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Kumara Times, Issue 919, 10 September 1879, Page 4

In the annual report of the Post Office Department, a nominal balance to the credit of the department is shown, by including in the receipts the value of official correspondence forwarded during the year. That our civil servants are great letter writers, will be evident from the fact that L 56.176 worth of official correspondence passed through the Poßt Office during the year. Regarding the collision between the s.s Claud Hamilton and the barque Eden, the Argus states:—The Claud Hamilton, inward bound from >'ew Zealand via Kewcas le, and coal ladeD, was struck en the starboard side almost in a line with the captain's cabin on deck and the companion leading to the saloon, the barque catting her down below the water line, and making an ugly fissure about 2ft or 3ft in width at the waterway, and tapering downward wedge shapa to a point. The deck was also cut into to the extent of about three plaDks, and had the weather been rough with anything of a sea on, the situation would have been critica'. Means were taken to prevent the water making top rapid Ingress through the gap, and the Claud lost no time in steaming up the Bay and getting alongside the coal hulk Sampson. The blow must have been given with some force, for the thick iron plates were driven right in where they were struck. The Eden had ber jibboom carried away, and the catwater and btem extensively damaged. The port bow was also stove in, and, being a wooden vessel, all her planking and timbers at the entrance have been started, so that she has not escaped li htly. She was in charge ot Pilot Gauneon, and when the vessels met, the shock sent him flying against the poop-rail, inflicting a severe contused wound on his head just above the left eye. Captain Payne, chbf harbormaster, on hearing of the occurrence, cave orders for a steamer to proceed to the barque, and the Spohia was al ngside her at 3 o elock in the morning, bat did not take her in tow until half-past 6 o'clock. The collision, it may be mentioned, happened abrut half-past 11 o'clock on Friday night, 22nd August. All the canvas the barque had set was her topsaih and jib, and her speed, it is said, was about 2J knots. As a matter of course the statements concerning the cause ©f the collision are conflicting, and must be taken for what they are worth until the matter is enquired into by the Steam Navigation and Pilot Boards.