The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 55, 6 March 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1871.

The Suez Mail. — Some little doubt exists as to whether there will be any j means of communicating with England and India by the next Suez Mail, as the Tararua, which is the only boat that is j sure of being in time, leaves Wellington for Melbourne, via the South on Thursday next, and, as yet it is uncertain whether there will be #uy steamer for i Wellington prior to that date. A supplementary mail will he despatched by the Alhambra on Saturday next, but it is doubtful whether she will eutch the mail boat which sails from Melbourne on the 28th inst. Accident to the s.s. Ranoitoto. — Messrs M'Mechau, Blackwood, aud Co.'s steamship Rnugitoto, Captain Mackie, on taking her departure from Pictou on Sunday last about 2 p.m., met with an accident, which delayed her about 26 hours. She arrived here at 11 a.m. on Sunday, with the English Mail, aud took up her position aloDg the western side of die wharf. Having discharged and taken in her cargo, the Raogifcoto was about to lake her de- i parture, when, on leaving the whurf and trying to keep clear of tlie p.s. Luna, ' which was lying on the opposite side of the wharf, she had not sufficient room to turn, and ran on a mud-bunk about 60 or 70 yards from and in a direct lino with the end of the wharf. Captain Fairchild immediately went off with the Luna to the assistance of tho Rangitoto ; but after several unsuccessful attempts to pull her off, during which time the tide had ebbed some inches, the Luna gave up the attempt, and soon afterwards left for Nelson. At high water next morning, another attempt was made to move her, but without success. The cargo was then shifted aft, the engines emptied, about 20 tons of coals landed, and every preparation made for another trial on the afternoon tide. At high water, ropes were made fast to the wharf, and, with the assistance of the donkey-engine and a favorable breeze, after a severe tugging, in which manj' ropes were broken, she gave way and was ultimately floated. She was then taken alongside the wharf, where it was ascertained that the vessel had sustained no damage. The cargo and coals were reshipped, and about 5 p.m. she left the wharf and anchored out in the Bay until daylight yesterday morning, when she left for Wellington. — Marlborough Press.