The Evening Post. MONDAY, MAY 29, 1865. SUPPOSED LOSS OF THE STEAMER CITY OF DUNEDIN.

Evening Post, Issue 94, 29 May 1865, Page 2

The Evening Post. MONDAY, MAY 29, 1865. SUPPOSED LOSS OF THE STEAMER CITY OF DUNEDIN.

readers that one of the first ihings discovered in the neighbourhood of the Pilot Station was a ca«k of pitch addressed from a Dimedin firm to "Steamer Favourite, Hokitika." Now it appears that the steamer Favourite has been purchased by Messrs. Taylor and Watt for the Wanganui River trade, and the gentleman who is to have charge of her was a passenger by the s.s. Airedale yesterday from the South » proceeding en route for the Hokitika, and he distinctly states tint before the departure of the City of Dunedin trom the Dunedin ji'tty he himself placed the cask of pitch, labelled and addressed as described on board that vessel amongst other stores fov the " Favourite." Again, the cask has been identified by a man named Morrison who came up in the City of Dunedin last trip in the capacity of first or second steward. He says that it stood upon the deck, and he was in the habit of JMtking a seat of it. Several rumors are afloat to-day through the town, but we refrain from giving them because of our own knowledge we cannot answer for their truth, and mtist of them are too absurd to gain any credence whatever. The particulars we have given are f.om the most reliable sources, but we anxiously await further tidings in the hope that the City of Dunedin and her passengers have reached some place in safety, and that our forebodings are merely the result of a combination of suspicious circumstances.

As further inquiries are prosecuted concerning the supposed week of the fine paddle steamer City of Dunedin, the hopes entertained for her safety gradually diminish, and we are forced to the conclusion that our worst fears are only too true. Iv our issue of Saturday last, we republished from a contemporary an article containing all the particulars known at that time, and the circumstances then alluded to, taken either separately or collectively, were sufficient to give rise to the most unfavourable apprehensions with reference to the steamer's safety, and the lives of some fifty or sixty persons who ¦were on board of her when she left this port. On Saturday last, Mr. W. Sefcd, collector of Customs, accompanied by Mr. Police Inspector Atclieson and Mr. Edward 'Bull, proceeded along the coast towards Cape Terawitti, and returned to Wellington by way of Island Bay. Proceeding towards the former place, this party were placed in posse?ion of a dark green velvet or plush cushion, such as are only used on board first-class steamers, and which has since been identified by several persons as being exactly similar to those with which the saloon of the City of Dunedin was fitted. In the same direction they found several pieces of timber resembling portions of a wreck, but there was nothing which would be calculated to throw further light on the catastrophe which has evidently occurred. Returning by way of Island Bay, the party visited a small Maori pah, and here they wore shown several articles which had been washed on shore. Amongst these we may mention the following, viz. : — A large sized sandal wood box, with the brass corners, name plate, and lock knocked off; an oar, about 15ft. long, broken at the centre, and without any brand ; several pieces of tongued and grooved timber, painted white, resembling cabin fittings, one piece having a brass clothes-peg attached ; the top of a paint locker, about five feet long, with a brass hasp; an oblong frame painted white, and much resembling those placed over cabin doors for the purpose of ventilation ; a common striped Crimean shirt, with the name of "B. Macdonald " sewn in at the back of tbe neck on a piece of common calico; portions of one or more white calico shirts, and some few small pieces of timber. The mere finding of these additional articles, and more especially the cushion, is very suspicious, tut our worst fears are still further strengthened by other information which has reached us since the return of tbe party alluded to. It will bo in the recollection of our