NELSON.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 18 September 1863, Page 3

NELSON.

Splendid Gold Find on a Tributary of the Lyell. —By advices received by the Sturt we learn that on Friday week two men who had gone np the Lyeli, and followed one of its tributaries some short distance, turned over a boulder, and there in a “ pocket” found a nugget or nuggets weighing 103 ounces, making about <£37o in five minutes ! The precise river we have been unable to ascertain because it was attempted to keep this success very quiet about the Buller settlement, a thing scarcely possible. The greatest excitement prevails among the men on the Lyell in consequence of this success, which, with the take of 70 ounces in a fortnight by another couple of miners mentioned by our correspondent, has tended greatly to increase the hopes and determination of the diggers.— Colonist, Sept. 8.

Apprehension of Waikato Maories for Treasonable Practices in Nelson Province.—We stated a mouth ago that a deputation of Waikato chiefs had been inciting the natives at the Buller River settlement to join in the rebellion, and proceed to the North Island for that purpose ; aud that they had been also at Collingwood, with a similar

object. At the latter place it will be remembered that Mr. Mackay, the Resident Magistrate there, had attended the native meeting which had been convened by the deputation, and in the Maori language refuted the arguments used by the chiefs, and administered a severe reprimand to them, succeeding in convincing the Collingwood natives that it would be for their own good in everyway to remain where they were and take no part in the proceedings of the Waikatos. The Collingwood natives, like most of those on the Middle Island, had formerly been slaves of the ruling tribe on the North Island, and this deputation have been endeavoring to persuade them to return there, and they would get hack the land they had lost during the wars in which the ruling tribes had been victorious. But through Mr. Mackay’s influence they were readily able to see the impolicy of adopting any such plan. Notwithstanding warnings from Mr. Mackay, we believe these men have been going to other parts of this province, seeking to stir up the Natives against the Europeans. Some are at present in the Wairan about Picton, following this course, and others have been more than once at the Buller. Yesterday, three of these natives, Wiremu te Rekereke, Tamiha.ua. and Pohavama Tehekore. of the tribe Ngatimaniapoto, bapu of Waikato, were brought before John Poynter, Esq., Resident Magistrate, charged with treason. Mr. Mackay, who preferred the charge against them, had himself, assisted by Mr. Strange, apprehended the two first-named at the Buller on Sunday, 31st August, and the third at Motupipi on Saturday last, on which day he brought all three to Nelson as prisoners on board the Sturt. Wiremu is a man beyond middle age, with a magnificently tatoood face, the many lines and curves of the tatoo entirely lading the original color of the skin, the whole face being covered. He has a pair of fierce eyes, and he looked scowlingly cm all around him in the court. The two others are young men, apparently attendants on or under orders of Wiremu. The three were charged by Mr, Mackay with treason andconspiringagainstthe Queen’s authority : and the prosecutor, who produced several documents to the Court, craved that they he remanded to Auckland, and detained in prison until he had an opportunity of apprehending other Maoris implictcd in a similar ofience, and who are now at Picton. The Magistrate requested Mr. Hough to act as interpreter, and to describe the nature of the charge, aud state his Worship’s opinion and decision, which was, that certain papers had been put into his hands, which perfectly convincecUhim that the prisoners were implicated, and that there were good grounds for apprehending and remanding them. It would not be for the public good to make the contents of these papers known at present, and therefore he would not have them publicly read, but they fully warranted him in removing the prisoners to Auckland for further examination of the case, and he therefore granted a warrant for that purpose, and for committing them to Nelson jail for safe custody until the next steamer for Auckland leaves Nelson. This Mr. Hough interpreted to the Maoris, who were then removed. —Nelson Colonist, Sth September.

Declaration of a Gold Bonus for Nelson. —An official advertisement in today's paper announces a Gold Bonus of Aft,ooo to be given to the discoverer of a payable gold-field in the Province of Nelson, in terms similar to those formerly recommended by the committee of the Council. The full sum of Aft,ooo will be paid to the earliest or bona jide discoverer, provided 16,000 ounces shall be raised within six months, AI,OOO if 8,000 ounces are obtained within four months, and ASOO if 4,0000z5. be raised within three months of the date of (as we suppose) the application. Two places are excepted from the offer—the Lyell for three miles above its junction with the Buffer, and the Fangles for five miles above its junction with the same river. —Nelson Colonist. ■WRECK OF THE ENGLISH BRIGANTINE DEL A WART!, AND LOSS OP THE MATE. (From the Nelson Colonist, Sept. 8). We regret to have to record the loss ’of i the handsome brigantine Delaware, which arrived at this port from England on the 10th August, under the command of Mr. R. C. Baldwin, with a general cargo for Nelson and Napier, in Hawke’s Bay Province. The vessel left Nelson

on Thursday last, shortly before noon, bonnd for Napier. Within twenty-four hours after she was a total wreck, and all that remains of her now lies on the rooks off Wnkapuako, and along the coast of the little bight where she was stranded in tile fearful gale that blew on the night of Thursday and morning of Friday last. The spot where the wreck occurred is a little bay formed by the running in of tho coast fro m Graham’s Point round to Pepin’s Island, which lies close to tho Coast, and upon which the Wakapuaka river embouchcs. This bay lies about fifteen miles from Nelson, and twenty from the I’vench Pass. Some seventeen years ago, a brigantine named the Guide was wrecked in tho same bay, rather nearer to Pepin’s Island. Not far from this island is a strip of sandy beach, apparently about three-quarters of a mile in extent. The rest of tho coast, all along to Graham’s Point is precipitous and rock-bound, with large boulders lying about, and numerous sunken rocks. The wreck now lies at the foot of a precipitous cliff, from 350 to -100 feet high ; and here tho rocks and boulders lie in groat numbers. The vessel is cut completely in half, her stern part, with the stump of the mainmast still standing, is about twenty-five or thirty yards from the face of the cliff, while some fifteen yards to tho left lies the fore part, half split up, the ribs exposed, the decks smashed in, and tho timbers in many cases snapt as if cut by a saw. Everything was swept from the poop, and the deck towards the mainmast was bent down and fallen in. Below, the cabin is in a frightful state of confusion, the doors of tho sleeping cabins being smashed and broken, the furniture destroyed, and every thing, except the overturned stove, appearing to have been emptied out amidships or fallen into tho hold through tho lower deck. All around the beach for at least three miles are strewn boxes, barrels, blankets, shawls, candles, innumerable fins of fancy biscuits, full ami empty, and tho debris of many packages of grocery, saddlery, drapery, and other goods mingled with iragments of the wreck, splintered in many instances into very small pieces. A small mahogany harmonium is lying near the wreck, its keys exposed, and its sides smashed and broken. It is hardly possible to describe the confusion which presents itself. Tito Delaware was a new ship, American built, of 211 tons, and was intended to trade in the Colonies. She was owned one half by the Master, Captain Baldwin, and the other by Messrs. Green, Robinson, & Co., of Fenehurcb-strcet, London, and the Captain informs us that his share is unfortunately uninsured.

Captain Baldwin supplied us with various particulars, a great portion of which is contained in the evidence taken before the Coroner’s Jury which sat on the body of the mate who was drowned. The name of the mate was Henry Squirrel; he belonged to Ipswich, and was about 22 years of age. The Captain states that (lie gale came on from the Xorth about 8 o’clock, and shifted several times. The wind chopped suddenly round to A r .E , back again to N., and once more to -V. 11., thou to IS'., and N.N.E., increasing in strength. At one o’clock he lost his jib and reduced the sail to closereefed topsails and storm staysail, the wind then blowing a perfect hurricane, the sea tremendously high, and the ship laboring very heavily, while the weather was, to use his own phrase “as thick as a hedge,” and very dark, so that it was impossible to see anything from the vessel: soundings were taken every half-hour. About half-past four be saw what wc supposed to be land through a verv thick haze. Ho wore the ship and tried to round Pepin’s island but could not, and found the ship driving heavily to leeward. Again wore the ship and tried to weather the other point opposite (Graham’s Point) hutjjfailcdjin this also, and about six o’clock, in thirteen fathoms water, let go the best bower anchor, running out 00 fathoms of cable. Tho sea was then running “• mountains high,” the ship pitching with groat force, and the flying jib was blown away. It continued so for about half au hour, when the windlass gave way under the strain, and the second anchor was let go, taking out 80 fathoms. The rollers were then sweeping over the ship which began to drag her second anchor, and, finding she was drifting on tho rocks, he made the sails ready for setting and slipped tho anchor cable, finding no alternative left but to run her on shore, and endeavour to save their lives by attempting tho best place that could he chosen. lie tried to run on the sandy beach near Pepin’s island, but tho ship got among the rollers and would not steer, and (fearing that she would he driven broadside on to tho rocks, he put her before tho wind, made sail and ran her where she now lies. She struck about 00 or 100 yards from the cliffs, striking a large boulder, and going among some sunken rocks.

Ho then described the mate’s attempt to swim asliore, and also tho arrival of tlio Maoris and their valuable services, as narrated in the evidence given below. The rope taken ashore by their means was attached to tire foremast, and to a boulder on the shore about a hundred yards distant. The surf was very heavy, and breaking regularly over (he vessel, which was lurching to and fro with each sea, greatly endangering the rope, which was slacked occasionally to meet the lurches, as each man descended. Several were struck on the rocks, but tho Maoris, Julia the readiest of them all, rushed into the surf up to the neck, and often enveloped in the breakers, and seized each man as ho neared, and thus saved the lives of many who from exhaustion could not otherwise have got to tho shore. In this way all had left the ship but the Captain, who was warned that the rope was chaffing, some strands having parted, and that it would speedily break. Upon this Captain Baldwin went to tho forecastle to sec the mate before leaving. 3To found him with his mouth open, his eyes fixed and his body motionless, as he thought quite dead. He was again called to from the shore, and then went down the rope, the motion of the ship dipping him several times into the water and causing him to strike against the rocks. Ho docs not recollect how he at last got ashore, having lost conciousness. When he recovered his senses he found himself lying beside a fire tho Maoris had kindled on the beach. In less than three minutes after he landed tho cable parted from chafing. About an hour after this to his astonishment, and that

of all on on the beach, the mate made his appearance, and afterwards fell into the water, about two or three o’clock in the afternoon. Captain Baldwin desires Us to express his sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Maoris, Julia, Martin, Robert, and his brother, for their bold and unwearying exertions, without which he believes not a soul of them could have got off the wreck. On Saturday morning the steamer Lyttelton went out (o the wreck, ami saved a cousiderabla quantity ot the cargo, which is now advertised for sale by auction. This steamer returned on Sunday evening with the saved cargo, and the body of the unlortunate mate, which will be interred today. On Sunday morning the steamer Start made an excursion to the sconce of the wreck, taking about a hundred and twenty passengers, a portion of whom wore permitted" to land by tbeboats and view the wreck.