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Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 322, 6 February 1868, Page 2

The kttch Elfin left Christqhurch qu the 29th ult, with a strong S.W. wind, which changed on the 2nd inst to easterly, light, which continued' until reaching Cock Straits, when she fell in with a heavy S.E. gale. Rounded Farewel^ Spit on Sunday night, jjut meeting with a strpng S.V^. gale and heavy sea lay- to for 48 hours. The wind afttr wards shifted to the e&at, which held until reaching the Grey yesterday afternoon. The. p.s. Favorite being outside ran up tp her and brought her in. She brings a cargo of Canterbury produce consigned to W. J. Plates. The ketch Isabella left Onehnqga on the 29th ult., and had light southerly, and southwesterly weather until making the entrance to Cook's Straits on the sth inst., when she experienced a strong S.E gale; thence had light southerly airs, and arrived off the Grey on Friday, but in consequence of trifling winds had to dodge off and on until she was picked up by the' Dispatch on Tuesdry evening. The Isabella is noted for her quick trip's, and she has in this instance maintained her prestige, it being only three weeks yesterday since she left the Grey. The barque Nightingale arrived at the Buller on the 30tb ult, and was towed in by the Southland. The local paper says :— "In entering, she very nearly came to grief, having got a little too far to the southward, aud consequently took the i ground in a veiy awkward place, just inside the bar. By great exertions and admirable seamanship, fehe, was, however, got off after a few minutes flqlay., and,, having cut the tow-rope, she sailed up to" her anchorage, opposite the wharf, under her jib, topsai!s, and spanker. The Nightingale left Port Phillip Heads on the 9th ult. with the wind at E.N.E. The pame night it fresheued into a gale, and there became almost a hurricane, with squalls of rain and sleet. In the course of the gale, she lost her foresail, fbretopsail, maintopmast, staysail, aud sundry other gear aloft. Under the. necessity of seeking shelter, she ran through between King's Island and Cape Otway, which she sneceede 1 in passing that night, but when well through, instead of the ■jvind hauling in to' the northward as was expected,'it backed round to the southward, and the vessel wqs eleven days knocking about on the south of Tasmania. At last came a shift of wind,' and she was able to run UP tp her. destination, with light winds from the south and east. She made the laud about a week since to the southward of Jackson's Bay, being §omewhat out of her course, in consequence of not having had any observations for three days, and her compasses being out of order." The Massacre of the Captain and Crbw ob the MaRIOK ' Rexnv/-' We (Sydney Morning Herald) have been informed by one pf the crew of the Marion Ren t ny, who fortunately remained' on the Island of San'Christoval, that Captain Belajvy proceeded to Rubiana (Solomon Islands) to trade' with the natives for b'eche d'e-mcr and tortciseshell. Londo, a chief pf Rubjan&i was commumcated ■with as to procuring articles for trade ; but said he could not get tbitoisesh'ell till the following day. 'Captain Celany (jete/mined to wait, DutLpndo still pu,t him off with a promise that it should be brought on board on tho thini day. tn'the meantime, jt appears that t^e natives ha/1 held, a council on the beach, WJS, formed a plot to massacre the cre\v and seize th!e vessel. They went on "board ; the Captain was in the cabin at the time; they called on him to come on deck to buy . aomefish they had pr.eyiouslo promised to get for him; the Captain declined, and Londo still requested Captain Delany to' come on deck, btit he told the m £vo chief to trade, with his mate. " Loritlo called out in hisnative tongue, "Are you all ready— get round tlie men." They immediately, rushed the'ineij, took their arms, and then strangled them] on deck. As no natives were allowed to conic In board with arms they made use of thti

i.a ;ds, licin^ about (.on natives to one European. Wnile this was going on pn deck, Loiulo we-it down into thp 'cabin and taking the Captain unawarea, attempted tp strarg'e him, svheii a struggle ensued, but Captain Delany threw the chief and jumped on him, when the chief called oil his men to ; S3:st him, three of whom went into the calm, and ail four' bound the unfortunate Captain Delany, dragged him on depk, and it is supposed killed him by dashing out his brains against the cables, as his giey hairs were seen on them. The deck was covered with blood from the galley aft on both sides. This information was obtained from the friendly natives on the islands. We presume that steps will be taken to punish these Ravages. Loss ok a SyuooxEß.— The JSoeniug Post of the 27 th January says: — " The schooner Joanna, Captaju John Clifford, from Have : lock, was totally wrecked' last njght in the Straits. The little vessel, with a cargo of timber, consigned to Messrs Greenfield and Steward' left Hayelock on Thursday cyening ? and experienced moderate -northerly winds. When near Sinclair's Head, she sprang a leak, and the master and crew were forced to abandon her. They were picked up by the ketch Diana,' and brought into Wellington this afternpon . Blowing Up of a War Stka^jkr at Liverpool.- -On November 2f), the 'Greek war-steamer Bubuljna (formerly th_e. famous Confederate blbckade : r.unner, Cqlpijel Lamb) was at anchor opposite New Perry, on the Cheshire side of the Mersey, preparatory to leaving for Greece. Captain Saptorius, the officer \i\ command, gave orders that steam should b.e tjot up at 6 o'clock, as it was his intention to sajl from the Mersey afew hours later. Tlie furnaces were accordingly lighted, and steam rapidly got up, when, about halfpast 6, a terrific explosion took place amidships, and was followed by two others. The vessel was snapped asunder, the stern part f .reed about 200 feet from the forward 1 ulkh sails and water-tight compartments, where tie magazine was sjtuatpd. Ab'»ut GO feet i>f the foie part of the vessel was kept afloat, and at high water there was only the foremast and four or five feet of the fore funnel above water. A large number of the crew were below at the time, and IS seamen and 32 firemen are missing. The Bubuliua had on board about 350 tons of Powell's Duffryn steam coal, a large quantity of pi p,vi§ions, and a quantity of Whitworth guns, gunpowder, and other warlike materiel > Great differences exist as to the causes of the explosion, but the general opinion of experienced [ surveyors inclines to spontaneous combustion in the coals as the real cause of the disaster. j — Home Neics.