DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 706, 29 October 1875, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(from our correspospest.) October 24tb. News will have reache 1 you that the steamship Bruce, not the old one of that name which used to ply on the West Coast, but a now ship belonging to the Harbor Company, and which cost £19,000, has loft her bones on the Tiaroa Heads, close to the entrance to Port Chalmers. An enquiry has been held before the EM. and Nautical Assessors. The evidence disclosed a state of things that hardly would be believed. The mate stated that the men comprising the crew were so over-worked that it was difficult to keep them awake on their watches. It was further proved that the ship was kept running at full speed in a dense fog, and no fog signals sounded, or other necessary precautions taken. The result of the enquiry is that the captain’s certificate is suspended for twelve months ; and the mate’s for three months. Thus it is that a splendid ship has been sacrificed through sheer neglect. She was insured for LL5.000 iu the various offices. It was a mercy that no loss of life occurred, and no doubt this was owing to the calmness of the sea at the time. , It is feared that there is a great deal of recklessness displayed on board the roasting vessels ; what with overwork of the crews, and the rushing in and out of cargo with a desire to make money at all hazards it is a mercy that more of the vessels do not come to grief. The dangerous practice of carrying inordinate deck cargoes is another source of great danger. It is not long since that a ship had to put hack to Sydney to discharge the deck cargo. Surely we want a ghost of Mr Plimsoll to torn up in the Southern Hemisphere. It is true that rotten shell the Don Juan— nee the Rosalia—was stopped, and watery graves for the crew prevented by the action of the Government; but, no doubt, that if a sharp look out is kept many more floating coffins may be detected, and ought to be condemned. The Bailies arc considerably exercised respecting the Macantlrew Banquet, and leader after leader have been written. A vast amount of editorial ink has been spilt, to all appearances, to ascertain the difference between tweedledum and tweeJledeo. The Mayor of Lawrence declines to interest himself, on the pica' that the august body of which he is the head, passed a resolution approving of Abolition. What a model of obedience for the great civic dignitaries. The Banquet is to ho held in the new building of Messrs Sargond, Son, and Ewen. It is expected that at least six hundred persons will be present. Your readers will no doubt be glad to hear that Mr Horace Bastings is about to erect a grand hotel, close to the Railway Station, nearly opposite the Daily Times Office. When finished it will no doubt be an ornament to the city as well as a convenience to the public. The “ Talking Shop," is shut at last. The Governor's Speech is the baldest attempt that has ever emanated from the Gubernatorial Rulers of New Zealand, as Artimas Ward would say, “that the darned thing has a good deal of nothing in itand so ends the last session of,what ought to be called the “Grabbling Parliament.” The Knight of Cashmere came out with the virtuous when the subject of honorariums was being discussed. Mr Pyke justly rebuked such cant, and twitted the gallant Knight with always complaining, but complacently pocketing the cheque very carefully., If he is so disgusted with it he might follow the example of the late member for Mount Ida (Mr Oliver) and divide it between the Christchurch Hospital and Benevolent Asylum it would be far better, for experience goes to show that if members do not get the honorarium some at least get recouped by tortuous proceedings. The disclosure’ i n the Native Land affairs are beginning to have the effect of a distrust of the groat contralistic scheme, and many believe that, if carried ont some nice revelations might tnrn up some day of nice little jobs done in the matter of the Ota:;o Waste Lands ; a word or two of some significance cropped up. It was stated that to meet the cost of railways lain! was arranged to! bo sold for 10s per acre. Perhaps Sir D. Bell’s memorable words will come true ; he said if the squatters did not get the hill country they would have all the agricultural land bought up. It is an old adage that, “ Where the carron is the vultures sniff it from afar. ’ Let us hope things may not turn out as bad as tfio horizon' portends.