CYCLONE AT MAURITIUS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 41, 10 April 1862, Page 5 (Supplement)

CYCLONE AT MAURITIUS.

(From the Port Louis- Gazette .)

Tho following statement relative to disasters of the ship Aiieth Rdhamon, in a hurricane, off this island, will be read with interest: —On Saturday 4th January, we had all sail set, with steady breezes from the S.W. At about 3 p.m., Captain Jones noticed the barometer going down rather fast, on wliich we shortened sail to double reefed topsails, foresail, and foretopmast staysail 5 got royal yards on deck. The wind increased and the sun went down. At seven p.m., under foresail, and at eight p. m it blew a gale of wind. At nine took in mizen topsail, and a little after that in trying to close reef fore topsail, the sail split. We then tried to close reef main topsail, but the lascars were afraid to go on the yard, so it had to stop as it was till daylight. Had we at this time been able to get the ship with her head to the northward we should have avoided the heaviest of what we got afterwards, but the ship would neither wear nor stay. At daylight occurred one of those disasters so common at sea. The jib being partly adrift, eight men were sent, in a bit of a lull between the squalls, to make it fast, when the ship gave two or three tremendous plunges and three men were washed away. The slup having way but drifting, bodily to leeward, they drifted away from her to windward. It was impossible to lower a boat in such a sea, and it was heart-breaking' to see and hear these poor fellows and not bo able to render them the least assistance. It had the effect of disheartening the rest of the crew to such a degree that even in daylight it required a strong csertion of authority to get them up to close reef

the main topsail. The sea had been gradually, getting heavier ever since the breeze came on, and at noon, on the fifth, the ship was plunging herself right under water, and burying herself sometimes completely from the after part of the forefigging forward. The ship now commenced leaking, so much so that she required continual pumping, the gale increasing all day until at midnight it blew a hurricane, gradually veering round from S.W. to W.N.W. The scene at this time was fearfully grand. This continued till about forty-five minutes past four a.m, 6th January, when the main-mast went about thirty-six feet above the deck, carrying with it mizen top, topmast by the cap, and cross-jack yard, which fell on the poop, smashing starboard quarter-boat, skylight, and barometer, and breaking in two pieces ; the mizen topmast fell also partly on poop deck and partly overboard, smashing it and another small boat stowed there all to pieces, breaking down boat’s skid on quarter-deck, staving in the life-boat in several places, breaking down front of the poop, smashing sideboard with all the cabin crockery, also almost everything in the mate’s cabin. The main top fell on the port gangway, breaking down three stanchions and greater part of topgallant bulwarks. This part of the wreck got under the ship’s bottom, and coming up on the other side caused great anxiety, as it could make a hole in ship’s bottom until it was finally cut away. At half-past five the fore-mast went about ten feet above the deck, carrying with it the jib-boom, and all that was left forward was the foretopsail yard, which was lodged on the forecastle, and part of the topmast with topmas crosstrees, which went through four planks of the forecastle deck. The lascars being paralysed with fear, were employed at the pumps, which at one time were so jammed with the mainyard that they could not be worked. At eight a. m. we found that the ship was making a great deal of water, and settling down fast, in fact, there appeared every probability of the ship foundering with us. Captain Jones on this determined to throw cargo overboard, to try and lighten her; turned to accordingly, with passengers and as many men as could be spared from the pumps and commenced getting cargo up through the cabin and throwing it overboard. Throughout this day and Tuesday, the 7th, the hurricane continued unabated, pumping and throwing cargo overboard all the time, the sea making a complete breach right over the ship, smashing and breaking everything moveable about the decks —lascars, chests, and all the hencoops with the poultry. No one on board expected the ship could live the hurricane out, leaking in the way she did—the quarter galleries washed away, and having torn out some plank ends of the stem. On Wednesday, January 8, the weather began to moderate, and having discharged nearly all ’tween deck cargo, the ship got lighter and more buoyant on the water. Towards evening of that day it was comparatively fine. Saturday, January 11, we got sail on her and shaped a course for Mauritius, where we arrived on January 24th. Latitude 16 deg. 25 min. S., longitude 78 deg. 35 min. E when dismasted.

SPEECHES OE GOVERNOR SIR GEORGE GREY AND THE WAIKATO CHIEFS AT THE MEETING HELD AT KOHANGA, DECEMBER 1861. (Continuedfrom our last). His Excellency: If any tribe sells land to us (Europeans) will you attack it ? Tipeno : Wo will not consent: we and our land are with the king: we shall, therefore, withhold it for wo have received his pledge (pauna.) His Excellency): If the naan wishing to sell his land has not pledged it to the king, will you attack him ? Tipene; No, ho would be a stranger to us. His Excellency: But if he had, and afterwards altered his mind ? Tipene: The land will be withheld, because he will have been imposing upon us. His Excellency: What, by force ? Tipene; No, we will not strike (first) ; but if he sees us withholding it, and attacks us, then we shall strike. • His Excellency: No, he will not do that. Tipene : I am thinking of his deceit to us. If you hear that we hold that land (in trust), do not buy it. His Excellency: What do you mean by that ? Tipene: If a man has given us (the king) his land (to withhold), and he says. Return me my land, that I may sell it for the purpose of acquiring other property then w’e shall quarrel. His Excellency: I have nothing to do between you and the man who agreed to give you his land. Tipene: Do not consider me as a man; but consider the word. His Excellency: If you were my servant and wished to leave me, should you always bo bound ? Tipene: In my opinion, what I say is right, it is not w'e who say that wo will go as men for him, it is he who comes to us. His Excellency: what are you going to ' do to a man who wishes to sell liis land ? ' Tipene; We withhold it for his own use. He will not be allowed to sell his land: but we shall not assail and kill him, we shall not do as you Pakehas do. To Teira’s land was held back by Te Rangitaake : it was held, it was continued to be held, and you went and made war. O Governor I also wish to speak about the Ngatiruanui. We have heard of the error of Ngatiruanui in stopping up the road against the Pakehas. If it were said, that we (Waikato) the cause of it, I should have to think about that when I went home. I have only just heard that the Bishop was injured (stopped by the Taranakis) ; and I shall say to them, let the Pakeha pass. His Excellency: How about the stolen property the cattle and horses i Tipene: My name for that is “ spoils of war” (or “ spoils lawfully taken in war.”) His Excellency: How about the land of the Europeans on which the Maories have gone P Tipene: Is there no Maori land at Waitara in the possession of the Pakeha ? His Excellency: What laud do you mean ? Do you mean the block that was fought about? Tipene: I enquire of you, is there no Maori land at Waitara in the Pakcha’s possession ? His Excellency; What land do you mean. Tipene: Waitara. His Excellency: If you mean the disputed land an investigation will take place. Tipene: That is well; let also the other land, Tataraimaka, be investigated. His Excellency: We can have no dispute about the Tataraimaka block. That is ours. « t ' Tipene: Let the man who takes it be tried. That is a good plan for lands which arc disputed ; let a trial take place. His Excellency: Under the new regulations, the runangas will hold such investigations. Tipene: If there is any Maori land at Waitara occupied by the Pakeha, let the case be tried; and if there*is any land of the Europeans occupied by the natives,Uet it be also tried. Wo have heard that soldicrs-will be sent on the road (Tataraimaka) it is that which creates fear. Keep it open. His Excellency: You had better distinctly understand, that if the people along the sea coast interfere with that block, or use threatening language I will place soldiers there. Tipeno ; What because they hold fast their design ? I will now return to the plunder. Plunder is plunder: a man is a man : and death is death. If that question has to be settled by the runanga, it is well.) His Excellency : I do not promise to be satisfied without the stock is given up. I do not think I shall be satisfied. I must have an enquiry, before I cau say what I will do. Tipene: I have not yet enquired about that plunder, that 1 might say whether the men who took the plunder are right or otherwise. His Excellency: I can only say that if I catch any one with stolen property, he will have to be tried. I am told they, the thieves, keep the stock openly. Tipene: If any of the plunder is still remaining well; let it bo returned. His Excellency: I will go down and investigate it all quietly. I shall not be in a hurry. Tipene : Perhaps some of that plunder belongs to us (Waikato.) If any cattle, horses or other property be still remaining, some of it belongs to us. Is it about what is left that you are speaking ? His Excellency : I understand that the Ngatiruanuis are in quite a different position to others. They killed women and children, and burnt houses and plundered. I have not enquired into the matter, but from what I hear, if I were a friend as you are, going to speak to the Ngatiruanui people I should advise them to give up what they have got, and a piece of land in compensation: and to say, Now’ we have done this, let us live in peace as we have made reparation. I only say what I would do. I have not enquired into the circumstances. Even in distant parts of the world I heard of the conduct of the Ngatiruanuis, and felt ashamed at such things being done by Maories. Tipeno then laid his taiaha at the Governor’s feet, and said, Look here. You say that there is no cause ; I say there is a cause. Will it (a vibration if a blow is struck) stop at the tongue in the head of my taiaha? Therefore I have thought your saying (words) would reach to the other end (meaning that the Ngatiruanuis had fought because the Ngatiawas had been attacked, and in like man-

ner peace should be granted to all alike.) , His Excellency: I do not like to say anythin** against past misconduct.

Tipene; But we are speaking about that time (on that subject.)

His Excellency : I do not like to say anything about that as an excuse. I should have to say something very severe about killing women and children.

Tipene : Very well, the subject shall not be pursued if you say so : I have said the same. His Excellency : I have simply told you what I should advise.

Tipene : That is right: My thought at the present time is the same. Are your questions end-

His Excellency : Yes. Tipene : Then I will ask a question: Are you opposed to my king ? His Excellency: Ido not care about him. But I think it is a thing which will lead to trouble. If yoti ask my opinion as a friend, I should say stop it. It will be stopped by such means as I have adapted, and it will die out. But I advise you to stop it. I fear it will lead to quarrels and so forth.

Tipene: Behold! if you say that it (the king) is a road which will lead to future difficulty, the error is our own: that is right. You have heard the reason why he (the king) was set up: if evil arise, it will fall upon ourselves (or we shall be the cause of it.) But if it (the king movement) is brought to nought by your plans, well and good. You say what is the king to you ? We say it is a thing of importance to us. And the reason why wo say so is this, that we have seen the good of it; the quarrels of the Maories amongst themselves have for the last two years diminished. Therefore I say if evil arise from it in future, wo shall have caused it (brought it on ourselves.) Formerly both races wore living together, our plans were the same and the work of this island remained unbroken. We worked together and talked together at that period, about the evils of the land until the separation took place which we have been speaking about. Then, for the first time, I saw it was well. And, now by means of it many evils that have arisen have been put down (without war) ; and, therefore, I say it (the king) is an important thing to us. Now, I ask you, “ Are you altogether opposed to my king?” If you consent to my question, we shall then work quietly, because wo are not the chief cause of the king ; whereas with you is the final decision as to your own system. So I ask you, “ Are you altogether opposed to our king?” that you may say whether you arc •bo or not. His Excellency: If you ask me as a friend, I tell you I think it a very bad thing. Tipene : I say, it has not arisen from us (Waikato), but from the whole island: but my question still remains unanswered. I ask in order that the word of condemnation, or otherwise, may be spoken out. Will you condemn it in anger (with war) ? Rather let him (the king) stand :if you let him alone he will fall of himself. His Excellency: I think that each chief, in his own tribe, should, with his runanga, come under the Governor: then the could all work with mo. Tipeue ; Leave that, wo will convey it to the people. We are not going to pluck out the various tribes i.e. (for their adherence); if a man comes to join us, we will not tell him to stop away. This will be our plan of scooping adherents; if a tribe come to us, we shall say, the system is with us (Waikato). This will be right, for they will have come of themselves. Letters have reached us from Hauraki, and we have answered; from Tauranga, which we have answered ; letters from Ahuriri, which we have answered : we have received as pledges (of adhesion to the king), from Hauraki I* 10, from Tauranga £ls; also, further on, from Ahuriri, from Porangahau, te Wairoa, and Wairurapa: all of their own accord. From Heretaouga, we have received a pledge, (or p ayment) of £3OO. From Whanganui, we have also received letters. With regard to Rangitaake Wiremu Kingi, ho fetched our flag as a protection for his land and now is residing in Waikato. As to the Ngapuhi, Ido not know about them: but one man of the Rarawas, a relative of mine, has been to us. At the present time, whilst both races are at peace, perhaps wo shall be divided, or perhaps we shall be united. Let goodness, peace, and love be joined together : that may be done now, and I say therefore, proceed gently (cautiously) in working out the plans you (the Governor) have spoken about. The only thing remains dark (unsettled) is the king: your own plan is to unite us all. His Excellency: Let the several runangas send up laws for my approval. The laws so assented to would be laws for Europeans as well as Maorics. Tipene: Enough ; your word has been given us leave us to work. This is all at present. His Excellency : Do you know what I want to sec ? These runangas and people prosperous and happy with their chiefs, clergy, artizans, &c. farms springing up, cattle and wealth abundant. I want to have ears that can hear for me, eyes that can sec, hands that can work for me, in every part of the island. I want to forget the past, with all its shortcomings, and begin again afresh. (To he continued)