The Fatal Collision at Port Chalmers.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 136, 21 August 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

The Fatal Collision at Port Chalmers.

—Verdict of Manslaughter against the Captain and Mate of the Favorite. —The inquest on the bodies of the twelve persons drowned in the late steamboat collision at Otago terminated on the 13th July, -when the jury returned a verdict which may he thus summarised—“ Manslaughter against Captain Adams of the Favorite, and Charles Murray, her mate. Censure upon Captain Spence, of the Pride of the Yarra, for the speed at which, under the circumstances, he was steaming; and a suggestion that the Government should enquire whether the Marine Board or its officers are blameable for not sooner establishing some supervision of the harbor steam traffic. —Otago Daily Times. Ammunition to the Maories.-—A Suspicious Craft on the Coast.— The Southern Cross, of 25th July, contains the following paragraph : —“ The Captain of the Wee Tottie, which vessel arrived last evening, reports that he saw a suspicious looking craft, described as a ‘ Jackass Brig,’ off the Three Kings, that, after being prompted to it she hoisted English colors, but that she had no whaleboats indicating that she was a whaler. The thought suggests itself—is it not possible, nay probable, that the Maories obtain their supplies of ammunition from strange vessels hovering about our shores ? ” It will be remembered that a few weeks ago we copied a short paragraph from the Sydney telegrams of the Melbourne Argus announcing that a vessel having on hoard six tons of gunpowder, suspected of being intended for the natives, had left Sydney for Nelson, and further intimating that the authorities here were warned of the circumstance. We have not liCcird nnytlsing more on tbs subjoct ut least there has been no seizure of surreptitious gunpowder, but there is no doubt that owners of vessels willing to make rftshonest pennies have plenty of opportunities by previously concerted measures and signals-of supplying both arms and ammunition. It is possible that the craft alluded to may be on an errand of this kind off the coast to the natives. One good method of preventing this murderous and treasonable greed, which cannot be too severely condemned, would be for the Colonial Governments of-Australia and Tasmania

to issue proclamations prohibiting the exportation of arms and amkftfp£tioh to New Zealand by or to private traded; and accompanying the infringement with severe penalties. A stricter watch might be kept over vessels loading for New Zealand at all the ports; and thus such viflany might be restrained.—Colonist, August 4.