ARRIVAL OF THE LORD ASHLEY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 102, 30 March 1863, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE LORD ASHLEY.

The s.s. Lord Ashley, Captain Randall, arrived here on Saturday afternoon, but unfortunately without the English mail, which had not arrived at Melbourne when the Aiding a left. Below will he found extracts from the Southern journals. WELLINGTON. The Hawke's Bay Mail. —The Post-of-fice officials at Hawke’s Bay would appear to live “a sleepy hollow” sort of existance, like that so pleasantly described by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Now this is, doubtless, very nice for the office holders, but wo sternly practical people don't like to be inconvenienced thereby, and so yesterday, when the mail was not on board the Storm Bird, there had been neglect somewhere. It could not be on the part of the steamer which waited at Napier for three quarters, of an hour beyond the proper time of sailing, but no mail aniving from the Post Office, had to leave without it. Who is to blame for this ?—lndependent, March 21. Hawke’s Bay Mail. No mail was brought by the s.s. Storm Bird from Napier. Query—Have the Hawke’s Bay Post-office authorities taken up their residence in a “ Sleepy Hollow” similar to that so graphically described by Washington Irvine, and

are they as much asleep when pay day arrives as when a steamer takes its departure ? The Storm Bird did not wait three-quarters of an hour beyond her advertised time because there was no appearance of the mail, for—the Postmaster and other officials being on board up to the time of her sailing—the impression was that the mail had been brought off. We are requested to state, by one of the Directors of the Company, who was a passenger by the Storm Bird, that no blame whatever is attributable to Captain Mundle or to any of his officers, as might be inferred from perusing a paragraph in the columns of a contemporary. Advertiser, March 21. Supreme Court.—Civil Sittings.— The only case brought on for trial on Thursday was that of H. 11. Russell, against Thomas Bishop. The circumstances are briefly as follows: —In 1861 a quantity of wire arrived here in the Wild Duck, .which had been shipped in London for Mr. Russell at Napier. On its arrival at Wellington, it was transshipped into two small vessels—the Mary Thompson and Brothers. It duly arrived at Napier, and was afterwards forwarded to Mr. Russell’s station at Waipukurau, when it was found to be damaged, and w r as ultimately sold by auction, for the benefit of whom it may concern. The present action was consequently raised for .£155 19s. 2d., being the difference between the invoice price, of the wire, and the amount itrealizedatthesale. The Plaintiff contending, through his agent, that proper care had not been taken in the shipment and stowage of the wire, it having been placed in the hold amongst coals. A commission had been previously issued for the examination of witnesses at Napier, and the depositions thus taken were read, after which a number of witnesses were examined for the defence, principally shipmasters, whoso evidence showed mainly, Ist, that it was customary to stow iron amongst coal; and 2nd, that care had been taken in its stowage and transit. There being no evidence to show negligence on the part of the defendant, the plaintiff elected to be non-suited.— Wellington Independent March 21.