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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1122, 2 March 1872, Page 2

The paddle-steamer Charles Edward returned from Hokitika yesterday at 2 o'clock, and leaves about iniO-aay for Westport and Nelson. The steamship Alhambra arrived in the roadstead yesterday too late to be tendered. At 1 am. the Dispatch mode an effoit to tender her, but encountered a tremendous sea running mountains high thrown home by tho south-west gale. The tug made a gallant effort' to reach tbo ocean steamer, but everybody on board was nearly washed overboard by the green curlers that rolled ou board. Capt Kitcnenhain deserves credit for the masttrly, manner in which he handled the steamer, and brought it back to the wharf, the passengers for the Alhambra faring nothing worse than a good wetting. The Alhambra will be tendered, weather permitting, ' about 2 o'clock to-day. i The Sclent ijic American mentions that the j Indians of .North America manage to see j iish a considerable distance under water by the following plan .-—They cut a hole in the ico and then cover it with a blanket in such a way as to exclude the direct rays of the son. By doing this and putting the head under the blauket it is astonishing, says the writer of tho note, with what clearness the subaqueous world is lighted up. Having once had occasion to examine the bottom of miS»pond, he constructed a float of inch plank sufficient to buoy him up, cut a hole in the centre, and covered it with a blanket. By this means be was enabled to view the bottom of the pond distinctly, and recover several lost tools which were lying there. He suggests that tho experiment might be tried on the sea, and that an observatory fitted to a craft like the Great Eastern, and provided with suifcabl«rgfcwraeaj wuuhi-OT«»Mo~-us to "gaze down into tho depths of the sea the same as wo can survey the starry heavens at midnight." A t all events, by this simple plan of & raft with a hole in the middle, observers might be able to learn something more than they know about the inhabitants of the water. We recommend the plan to naturalists, and should be glad to hear of its success. This season, it in reported, has been tho most profitable the pearl-fishers on the northvest coast of Australia.nave yet experienced. The number ongaged in this new industry is bnt small, yet they have succeeded in taking seventy tons of shell, which may be roughly reckoned as worth £.14,000. Among these pearl-fishers is the party of Captain Cadell, so well-known in South Australia and Victoria from his connection with the navigation of tbo Murray.