The telegrams which we publish to-day announcing the safety of the p.s. Charles Edward are highly pleasing, and we sincerely hope that they may prove to be correct. Thia will soon be proved, as the s.s. Murray, on her way up, would probably pick her up, and render all necessary assistance. On Saturday, when there was no news of her, anxiety became intense, and Mr Warden Whitefoord despatched a trooper north to scour the beach. He also contemplated sending out the p.s. Dispatch to look for the missing vessel, at the cost of the Nelson Government, but no arrangement was come to, although the Directors of the Tug Company acted in a most liberal spirit by offering the services of the tug if the cost of the coal she would consume were paid. Instructions to the contrary must have arrived from Nelson, for this liberal offer was not accepted, and no search would have been made if Messrs Lapham, Maclean, Nichol, and Thompson had not come forward and guaranteed the cost of the coaL The tug started from the wharf at 2 a.m. on Sunday, but very few persons occompanied her, probably owing to the unseasonable hour, and the very seasonable weather. The sea was very calm, and the Dispateb. made a capital run up to the Steeples, which were reached at 8 a.m., but previous to this, at 6 a.m. the John Perm was spoken, and she reported that the coast line; had. been searched from Rock's Point to Brighton, A close examination of the Steeples was made by those on board the tug, but no wreckage could be seen. A return home was then made. Off Charleston the little schooner Amateur was spoken, and a topsail schooner, supposed to be the Northern Light from Melbourne to the Buller, was sighted. The tug arrived back at the Grey wharf at 2.30 p,m., after a very smart run. ■ The 3.5. John Perm, from Wanganui, Westport and Hokitika, arrived at the wharf yesterday evening, and will be des- I patched north to-day, on her return trip. The s.s. fiangitoto could not leave Nelson yesterday morning in consequence of the heavy weather prevailing in Blind Bay. She may have left in the evenfng, and if so, will be tendered here on this af ternoon.s tide. She will take passengers for Melbourne direct, The s.B. Murray, Captain M'Gillivary, arrived at the Bluff early on Saturday morning, discharged cargo, and left the same day for Hokitika, from whero she returned on Sunday afternon, end left again the came tide for Westport nnd Nelson. The schooner Martha and Lavinia from Okarito arrived at Melbourne on the 30th nit. The Waterman, 10, and Magnet were loading at Melbourne for this port, when the Tararua left. The s.s. Tararua, Captain Hagley, arrived in the Hokitika roadstead from Melbourne, at 11 p.m. on Saturday, but was not tendered until Sunday afternoon, after which sue came on here, and was at once, waited on by the p. 8. Dispatch, and eleven passengers for this port were landed at Hokitika. Her report says she left the Sandridge pier at 3 p.m. on the 2nd inst. and cleared the Heads at 6 p.m., and Sisters' Island the following day at noon. Experienced light easterly winds and smooth sea the entire passage. Sighted Mount Cook at 10 a.m., arrived as above. Captaia Hagley reports having met the Company's steamer Claud Hamilton at 9 p.m. on the 2nd, 10 miles south of Cape Shanck, and transhipped passengers, mails, &c., short land at Hokitika. In reference to the heavy gale which caused the Claud to proceed to sea with the Hokitika passengers. on board, Captain Underwood writes as follows :— "We filled with cargo on the Coast/and had the misfortune to fall in with a gale off Hokitika. We remain outside for 30 hours, and left without being tendered On the 21st ult. our decks were swept, the jibboom and every moveable thing being washed away in a very heavy gale thatcameon a*; midnight on the 25th April. Engine room skylight, washed in ; five feet water in the compartments, and the fires put out. We were laid-to 48 hours. Our coal is almost used up. I don't think we have enough to take ub to Hobson's Bay. During the gale and when the wheel was washed away, two men were at it, and one of them was washed clean through it, and the other one was taken over the side, but caught something, held on, and was. rescued. Neither of the men were" hurt."
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Bibliographic details
Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 672, 10 May 1870, Page 2
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759Untitled Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 672, 10 May 1870, Page 2
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