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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1176, 6 May 1872, Page 2

A schooner, supposed to be the 10, from Melbourne, was off the bar yesterday, but the weather was such as to prevent the Dispatch from going out. If it moderates, and the bar is workable, the tug will go out on this morning's tide, and in such case will, no doubt give a good account of her charge. Though we have had information of the p b Lyttelton being despatched from Nelson to tow in the capsized schooner near Farewell light, no further information on the subject has reached us. The Lyttelton was to have left on Friday last, and must have fastened on to her prize the same day. It is, therefore, rather strange that we have received to the presrnt time no further account of her proceedings. The as Tararua was fully expected to have put in an appearance before now but we have no word of her arrival up to the present time. In any case, even had she shown up in the Hokitika roadstead, it ii scarcely possible for her to have beeu tendered in the heavy sea running outai le. It is probable, how* ever, that she will heard of to-day. Neither the Murray nor the Wallabi could face ton bar yesterday with the fearful surf that was breaking over it, and they are consequently still detained and weatherbound. There is, however, every prospect of a change for the better, and that they will be enabled to leave this day for their respective destinations. We may add that the Murray proceeds to West[>ort and Nelson, and the Wallabi for Wanganui direct. From the New York Herald, of January 31, we find that the House Committee on Naval Affairs have examined Mr Hanscom, Chief of the Bureau of Construction, and Commander Rogers, who has recently travelled much in Europe, with regard to the present condition of the American navy. Both of these gentlemen' were of opinion that the American war vessels wero generally inefficient, aud that many now out of service are utterly worthless, including many ironclads. Whilst on the passage from Savu Sauvu, Levuka, the schooner Alice had a narrow escape from a waterspout. The spout rose right in her track, and she had to put about to avoid it. It travelled in that direction from Mokogai to Gangam, and passed within one hundred yards of the Alice, and came to grief on the Mokogai Reef. The spout was , about 30ft in diameter. — Fiji Times. The Portsmouth (N.H.) Journal reports a beautiful sight witnessed last week while in the vicinity of tn&anouth of the harbor — a schooner bound iri s *whose sails, rigging, and hull were covered with ice, and as the sun fell upon it the effect was magical, every part of the vessel appeared like frosted silver, on which the many shades of the opal were i reflected ; and the whole, contrasted with ' the deep blue of the water, and the steam arising from the same, which at one time enveloped the whole, presented * picture snoh as exceeds description." Amort disgraceful act of barratry has just come to light, by which a firm in this city have been made the sufferers. Three years ago, within a few days, a well-found topsail schooner, named the Jubilee, left this port for Aapier with a load of firewood. She was owned by Messrs Henderson and Spraggon, and placed in command of Captain Harry Hill, a seaman in whom the firm had every confidence, having retained him in their service for six years previously. She arrivel at Napier in doe course, and again cleared at that port for Auckland, since which time nothing has ever been, heard of either vessel or crew. After waiting anxiously for some time, the vessel was | snppoaed to have been wrecked, and all hands drowned, and she was reported in the newspapers as lost. She had only recently been launched, was well found, and provided with every requisite, and everything on board was new when she left Auckland. Her value was estimated at LBOO by the owners. We now have received information that Mrs Moller, tbe wife of the captain' and owner of the Dauntless, while on a visit to her friends in the old country met Captain Harry Hill in the streets of Belfast, looking hale and well. A mutual recognition took place, and Captain FI ill stated, in reply to the inquiries, that he bad not returned to Auckland, owing to a "little delicate affair in which a lady was concerned." lie avoided all reference tirthe schooner when asked concerning its fate. I his abuse of confidence is highly reprehensible, and it is to be regretted that the fellow is out of reach of that punishment his dirty conduct so richly deserves. Great indignation is expressed by all masters of vessels who have been made acquainted with tbe affair, and sympathy is felt fur the owners, whose confidence has been so greatly almse.l. It is to be hoped that C'apoiin Harry Hill will yet get hia deterta.—Auckland Star.