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Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 917, 5 July 1871, Page 2

The Royal Mail steamship Nevada is appointed to leave Auckland on the 13th inst., with the outward Eenglish mails via San Francisco. The p.s Charles Edward leaving here on Thursday, the 6th instant, will arrive in time to catch the steamer Taranaki leaving Nelson for Auckland on the 10th. Passengers desiring to proceed to England should make early application for tickets to Messrs D. Girtlwood and Co. Tickets can be obtained for the whole trip through from this port to London. The steamship Charles Edward is the next vessel announced to leave this port for Nelson, her departure being advertised to take place on Thursday night s tide. Her arrival at this port is expected this evening or tomorrow morning. Up to yesterday morning the s.s. Waipara had not returned to Hokitika from Southern ports. The weather which has prevailed for these few days is, however, sufficient to account for her absence, and it is possible that she may be detained by tendering the steamer Storm Bird at Martin's Bay. The following details regarding the scene at the sale of the wreck of the steamship Queen of the Thames are from a Cape paper : — The scene at the sale of the wreck of the Queen of the Thames on Struys Bay beach was quite a lively one. Cape Town merchants were thereto the number of about a dozen, and others from Swellendam, and Mossel Bay, and all the country round. The Bismarck was in tb« offing, and only one of her passengers from- Algoa Bay ventured ashore. This wa4 Mr Lipport, and his pluck and daring in venturing in a life-boat through- the surf were much admired by every one. Mr Danvers, of the firm of Barry and Nephews, officiated as auctioneers. Several of the goods on board, as indicated by the manifest, were first put up in detail, and very high prices— in some cases absurdly high prices— were offered. Afterwards the whole was put up in one lot. The Cape Town merchants had formed a sort of alliance or company, some twelve of them agreeing to take LISOO a-piece. The bidding became extremely spirited between those on the one side, and the Port Elizabeth gentlemen on the other, for whom, however, the bidder was a Mr Miller, of Moßsel Bay. When the figures rose to L 15.000, one or two of the Western men began to hesitate and flinch, and thereupon the whole affair was knocked down to the Port Elizabeth Company, among whom, however, we are informed that two Cape Town merchants and one Mossel Bay merchants have shares. Most of the bales of wool are more or less damaged by sea water, and in many instances the iron bands have been broken by the swelling of the contents. Some of the bales were so ' much heated that it was deemed wise to open them immediately they had been landed, and allow them to cool in the fresh air. The general impression is that the purchasers of the wreck will make a good thing of it if the present fine weather prevails a little longer. The stranded vessel holds together, and her machinery and fittings are in first-rate condition. There are about 100 men on board, and with the aid of the ship's donkey-engine the cargo is being rapidly got out of the hold. The wool which has reached Cape Town is of very superior quality, and is sure to command good prices in the London market. Some are sanguine the vessel will be got off the reef without aiiy great trouble. Her stern is now in 18 feet of water, and as the work of discharging proceeds, and the two pumps which have been lent to the buyers by the Table Bay Harbor Board are in full swing, she will become more buoyant. Even if the Queen of the Thames is doomed to leave her bones in Stray's Bay, it is believed enough will be got out of her to pay a handsome profit to those who have entered into the speculation. Through the accidental calling of a New Bedford whaler, the Xanthos, at the island of Tristan d'Acnna, lying nearly midway between the Cspe of Good Hope and the coast of Brazil, the fate of a missing ship, the Beacon Light, which left Liverpool for Baltimore on the 13th January, 1870, has been ascertained. The ship took fire, and the crew took to the boats, one of which reached the island in question, after making a voyage of 400 miles There is, however, something strange in the vessel having been so far out of her track to be within the distance stated of Tristan d'Acuna.