BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3771, 25 March 1875, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

„ , . „ Nelson, March 24. Captain Walker, of the steamer Lady Barkley, brings a report from Collingwood of portions of a wreck being found at West Wanganui. Amongst other things was a piece of carved wood 16in. square, with anchor, sheaf of wheat, men on horseback, and a ship in each corner, and a kangaroo at one end. On a piece 0 , i 4in. wide is the word Melbourne in gilt letters. A small tool-box found has a coat-of-arms, and above it “ Advance Australia.” On one sideof the box is the word ** Radcliffe ” cut in, the letters are painted black, and another small bit of board, which had been fastened to something with two nails, also bears the word “ Eadcliffe.” There are no signs of a crew or anything beyond what has been described, except a portion of a boat with a keel 15ft. long. From the reported size of a boom found, it is conjectured that the vessel was one of about a hundred tons. , Auckland, March 2*. An enquiry has been commenced into the cause of the wreck of the Pretty Jane, at Poverty Bay. Captain Fernandez deposed that the vessel was got under way without his knowledge, but with his authority. The mate said it was customary for him to take the vessel from the wharf to the river without the captains express instructions, but with a pilot on board. No new facts were disclosed regarding the grounding, the case was not closed. (From our own Corresponding.) _ , Wellington, March 24. 1 he Post commenting on the Dallam Tower cases, says the story told in the Police Court shows the utter absence of proper discipline oa board, and a strange disregard of the responsibility of their position by more than one officer of the ship. The captain seems to be a man of weak and irritable temper, rather deficient in self -command, and not well qualified to control a laige body of such men as he had on board. It was, we believe, his first voyage as captain with immigrants, and the presence on board his vessel of a considerable number of single girls served indirectly to develop his peculiarities. Captain Campbell is a mamed man, and accompanied on the voyage lt therefore at all probable that he would wilfully do anything to endanger the safety of the ship or causa a mutiny, yet his action seems to have been well calculated to promote both results. A little firmness and discretion would have obviated all danger; but it was not forthcoming on the captain s part, and he does not seem to have een well advised by the other great power on board a, ship—the doctor. The result of careful inquiries which we made, tends to show that . ptam Campbell, in his dealings with the immigrants, relied almost entirely, as it was natural perhaps he should to some extent do, on the_ it being that officer’s third ' voyage m a similar capacity. If; is Stated that some of the single girls used Constantly to be

Permitted to walk the poop with tilt officer* at night after hours, at which time, according to the regulations, they should have been under the charge of the matron below, and this was done despite the remonstrances of the matron, a most respectable woman, who has made several voyages to Queensland in a similar position ; and that Jaok-in-the-foreoastle, seeing what was going on aft, tried to obtain similar privileges forward. Communication between the crew and single women seems to have been earned on to a much greater oxtoat than 8 , have been in a properly discipbued ship. When it was detected, the offending nautical Lothario was summarily ordered into irons, and we believe nearly a score of such oases occurred. Jack, not unnaturally, failed to sSh the enormity of his speaking to a girl, when his officers constantly set an example. _ The latter, however, strongly resented this claim to equality in the matters of privileges, and hence most of the rows. The captain, although of course the person by whose orders punishment was inflicted, and who was thus brought into immediate personal conflict with the crew, was not the altogether responsible party, and was brobably ignorant a ■ good deal _of what was going on. half the stories which are current as to the incidents of the voyage are, founded on fact, the matter is one which requires the attention of the Government. The scene which took place on board the ship when the single prls left to be landed gives an air of credibility to those reports, It £ not difficult to imagine that discipline was not very strict on board during the voyage when so many affectionate farewells were taken in leaving. We do not know whether hugging and kissing are classed ns medical comforts, but on the occasion referred to they were certainly prescribed rather hberally, and duly administered to the great edification of an admiring but perhaps slightly envious crowd of spectators. The following were the tenders for section three of the Thames Water-race: Win. t L5 > 992 (accepted); H. H. Adams, L 0,964; James Heron, L 7.801; R. and A. Smith, L 7.927; A. Watson, L 8.641 (declined). The Theatre Royal here after being muon altered re-opens on Easter Monday with the Bates company. '

Auckland, March 24. About six hundred electors were present at the nomination to-day. The warmest expresrions of approval attended Sir George Grey’s address. He is a quiet but very effective, speaker, and. is considered certain to form a strong opposition in the Assembly next session as the leader of the Provincial party, or if not of Froyincialists, to lead the malcontent Provinces in an onslaught on the Canterbury and Otago land fund. He is a man of great determination and active mind, and is likely to make a powerful effort to achieve his purpose. Christohueoh, Match 24. At a conference of the revenue committee of the City Council and City members of the Provincial Council, held yesterday, an estimate of L100,(KK) was submitted of the works required in the city. Resolutions wore agreed to petitioning the Provincial Council for an endowment of that amount, extending over three years, and asking for hotel, auctioneers’, brewers’, and wholesale licenses, and dog A deputation was appointed to wait upon the Government before the session opens. ’ There is a general expression of pleasure at Mr Dolamain’s success. It is remored that he offered to back Templeton against Lurline, if she were purchased for New Zealand, fer LI,OOO, for a distance of one mile Mr and Mrs Hoskins play here at thebeginning of the month for three nights, and then proceed to Dunedin. Wanganui, March 36. Great fire this morning. National loses L9OO ; Norwich, 200; South British, L6OO : Standard, L 400; Victoria, L 290. Total loss. L 6.000.