Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 537, 26 June 1869, Page 2

We were yesterday somewhat virulently assailed by the IF. C. Times for publishing the account of the late accident to the s.s. Murray on the Hokitika bar, as reported to us by Captain M 'Gillivary on his arrival here, and we are accused of having given Lis statements •' with evident glee and satisfaction." We were not aware of it, for it is always with . the deepest regret that we are called upon to record any facts which may be damaging to the reputation of the Hokitika bar. We are told that we ought to enquire before we accept and endorse such statements as those made to us by the master of the Murray ; but this is sheer nonsense. We have no means of arriving at the truth of the s atement of the master of any vessel coming here from Hokitika, unless, indeed, we telegraph to that place for •' the other side of the question !" Perhaps onr contemporary thinks it is a pity that we should have listened to the captain's report at all \ but we have more faith in che report of an accident from the person in charge of a vessel than in that of any number of interested spectators on the beach. In publishing a captain's report we cannot be accused of " endorsing" his statements ; we simply give then} as reported to us in tho ordinary i<onrse of business ; and if there should be any inaccuracy in the details, the dispute lies between the captain ami the harbor officials at Hokit'ka, and we have no doubt that Captain M 'Gillivary, on his next arrival at Hokitika, will be prepared to subHtantiate all the statements he has made. The cutter Lizzie, Captain Gibson, from New Plymouth; was towed in yesterday morning by the p.s, Dispatch. She left the Waitara River on Saturday last, at 6 p.m., and Bhortly afterwards encountered a veiy heavy S.E. gale, which the master describes as the woist he has met for fifteen years. The cutter waa hove-to for forty four hours. Light variable winds succeeded, which brought her off this port at 10 a.m. yesterday. She has a cargo of produce to her maker's order. The schooner Wild Wave, Capt. O'Brien, from Lyttelton, was brought to the wharf yesterday morning by the p.s. Dispatch, She

bas made a first*rate run, having left Lyttelton on Sunday last at 10 a.m, In twentyfour hours she wa^ off Capo Farewell, but was becalmed there for two days, She reached the roadstead yesterday morning at 10 Ji.ni., and was immediately brought in, >She brings a cargo of produce for Kennedy Bros. The p.s, Yarra, Captain Kerley, male another trip up from Hokitika on Thursday, with a qargo of timber ami other building requisite, She took in a cargo of cca!, and returned early yesterday morning. < The p.s. Dispatch had a good morning's work yesterday, trwiug in the schooner [o from Melbourne, the schooner Wild Wave from Lyttelton, and the cutter Lizzie from New Plymouth, The s.s, Waipara, Captain Bascand, re. turned from Westpntan 1 inter uediate ports on Thursday night, and left yesterday morning for Hokifcika and the Si ut'i. She towed with her from here to HokitiWa the lighter Isabella, with a sma'l cargo of coal. - The Magnet and John and Jane were both loading at Melbourne for this port when the Kangitoto left, The schooner 10, Captain Murdoch, from Melbourne, was towed to the wharf by the p.s. Dispatch yesterday mornina, after a long and tempestuous passage. She left Port Phillip Heads on the 6th insb., and on the Bth, at 4 p.m., passel the Sisters, with light westerly winds. On the morning of the 10th the wind chopped round to the S. E., and soon fr 'shened u;i into a heavy gale with a high C:CBSS3a. 'I he vt ssel shipped too heavy seas, which filled the deck with water, broke adrift ten cases of acids, deck cargo, washed some of them down to the lee-side and some overboard, It was found necessary t>> throw the remainder of them overboard. At this time some of the crew ha;l a narrow escape for their lives. The gale lasted uninterruptedly from the 10th to the 16th, during which time the To. was hove->to. When the wind moderated it came from the S. by E., and freshened up again several times into S. E. gales. The passage may be described :ts a succession of S. E. gales and high seas. The land was sighted on Wednesday last, 170 miles off, and the Io arrived in the roadstead at 10 p,m. on Thursday, coming to an anchor at 2 a.m. yesterday, She was brought in at 10 a. in. yesterday by the p.s. Dispatch. The 10, having 140 tons of cargo on board, was rather deeper this time than usual. She is consigned to her owners, Messrs Glenn Bros. Ibe schooners James Paxton and Crest of the Wave are loading for this port at Dun? edin, The s.s. Omeo is expected in the roadstead to-night or early to-morrow. On arrival she will oe despatched with passengers for Melbounn, Adelaide, and Sydney, The p.s. Persevere, Captain Robertson, from Hokitika, arrived last night at 9 o'clock. She comes up for the purpose of tendering the s.s. Omeo, and brings a cargo of timber, &c. The Jane Ann from the Mohnmx, for Hokitika, with a cargo of potatoes, passed this port; yesterday. During the passage of the ship Staffordshire from London to Melbourne there happened two accidents, which, as the newspapers say, " might have been attended with fatal results." The first happened on the 28th of January, during a very heavy gale of wind, when one of the seamen named Carl Evalu fell from the topsail-yard overboard, the sea wasling him close under the counter of the vessel. One of his shipmates, a Swede, with much courage and daring, seized a life buoy, which he made fast to a rope, and with it jumped overboard to the rescne, and providentially succeeded in saving the man. The other ooourred only four days ago, likewise during heavy weather, but in this instance the man (A. Hart) fell from the topsail-yard on to the forecastle. Strangely and fortunately, beyond a severe shaking, he sustained no further injury. — Age, The Flying Squadron will leave England about the 10th of June for Bahia, where it will be joined by the Phoabe from the West Indies ; thence to Rio de Janeiro, and on to the Cape of Good Hops, which it will len\s about the end of September for Melbourne and Sydney, visiting New Zealand about the middle of January, reaching Japan in March, and Vancouver's Inland at the end of A])ril ; thence home, touching at Honolulu, Tahiti, Valparaiso and the Falkland Islands, so as to reach England by the middle of October next year. The same authority says that Mr Chillers and Sir Sydney Dacres will go with the Reserve Fleet in the Agincourt, flying the Admiralty flag, and when they leave the fleet will be commanded by Hear- Admiral Key. Rear-Admiral Hornby will be secoud in command, hoisting his flag in the Duncan. -The Owl, We are infor.ned on good authority that when the ship Blue Jacket, lately burnt at sea on the voyage fi-om New Zeiland to Europe, was about leaving port on her fatal passage, a sailor who had been engaged for the trip absolutely refused to go on board, because tbe wool was packed in such a damp condition that it was certain to catch lire. The raa.il was laughed at, but stuck to his determination. We believe it is no uncommon thing for New Zealand skippers to take wool that is palpably damp, to the extent of several bales in a cargo. The damp ones are placed on the top of the rest, ready to be put smartly over the side if they fly on fire. By the way, nothing has yet been heard of the unfortunate members of the crew, she greater part of the complement, who left the Blue Jacket in the two 1 i gboat ■-. It seems the poor fellows must be given up for lost. — Ayt.