 35 tons register, the property of Messrs. Mackay and Gocdfellow, the contractors for the new Postoffice. When the weather got bad Captain Williams, her commander, stood out to sea, intending to make for Moeraki. Before thav could be accomplished, however, most of the Caroline's saib were split, and she was then forced to run back to Oamaru. She remained there all Sunday morningt and the weather I ecoming worse the Harbor Master directed tho vessels to put to sea but the Caroline could not obey the order,, being without sails of any kind. Tho sea got rapidly and terribly high, but the Carolina rode well at her anchors, arid behaved admirably, although the sea completely washed over her. On Sunday afternoon,- at four o'clock, Captain Willia*i.s hoisted a jib sheet, and ran the schooner on the beach. This he was forced to do to save himself and crew, the seas Having

smashed the vessel's rafsed skylight and there being five feet of water in the hold, notwithstanding that the pumps had been kept going for three hours. The schooner struck on the beach, almost close to where the Vistula lies, The crew had took to the rigging, and were got ashore with great difficulty. The next morning all that remained of the vessel aud cargo was a few bags of wheat and a heap of stones. The brig Highlanber, from Newcastle, with coals, went ashore on the Friday morning previous The wreck of the Highlander was sold for £194 45., and that of the Caroline for £3O. The last-mentioned vessel had been insured for £'3so, but the policy expired on the day previous to the wreck. The loss to Messrs-. Mackay and Goodfellow is estimated at close upon £OOO. ' The most melancholy part remains to be told. During the early part of Sunday the Caroline's behavior was admirable; and her situation attracted a large number of townspeople to the beach. A few went on the jetty, where a better view was to be obtained. Among them was Mr. M'Lcod and his brother-in-law, Mr. Mackay. The former went to to very nearly the extremity of the jetty, and, while standing adjacent to the railing, a heavy sea broke over the jetty, washing Mr. M'Leod through the railing. Mr Mackay was also caught by the wave, but he managed to ding to the railing. There was a good number of persons present when Mr. M'Leod was washed over, but they were powerless to help him. There was not even a rope at hand, Ropes were at length obtained, when Mr. M'Leod was clinging to one of the piies at a point about eight below the platform. A noose was made, by wh ch means it was hoped to lift him fin to the jetty, but the rope, on touching the water, was swept away Every sea buried the unfortunate man, and kept him under water fifteen or twenty seconds at a time, a large Inverness cape, which he wore, prevented the rope getting into position, when it fell on him. There was a fixed iron ladder, ten feet distant from him, and to this, it was endeavored to direct his attenton, but the efforts failed either on account of his being unable to hear the directions, through the high wind, or his having bden rendered insensible by continually being buried by the waves, at last, however he caught hold of one of the ropes, and'let go his hold of the post; at the same instant a wave struck him, and he was obliged to leave go his hold, he again caught a rope, and was hauled half way between the water and the platform of the jetty, when another sea struck him and carried him off. The body was afterwards seen floating outward with the receding wave ; it was washed ashore on Thursday evening last entirely denuded of clothing. Mr. M'Leod leaves a widow and three children to mourn his loss. With commendable zeal, the inhabitants of Oamaru have started a subscription for the widow and orphans, and in a short time, a sum of £OO was collected. The Oamar.i Garriek Club als i gave the sum of A2o, These melancholy acccdents have awakened the inhabitants of Oamaru to the necessity of something being done in the way of protecting the roadstead from the south easterly gales. The Tow.i Council have moved in the matter, and have appointed a deputation to wait upon the Superintendent, and ascertain from him, what are the intentions of the Government with respect to the breakwater, f may mention that temhrj for the construction of the breakwater b;tvo been called for. The Waterworks are to be opened on Monday week, the day will probably be proclaimed a holiday. The Superintendent was asked to inaugurate the works, but his reply was : I regret that I cannot attend, I hope to start for the West Coast on Thursday, but the sooner you can supply water the better. It is intended to name the reservoir ' The Royal Alfred Reservoir.' The "Geelong " h'LS been chartered by the Government to proceed to the West Coast ; the Expedition will sail on Thursday next ; hi« Honor the Superintendent, goes wi th the expedition, as also the Secretary of Land and Works (Mr. Duncan) I hear that Mr. James M'lndoe, M.P.C. 'or Caversham, goes i n the cai acity of reporter for the Government. The Superintendent is expected to be back in about a fortnight. Saturday week, being St. Andrews Day, was celebrated in due form by the Masonic Order; the Brethren proceeded to St.Paul's Church, where Brother the Rev. R. N. Stanford of Tokomairiro preached a sermon in aid of the New Zeal and Scottish Masonje Fund of Benevolence. The City Council have moved into their new Offices in the now Post Oliice building. They have also man aged to get out of their financial difficulties : it is to be hoped that fro the future, the affairs of the City may be conducted with better success. The ship, Timaru, from London, August 13th, arrixed on Friday ; she brings a number of passengers, and a large cargo. The ammunition ordered by the Provincial Government, for the use of the Volunteers has less damaged by water, this howovcr is not arrived by her, but it has been more or of any material consequence, as the gallant Major Bathgate will doubtless kill as many of the enemy with damp powder as with dry. The William Davie has taken in her first bale of wool. The fi 1 ting up of the machinery of the Steam dredge is being vigorously proceeded with, and it is expected to be at work early in January. Miss Harriet Gordon is still performing at the Princess Theatre. The burlesque of " Ixion " was played for the last time to night, having had a prosperous run of three weeks, Miss Dolly Green, the directress took a benefit on Thursday night. We are to have a visit from Herr and Madame Simousen in a few days. Herr Simonsen is a very clever violinist, and was sole player to the late King of Denmark. Madam Simonsen was "primadonna" at the Thra'ie Cimique, Berlin, aud more recently of Lyster's Company, a rich musical :reat is anticipated. The Carandinis are performing at Oamarn, I believe they intend to visit the Dunstan shortly. Tiie £e.-risM!B etnrmencod yesterday ; the i calendar is a very heavy one, although con.

si s',ing of only fourteen cases : three murders ; one, cutting and wounding ; one, arson : two, horse stealing ; one assault with intent to rob; four, robbery from the person; one, forgery ; and one, obtaining money under false pretences.