BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2639, 2 August 1871, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Bluff—lo a.m., Maori, from Dunedin Oamaru —1.5 p.m., Wallace, from Dunedin The s.p. Alhambra, from Melbourne via the Bluff, arrived this morn in?, her passengers, mails, &c., were conveyed to Dunedin by the harbor steamers shortly after arrival. The Alhambra, to-day, had her colours halfmast, in memory of Mr John Aitcheson, a saloon passenger, who died suddenly on the passage from Melbourne to the Bluff. The body was this forenoon conveyed by the police to the morgue for post mortem examination. An inquest was to be held this afternoon, befors Dr, O’Donoghue, the coroner, at Dench’s Hotel. We regret to have to report the wreck of the pride of the port —the barque Premier, an almost new vessel, but recently placed on this trade. About midnight on Saturday it began to blow in heavy squalls from the N.E.,the sea getting m rapidly until about 4 a.m. on Sunday when the wind moderated, •mtl woVlwuvd blio ov» Lvlci* ably smooth, until between 7 and 8 p.m. During the morning the brig Parana was observed tacking about in the offing with the pilot flag flying. At 2 p.m. the same day the harbor-master signalled her to keep to sea till the weather moderated (the instructions being transmitted per the barque Premier, wh ch repeated the signals—the Parana being far in the offing). The only vessels in the bay were the brig Wave (at the inner) and the barque Premier (Bowman, master) at the outer anchorage—both riding easily until abont 7 p.m., when the wind freshened and the sea rose rapidly. At 12.30 a.m., yesterday, the wind hauling off the land to the W. of N., the weather at the time being moderate, but looking threatoning for what is termed a “ black nor-easter signals were given from shore to stand to sea. It was now about high water. The Premier immediately slipped cable and stood out. The wind lulled, and heavy rollers coming in and the vessel paying off, the anchor was let go, but owing to the rocky nature of the ground would not hold; and in spite of the endeavors of the captain and crew, the vessel was cast broadside on to the rocks. At about 2.30 a.m. guns were fired for the Eocket Brigade, and the apparatus was quickly taken to the nearest spot. The first rocket failed, but the second carried the line clear across the fore-to’-gallant yard, and, the cable being hauled aboard, communication with the shore was established. The second mate was sent ashore for instructions, and Captain Sewell went aboard by the same means, and sent the shoregang,! engaged in discharging cargo ashore; the officers and crew staying by the ves'el. The vessel lies on the rocks about half a cable’s length to the west of the jetty, hung amidships, considerably hogged ; the rudder .trunk carried away, and the stem framing considerably damaged. The Premier had only sufficient coal aboard to serve for ballast. She is insured in the Mew Zealand Office for LISOO. She is valued at L3ooo—indeed, that sum was offered for her in Melbourne on her last trip thither. At daylight yestirday sails were unbent and the vessel dismantled. A survey was held by Messrs Hudson and Fairley about noon. They recommended that the vessel be abandoned to the underwriters, as in their opinion it was impossible to get her off. It was low tide at the time that the survey was held, and since then, as the tide made, the vessel bumped heavily, and sustained considerably more damage. —Oamaru Times.