Shipping Intelligence.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 341, 15 January 1866, Page 2

Shipping Intelligence.

PORT OF NAPIER. ARRIVALS. January 11—Balmoral, brigantine, from Hobart Town Jam;ary II —Vivid, schooner. from Blackhead January li—Beautiful star, s.s„ toot Auckland DEPARTURES. January 12—Betsy, cutter, from Auckland January 15—Huntress, for IVairca EXPECTED. ARRIVALS. Donald M'Lean. i-choonor, from Auckland—dally lord Ashley. s.s , from Southern Ports— 25tb Queen, s,s„ from Auckland—l6ib Queen, schooner, from Auckland—daily Jiangatira, s.s„ from Wellington—loth Saucy Lass, schooner, from Auckland—daily Sturt, p.s., from Wellington-daily Bhalbourne, barque, from London via New Plymouth Success, schooner, from Wellington Tawera, schooner, from Auckland —dally PROJECTED DEPARTURES'. Lord Athlcy, s.s„ for Auckland—2Gtli Jfaggie, brig, for Sydney via Newcastle—loth Queen, s.s.. tor Southern Ports—lTUi Rangatil&ss s., for Auckland —17tU Bt. KUda, s.s.yj&r'm Opotiki VESSELS IN HARBOR. Beautiful Star, s,s., from Auckland Balmoral, brigantme, from Hcbrat Town Kauri, schooner, from Auckland JJageio, brig, from Newcastle via. Sydney Stratballan, skip, from Loudon (loading wool) Sunbeam, l.tuque, from London (Lotdrug wsol) Taraipine, ketch, Irom Wain a Vivid, schooner, from Blackhead MARITIME NOTES. ARRIVAL OF THE SCJIOtiNEH KAURI. The schooner Kauri, Captain Shearer, the arrival of which we noticed in our last, let t Auckland on the 2Lt h December 4 Strived at Slohutapu cji the 21th and Waihekl on the 2fath, On the goth left for Jierev.ry Bay, took in 22/ho feet timber, and left tor Napier cu the 6th insi..—arriving here on Tleduesday, the loth., alter a run ol five days. Cargo; 22,000 fept timber, Le Quesne. ARRIVAL of the BRIGANTINE I! A LITORAL. The brigantine Balmoral, Captain Sanderses, left Ilobgrt Town on the rhth ult., and arrived here on Thursday last, the rltjß lust. alter an average ma of thirteen days, she lost right of land on the third day after Leaving Hobart Town , on the BtU ipst, sighted Caps Eaieweli; on the 9tU founded Cape Pafliser; and antved here at 1 p.m. on the ALth. C^rgo: 25,000 palings, 100,000 shingles. 5,000 feet timber, 60 parrs eart shafts, 20 dray poles, 2uu Logs bran, 20 case* Ha, W*»t> Kcnuedy and W#tt, (sgpjits.)

AEEIVAT. OP H UE 8.3. BEAUTIFUL STAR. The s.s. Beau Ufa] Star, Oupt. U.Morvrick, arrived on the afternoon of Saturday last, I3th lust. She left Au'iklami on Wednesday the Kith, at S p.m.. with light winds and fine weatnor. At 6 p.m. tho next day, was off White Island—a strong breeze from the eastward, with heavy head sea, which compelled her to steam for shelter to Wangaparawa roadstead, where she anchored at midnight. At 8 am. on Friday the 12th. weather having moderated, heaved anchor and steamed for Napier. Bounded East Cape at 3 p.m.. and arrived as above. The Beautiful Star brings a large general cargo, and one race horso. for, we believe, Mr James Watt, of tho firm of Watt. Kennedy. & Wait. W> have to thank Capt. Morvlck for flies of Auckland papers, whir a. however, do n -t contain many Items of general Interest. We must reserve extracts for a future occasion. ARRIVAL OF THE 8.8. ST. HILDA. The favorite Government s.s. St. Hilda, Captain Kennedy, •arrived in the roadstead at 9 a.m. yesterday, from Opotiki and Poverty Bay; aud entered lac Iron Pot during the afternoon, she lelt this port at B*3o p m. on Monday, the Bth lust.; arrived at Poverty Bay tho next morning, and remained at that place until noon, when she lelt for Opotiki. Experienced strong N.E. winds to the East Cape, when the wind veered round to N.W., blowing strongly Took shelter in iticks' Bay at 8 a.m. on the 10th, and remained until 11 o’clock, when the weather appeared to moderate slightly. 'look her departure, and arrived off Opotiki at 8 30 ftin ,T.he weather having still a threatening aspect, stood offshore under easy steam for the night. Anchored off the month of Opotiki river at daylight on the 11th; landed stores and provisions for the forces at that place. At I*3o p.m. on the 12th, having received on board despatches, mails, &e., weighed anchor and proceeded on her return trip. Arrived at Poverty Bay at noon on the 13th, having experienced strong southerly winds from the East Cape. Lelt again at again at 8 p.m.; and arrived here as above. There is no news from either of the places at which she caded. with the exception of the murder of a friendly na live about three miles irom Opotiki, two days before the arrival at that place of the s.s. st Kilda. Taking into consideration the adve -sc weather she has encountered, this voyage of tho 8t iu.da may bo considered a very smart one. MISCELLANEOUS. The newketch we noted in our last as having arrived from Wairoa was the *• Taraipiae,” and not the “ Pai Marin,” as had been reported to us. The N.Z.s.N. Co.’s steamers Queen and Bangatira are both due here to-morrow (Tuesday)—the former from Auckland, and the latter from Southern Ports. The schooner Vivid, Schon, master, which left Napier ou Monday last for Blackhead, brought up in the roadstead on Thursday last, through stress of weather. She had arrived at Blackhead, discharged her cargo, and took in 21 bales, when the wind began to blow very fresh, which evcmual y compelled her to run to Napier for shelter. T.u cutter Mabia, Enright, master, was seen to bear up for Ci pa Kidnappers on Thursday, owing to heavy southerly gale, LAUNCH OF THE DONALD M'LEAN. The New Zealand Herald, 10th January, gives the following interesting account of the launch of a new schooner, intended for the trade between this port and Turanga Yesterday we witnessed one of the prettiest and most successful launches that it has been our pleasure to report for some lime past at the North Shore. It was from the yard of Mr Beddoes, and the vessel was a fine, handsome, slightly-looking schooner, of 58 feet keel, 17 feet beam, 7 feet depth of hold, GG feet overall, and 78 tons builder’s measurement. Shortly after twelve o’clock, everything being ready, the dog-shores were knocked away, and the gallant barkie glided gracefully off the ways into her native element, Miss Hammond, at the same time, most appropriately christening her in the usual manner the “ Donald M’Lean,” (in honor of Bona d M'Ecau, superiutendent of Hawke’s Bay.) The Donald M-Lean, which does credit to her builder, Mr. Beddoes, has beea built to the order of Capt. Reed, and is intended for the Napier and Poverty Bay trade. BUe will carry a largo cargo, with light draught of water, and is fitted with spacious saloon and fore-cabin accommodation. She will colne alongside the wharf to-day and commence loading for Napier, for which port she sails ou Saturday mixt. We heartily wish her and her spirited owner every success. DREADFUL CATASTROPHE. LOSS OF THE EAGLE SPEED. AND TWO EUNDEEED AND SIXTY-FITE COOI.IES. Tnh Times of the I.2th October contains tho following letter from its Calcutta correspondent:— On Sunday morning, the 19th of August, 423 statute adult coolies, or 301 men, 93 woman, and 63 children under ten, and 79 infants in arm:, making 497 human beings, sailed from Port Canning for Demerara in the Eagle .speed, Captain Bnnsden. The snip was American originally, and pinebuilt ; sue was not classed high at Uoyu’s, but she seems to have been an average vessel. All the formalities and inspection necessary in shipping coolies seem to have been attended to by the Protector of Emigr aits and the agent for the colony, except one—the crew were not mustered by the pilot. K ad this been done it would have been found that though it was of sulhcient strength in numbers, only six were able forwork. The captain was, or had been, ailing. hut was on duty; and he was anxious to get out to sea, that there his men might get well alter a debauch on laud. The chief officer was ill, and off duty; even the coolie doctor was ill, but the port doctor took nis place until the ship should got to sea. The port-master, captain Hoskins, accompanied tho ship down the estuary. The ship was to wed by the Lady Elgin, steamer. Captain Heath, ou hoard of which, as a passenger, was Captain W. G. Maitland, of the 29th I’unjaubees. At four o'clock on the suosequent day, when wind and weather were bad, tho rope connecting tho steamer and the ship broke; and during the two hours occupied in passing another rope the ship drifted on the Hoy Mutlah sands and sprang a leak. Professional men assert that, if she bad been a new or an iron ..ship, this would h t have happened ; and a correspondent of a Calcutta paper asserts that 73 per cent of all the vessels engaged in the coolie trade are not classed at Lloyd’s at all. The Emigration Commissioners will see to this, doubtless. With a uud leak and heavy weather, the ship ought at once to have boon towed back to Hallidny Island, the nearest good anchorage. Instead of this the steamer took her out towards sea, till ten o’clock at night, the steamer also broke down, and both anchored. All this time, from lour to ten, the coolies had been at the pumps, and continued there till thes next (Tuesday) morning, when the steamer was signalled for help, as the Eagle Speed was sinking. The steamer, however, neither towed me ship with her living freight back to Halliday Island, nor passed lines by which the coolies might have boarded her, nor sent off her own three boats to help in transhipping them. The sea was high, but ail the witnesses asse.rt that Bay one cf these plans might have been adopted, and would have saved every soul on board. Instead of this only three of the ship’s boats were lowered. The shrieking coolies clung to the gangways and bulwarks, eager to save themselves, and a few thiww themselves into the water on hencoops and were picked up. On boat, manned by tho pilot crew, made one trip and never returned. A second, manned by the second officer and others of the crew, was stove in alter the first trip. Captain Hoskins made five trips, till sunstroke disabled him, Then the steamer put down one of its three boats, and St was long tin the offer of money and shame would induce the now saved ship’s crew to man it. They positively refused to save their cap-t-'hn who was still ou the wreck. At last they made two trips, bringing him and the cooiie doctor and others off. The scene on board that Tuesday forenoon must have been terrible, 1 fie interpreter had disappeared; the compounder and others had broken open the brandy-chest; me pilot cad not returned; no one could speak a word of the langunge; no orders could be given. The captain left at halfpast 12, and, although the ship did not sink for 18 hours after, the steamer returned to Fort Canning with only 168 coolies s-ved and leaving the rest without advice or encouragement to their horrible fats. The excuse given is that there was only one day’s coa! <i» board. But, even at tins siagc of mimanagemeut ant? barbarity there was enough of coal to have enabled it to go to ilaliitiay Island, deposit tho coolies, and return for the larger number suil a landoued. A line boat had been left on the wreck uulai.nolHd, and as if to condemn the ignq.ant inhumanity of . *f e steamer, it was launched by the coolies, with the aid of one sick European and four negroes. 'The boat actually passed the steamer, and ihn.'.d its way un to prrt. Imagination refuses to picture the horrors of the atO i mean beings when s;earner sal boat hat-left, ail thro gh that Tuesday afternoon ;iad right with too.ship 1 sinking, the Taler coining ever nearer, the hroakc’siwecp,-

off tie weak and despairing, and the strong clinging and climbing even higher on the masts. Wednesday inornii:™ dawned, and still no hope, till about seven site went down and when the two steamers, seat from Calcutta, arrived at the scene, they found only the top of the inizenmast with three boys olmgiug to it, and covered with the rags of the poor wretches who had been washed off or had thrown themselves into the sea unencumbered in the hope of safety. When the Lady Elgin returned she saved 5b who had found their way on pieces of the wreck to Halliday Island, and the Oudh- steamer, which has since -been searching 'the creek, has picked up ten more. No less limn 235 of the -tti; coolies are lost. As if to add to the horrors of the story, several of the poor wretches who escaped drowning, when they landed on the mud islets near, were carried off hy tigers A. story is told of two children who floated to shore. One had left his companion for a moment and returned to see him in a tiger 1 s jaws. He again threw himseif into the sea and was picked up at the last extremity. I cannot repeat to you the curses, not loud but deep, which are heard in almost every circle of society but are c.ieckod by the fact that a Court is trying the pilot. No one defends the sailors, who are acknowledged on all sides to have acted as Englishmen are, thank Gon, but seldom known to act. All feel that Captain Hoskins did his duty, and wonder that ;ie did not insist on the steamer towing the vessel to land, or at least waiting longer by her, though he bad uo power. Even the captain of the coolie ship is less blamed than the pilot, who, knowing the language and in charge, never returned to the wreck, excusing himself on the ground that the crew would not work, and his boat was smashed forsooth, as if there were not other boats. But the most culpable seems to have been the steamer’s captain. The live? of these SOJ people were in his hands and he saved only 139 of them. As usual, when any such catastrophe as tins or the cyclone happens at any other tune than the cold season, both the sup-.eme'and local Governments are away—the former enjoying the cool delights of Simla, and the latter in Assam. I trn-t this catastrophe will open the eyes of the English authorities to the character cf the coolie trade. The Emigration Commissioners in their last report, for '.863, write very pleasantly about it and certainly all that the Government of India can do for its emigrant subjects up to the time that they go to sea is done. But such a disaster as this, a similar shipwreck and loss of life off the harbor of the Natal capital some months ago, such barbarity as the Mauritius colonists were guilty of nine years ago, when, under the baseless fear of cholera they massacred lot) by exposing them for days on a rock in the Indian Ocean; the tracau.r. forces of the French planters in Itenuion, which our agent’s report exposed some time ago in your own columns; the mortality on board ships, amounting say the Commissioners, in many special cases 22f percent.; the incompetent surgeons, ’‘two of whom are said to be constantly intoxicated,”—l quote their own report.—all these facts, in the interests of humanity alone, ought to put a stop to our coolie trade and to such convention as Lord Bussell has made with the trench Emperor, which is as bad as the old Assiento treaties. But there is another argument. Is it or is it not a fact that India is under-peopled; that she cannot grow more cotton for want of hands to pluck it; that the infant industries of tea and coffee cultivation in the hills are bein ’ strangled hy the diiQeulty of getting labour? If so, surely it is suicidal in the Government of India, whether at home where it is pressed by colonial, Parliamentary, and French interests, or here, where the Viceroy is but the head clerk of the Secretary of State, to give encouragement to such a trade—to do more than allow its subjects to carry their labor to any market they like, under a Passenger Act such as tint which regulates emigration in England. In the past 21 years India has sent half a million of her subjeets to the colonies. Of these, 3U>,2n2 have gone to the Mauritius, 99.200 to the "West Indies, and tiie rest to the French colonies and Ceylon.- The-e figures h iving a meaning beyond what they would have in little England. Not only do early marriages, zenana excesses, poor food, and past anarchy limit the growth of au Asiatic population, hut the mass of the people are peasants with small holdings, and there is no laboring class except the 4,005.000, or 5.000,000 of indigenous tribes in the hills, one-sixth of whom, at least have thus beceu shipped out of the country. Is it right for the homo authorities thus ignorantly to sacrifice our Indian subjects and the best interests of India, at a time When there is a cry far cotton, only to help a few colonists to grow sugar, and in the vain hope of bribing French planters to stop the " free labor” slave trade from the east coast of Africa?