INTERPROVINCIAL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1088, 24 December 1877, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[PEE PEES 9 AGENCY.] Ascent of Tongariro. Taupo, December 22. Mr Connelly, landscape painter, returned here yesterday. He has been the first to make an ascent of Tongariro. He has climbed even the cinder cone of Ngaraoe, where he has built a cairn of stones on the lip of the outer crater which is of vast extent. The crater is not a single one, as has hitherto been believed, but double, the inner one being much smaller. The valley between is covered with white sand, granite boulders and many colored rocks. Mr Connelly descended into this valley where not even a lichen was to be seen. Volumes of of steam emerged from the inner crater, whose lip appeared in the distance to be covered with a coating of molten sulphur, slight tremors of the ground were felt occasionally, and no sound disturbed the solitude of the smouldering volcano. The sketches taken by Mr Connelly of these strange scenes fell into the hands of the Natives, who robbed him of his horses and other property, has laid criminal informations in the Resident Magistrate's Court here against Huitahi, the Native who committed this robbery. Wanganui, December 22. The Collector of Customs gave the following decision after holding an inquiry into the stranding of the schooner Colleen Bawn at Wanganui Heads, on the 9th instant: — "That the stranding of the Colleen Bawn was the result of unavoidable accident. No blame appears from the evidence to attach to the master or the crew, who did all they could under the circumstances." Shipwreck at Timaru. [FEO3I ME CORRESPONDENT OF THE PRESS.] Ti.uaru, December 22. This morning, about seven o'clock, the brig Craig Ellachie parted her anchors and ran ashore a short distance to the north of the Government landing service. At the signal gun fired by Captain Mills, the Harbor Master, the Rocket Brigade assembled with commendable promptitude, and there was also a large concourse of people. A rocket having been fired, communication with the vessel was effected, and in a short time the crew were landed safely. The vessel was then made fast to the shore and abandoned. The Craig Ellachie was a vessel 226 tons register, with a carrying capacity of 360 tons. She was purchased two years ago by E. and J. Smith, coal merchants, of this town, who have since employed her in the Newcastle coal trade. She was insured in the New Zealand office for £IOOO, and in the Union for £3OO. Her cargo was insured for £3OO in the Victorian, but only a hundred tons of coal remain on board. There is scarcely any possibility of saving her.